A Big Apple advertising exec Jack (Freddie Prinze Jr) sells sheisse for food and luxury, otherwise living a disgustingly organised and borderline boring life. That is until he stumbles upon Jill (Taryn Manning), an aspiring actress, chaotic and energetic, which unbeknownst to Jack is incurably sick with cystic fybrosis and assured to die young. Jack and Jill quickly become an item with her lifestyle overflowing onto his causing ruptures in the fabric of his well-set ways. The basis of this is a manifesto, which they write up and attempt to live by. The first rule is "Be Honest"...
Unfortunately the writers and director of the movie failed to abide by the above, panning out a quagmire of pretences and skin-deep analysis. Lacking the charm and dramatic pull of "My Sweet November" or the witty emotionality of "500 Days of Summer" it attempts to create a more traditional comedic romance structure, which ends with Jack and Jill breaking up because of the latter withholding the truth about her sickness. Which must be said is quite an astonishing show of immaturity on Jack's part. And one that can not be attributed to any sensible emotions and reactions, but solely to a script, which is the movies biggest liability. Not for one moment would I believe that a real Jack would have kicked a real Jill out solely due to finding out that she is fatally ill...
Freddie Prinze Jr. pulls the movie along together with his less than competent (and extremely irritating) accompanying actress, but given how falsely the notes sound the believability factor kills any good intentions. The duet lacks any proper dramatic pull and chemistry is really down to a basic level. This isn't helped by rushed storytelling, which suddenly throw us from the beginning of their relationship into a "I can't bear to live without you" type of affair. After effortlessly ignoring to create a backdrop and focus on some build-up Jack and Jill are never fleshed out sufficiently for you to real care what happens to them.
Somewhere in between all this are some chilly attempts at humour, which only drown out any initial interest you may have had in the movie.
Unfortunately the writers and director of the movie failed to abide by the above, panning out a quagmire of pretences and skin-deep analysis. Lacking the charm and dramatic pull of "My Sweet November" or the witty emotionality of "500 Days of Summer" it attempts to create a more traditional comedic romance structure, which ends with Jack and Jill breaking up because of the latter withholding the truth about her sickness. Which must be said is quite an astonishing show of immaturity on Jack's part. And one that can not be attributed to any sensible emotions and reactions, but solely to a script, which is the movies biggest liability. Not for one moment would I believe that a real Jack would have kicked a real Jill out solely due to finding out that she is fatally ill...
Freddie Prinze Jr. pulls the movie along together with his less than competent (and extremely irritating) accompanying actress, but given how falsely the notes sound the believability factor kills any good intentions. The duet lacks any proper dramatic pull and chemistry is really down to a basic level. This isn't helped by rushed storytelling, which suddenly throw us from the beginning of their relationship into a "I can't bear to live without you" type of affair. After effortlessly ignoring to create a backdrop and focus on some build-up Jack and Jill are never fleshed out sufficiently for you to real care what happens to them.
Somewhere in between all this are some chilly attempts at humour, which only drown out any initial interest you may have had in the movie.