Ian Gilchrist gives us his thoughts on Ed Zwick’s new film Love & Other Drugs, Adam Lowes spoke to the director and the interview can be found here, and gave his thought on the film here. Read on to find out what Ian thought.
Easily qualifying as one of 2010′s odder romantic comedies, Love & Other Drugs is an awkward and half-hearted attempt to inject contemporary skepticism into a weary formula: call it a faux edgy rom-com.
It’s more watchable than most of it’s ilk, due to the undeniable chemistry of its two leads (Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway) and their great supporting cast, but in the end it’s an unsatisfying experience, even within the limited expectations one should bring to this lightest of genres. Love & Other Drugs lacks the courage of any convictions which might make its cynicism feel like something more than seasoning inadequately sprinkled over a mundane story.
Easily qualifying as one of 2010′s odder romantic comedies, Love & Other Drugs is an awkward and half-hearted attempt to inject contemporary skepticism into a weary formula: call it a faux edgy rom-com.
It’s more watchable than most of it’s ilk, due to the undeniable chemistry of its two leads (Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway) and their great supporting cast, but in the end it’s an unsatisfying experience, even within the limited expectations one should bring to this lightest of genres. Love & Other Drugs lacks the courage of any convictions which might make its cynicism feel like something more than seasoning inadequately sprinkled over a mundane story.
- 1/2/2011
- by Ian Gilchrist
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal come together in the frustrating Love And Other Drugs. Here's our review...
Partly based on Jamie Reidy’s 2005 non-fiction memoir Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman, Edward Zwick’s latest directorial offering Love & Other Drugs is yet another entry into the director's seemingly favoured sub-genre of ‘issue-tainment’.
Unlike Zwick’s previous attempts, however, Love & Other Drugs finds the director trying to fuse the debate (this time surrounding privatised health care and ‘big pharma’) with the genre of romantic comedy. Does it work? Well, in truth, not really.
It’s clear from the opening of the movie – set in 1996 and therefore allowing the film-makers to stack the obligatory soundtrack album with lots of rather obvious hits from that period – that the film makers are attempting to make a movie that’s very much in the vein of Jerry Maguire. To that end we’re introduced to cocky,...
Partly based on Jamie Reidy’s 2005 non-fiction memoir Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman, Edward Zwick’s latest directorial offering Love & Other Drugs is yet another entry into the director's seemingly favoured sub-genre of ‘issue-tainment’.
Unlike Zwick’s previous attempts, however, Love & Other Drugs finds the director trying to fuse the debate (this time surrounding privatised health care and ‘big pharma’) with the genre of romantic comedy. Does it work? Well, in truth, not really.
It’s clear from the opening of the movie – set in 1996 and therefore allowing the film-makers to stack the obligatory soundtrack album with lots of rather obvious hits from that period – that the film makers are attempting to make a movie that’s very much in the vein of Jerry Maguire. To that end we’re introduced to cocky,...
- 12/29/2010
- Den of Geek
This week, we got long haired heroines, burlesque dancers, prescription medication (hint: It's love), and some pretty fast cars. So which one's worth your time and (more importantly) money this weekend? That's right, everyone: It's time for another Cinema Showdown!
First up...
Contestant #1: Tangled
Synopsis: After the bandit Flynn Rider breaks into her tower, the prisoner Rapunzel bargains with him to help her escape. After the breakout, Flynn agrees to journey with Rapunzel to the place where "the floating lights came from," all the while being chased by Mother Gothal and her thugs.
In Five Words: Shrek, but less obnoxious.
Trailer:
Cast:
Zachary Levi as Flynn Rider
Mandy Moore as Rapunzel
Donna Murphy as Mother Gothal
Ron Perlman as Stabbington Brother
Crew:
Directors--Nathan Greno, Byron Howard
Writer--Dan Fogelman
Theater Count: 3, 603 theaters
Critics Say:
"Tangled, Disney's 50th animated feature, is a splendid tribute to the best moments from...
First up...
Contestant #1: Tangled
Synopsis: After the bandit Flynn Rider breaks into her tower, the prisoner Rapunzel bargains with him to help her escape. After the breakout, Flynn agrees to journey with Rapunzel to the place where "the floating lights came from," all the while being chased by Mother Gothal and her thugs.
In Five Words: Shrek, but less obnoxious.
Trailer:
Cast:
Zachary Levi as Flynn Rider
Mandy Moore as Rapunzel
Donna Murphy as Mother Gothal
Ron Perlman as Stabbington Brother
Crew:
Directors--Nathan Greno, Byron Howard
Writer--Dan Fogelman
Theater Count: 3, 603 theaters
Critics Say:
"Tangled, Disney's 50th animated feature, is a splendid tribute to the best moments from...
- 11/27/2010
- Cinelinx
Love and Other Drugs
Directed by: Edward Zwick
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Josh Gad, Oliver Platt
Running Time: 1 hr 52 mins
Rating: R
Release Date: November 24, 2010
Plot: Jamie (Gyllenhaal) is a ladies man who gets into pharmaceutical sales in the late 1990s. He meets Maggie (Hathaway) who suffers from Parkinson’s and sparks fly.
Who’S It For? Fans of the rom-com will have a good time, and super fans of Gyllenhaal and Hathaway (plus naked bodies) will enjoy as well.
Expectations: My wife was very excited for this one, since these two (especially Gyllenhaal) don’t usually do the romantic comedy thing, I was interested.
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Jake Gyllenhaal as Jamie Randall: They don’t sell him. Sure, they show him selling, they try to prove that point. But charm isn’t something that immediately comes through. Without Gyllenhaal’s smile, you wouldn’t have patience for Jamie.
Directed by: Edward Zwick
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Josh Gad, Oliver Platt
Running Time: 1 hr 52 mins
Rating: R
Release Date: November 24, 2010
Plot: Jamie (Gyllenhaal) is a ladies man who gets into pharmaceutical sales in the late 1990s. He meets Maggie (Hathaway) who suffers from Parkinson’s and sparks fly.
Who’S It For? Fans of the rom-com will have a good time, and super fans of Gyllenhaal and Hathaway (plus naked bodies) will enjoy as well.
Expectations: My wife was very excited for this one, since these two (especially Gyllenhaal) don’t usually do the romantic comedy thing, I was interested.
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Jake Gyllenhaal as Jamie Randall: They don’t sell him. Sure, they show him selling, they try to prove that point. But charm isn’t something that immediately comes through. Without Gyllenhaal’s smile, you wouldn’t have patience for Jamie.
- 11/24/2010
- by Jeff Bayer
- The Scorecard Review
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.