Down with Love (2003)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Peyton Reed

Writers (WGA):

Eve Ahlert (written by) &
Dennis Drake (written by)

Release Date:

16 May 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

The ultimate catch has met his match.

Plot:

Aaaah... it's New York City in 1962, and love is blooming between a journalist and a feminist advice author, who's falling head over heels despite her beau's playboy lifestyle.

Plot Keywords:

Author | Chocolate | 1960s | Farce | New York City

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Renée Zellweger	...	Barbara Novak
Ewan McGregor	...	Catcher Block
Sarah Paulson	...	Vikki Hiller
David Hyde Pierce	...	Peter MacMannus
Rachel Dratch	...	Gladys
Jack Plotnick	...	Maurice
Tony Randall	...	Theodore Banner
John Aylward	...	E.G.
Warren Munson	...	C.B.
Matt Ross	...	J.B.
Michael Ensign	...	J.R.
Timothy Omundson	...	R.J.
Jeri Ryan	...	Gwendolyn
Ivana Milicevic	...	Yvette
Melissa George	...	Elkie

Also Known As:

Down with Love - Zum Teufel mit der Liebe! (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual humor and dialogue.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Iceland:L | Malaysia:18SX | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Denmark:A | Finland:K-7 | Germany:o.Al. (bw) | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:M | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39331)

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Center Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Fox 2000 Pictures

Trivia:

Cartoon animator/MAD artist Richard Williams made a fake MAD cover involving 'Alfred E. Neuman' as Barbara holding her book. MAD commented on its cameo in the movie as a sure-fire kiss of death for a movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the beginning of the movie we see the Pan Am building. According to the narration it is 1962 and the Pan Am building was not completed until 1963.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: The place: New York City. The time: Now, 1962. And there's no time or place like it. If you've got a dream, this is the place to make that dream come true. That's why the soaring population of hopeful dreamers has just reached eight million people. Oh! Make that eight million and one.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'The Break-Up' (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)

Down And Then Some

I loved the Doris Day/Rock Hudson pastiches and some of the comedies that followed with the extraordinary Doris and a varied but terrific succession of leading men. In particular with James Garner in "The Thrill Of It All" The secret there, I believe, was a smart and knowing script an unmistakable chemistry between the stars and performances that were solidly based on reality no matter how "out there" they seem to be. Here, the whole thing is so self conscious that we are never allow to go beyond it and actually enjoy the whole thing. Rene Zellwegger is a very good actress but not a natural comedienne. She's at her best when she's thoroughly thorough as in "Nurse Beatty" where she was very funny mostly because her conviction was so convincingly strong. Here she plays it like in a SNL sketch and could have worked if it had had the length of one of those sketches. In "Down With Love" she's downright annoying. Ewan McGregor, one of my favorites, is not even there. Let me explain. Think of Rock Hudson's commitment to those roles. The charm he was able to emanate and how naturally he became the foil for Doris Day. Here Zellwegger and McGregor don't play opposite each other but against each other. No chemistry whatsoever. Ewan McGregor so wonderful, powerful and beautiful in "Velvet Goldmine" "Shallow Grave" not to mention "Moulin Rouge", is kind of insignificant here. Yes, I'm amazed myself. Doesn't have a hint of the romantic manliness of Rock Hudson, isn't that funny? I didn't like either the on the nose production design, the silly costumes, the theatrical make up and hair nor the unimaginative lighting. Other than that, David Hyde Pierce is, almost, worth the price of admission.