| Photos (see all 31 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 2) |
| Luke Wilson | ... | Alex Sheldon / Adam Shipley | |
| Chino XL | ... | Tony / Flamenco Dancer #2 | |
| Lobo Sebastian | ... | Bobby / Flamenco Dancer #1 | |
| Rob Reiner | ... | Wirschafter | |
| Kate Hudson | ... | Emma Dinsmore / Ylva / Elsa / Eldora / Anna | |
| Paul Willson | ... | Whistling John Shaw | |
| David Paymer | ... | John Shaw | |
| Sophie Marceau | ... | Polina Delacroix | |
| Alexander Wauthier | ... | Andre Delacroix | |
| Leili Kramer | ... | Michele Delacroix | |
| Rip Taylor | ... | Polina's Father | |
| Gigi Bermingham | ... | Madame Blanche | |
| Jordan Lund | ... | Claude | |
| François Giroday | ... | Croupier | |
| Robert Costanzo | ... | Bus Driver | |
| Cloris Leachman | ... | Grandmother | |
| Earl Carroll | ... | Bernard Pompier | |
| Jordi Caballero | ... | Flamenco Dancer #3 | |
| Michael St. Michaels | ... | Casino Owner (as Michael Rappaport) | |
| Danica Sheridan | ... | Receptionist | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Camden Munson | ... | Scooter Boy (uncredited) | |
| John H. Tobin | ... | Croupier (uncredited) | |
Directed by | |||
| Rob Reiner | |||
Writing credits(WGA) | ||
| Jeremy Leven | (written by) | |
Produced by | |||
| Todd Black | .... | producer | |
| Jason Blumenthal | .... | executive producer | |
| Alan Greisman | .... | producer | |
| Peter Guber | .... | executive producer | |
| James A. Holt | .... | co-producer | |
| Jeremy Leven | .... | producer | |
| Joseph Merhi | .... | co-producer | |
| Rob Reiner | .... | producer | |
| Elie Samaha | .... | producer | |
| Adam Scheinman | .... | co-producer | |
| Tracee Stanley | .... | co-producer | |
| Jeffrey Stott | .... | executive producer | |
| Steve Tisch | .... | executive producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Marc Shaiman | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Gavin Finney | |||
Film Editing by | |||
| Alan Edward Bell | |||
| Robert Leighton | |||
Casting by | |||
| Janet Hirshenson | |||
| Jane Jenkins | |||
Production Design by | |||
| John Larena | |||
Art Direction by | |||
| Helen Harwell | |||
Set Decoration by | |||
| Andi Brittan | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Shay Cunliffe | |||
Makeup Department | |||
| Jennifer Bell | .... | hair department head | |
| Kathryn Blondell | .... | hair stylist: Kate Hudson | |
| Carol Collini | .... | makeup artist: Ms.Leachman | |
| Renata Helfman | .... | makeup artist: Luke Wilson | |
| Pam Phillips | .... | makeup artist | |
| Colette Slattery | .... | hair stylist | |
| Ronnie Specter | .... | makeup artist: Kate Hudson | |
| Rita Troy | .... | key hair stylist | |
| Patty York | .... | makeup department head | |
| K. Troy Zestos | .... | hair stylist: Luke Wilson | |
Production Management | |||
| Alice S. Kim | .... | post-production supervisor | |
| Catherine S. McComb | .... | production supervisor | |
| Jeffrey Stott | .... | unit production manager | |
Art Department | |||
| Roger Baer | .... | construction foreman | |
| James Bennett | .... | set dresser | |
| Scott Buckwald | .... | property master | |
| Martin Charles | .... | graphic designer | |
| Camellia Cox | .... | intern | |
| Kristrune Jolfsdottir | .... | intern | |
| Stephen Lynd | .... | art production assistant | |
| Megan Malley | .... | buyer | |
| Joe Monaco | .... | set dresser | |
| John Pollard | .... | on-set dresser | |
| Christopher Schultz | .... | gang boss | |
| F. Andrew Scott | .... | stand-by painter | |
| Abigail Sheiner | .... | art department coordinator | |
| Eric Steinway | .... | leadman | |
| Gaston Wurth | .... | set dresser | |
Special Effects by | |||
| Bart Dion | .... | special effects | |
| Dennis Dion | .... | special effects coordinator | |
Visual Effects by | |||
| Michael Caplan | .... | visual effects producer | |
| Ron Crabb | .... | matte painter | |
| Kirk Douglas | .... | visual effects | |
| Josh Hayes | .... | storyboard artist (as Joshua Hayes) | |
| Eric Heavens | .... | digital compositor | |
| John K. Jenkins | .... | head of pre-viz | |
| John Myers | .... | visual effects executive producer: Ring of Fire | |
| Michael S. Pryor | .... | visual effects producer | |
| Jerry Spivack | .... | animation supervisor: main titles | |
| Jerry Spivack | .... | visual effects supervisor | |
Stunts | |||
| Donna Evans | .... | stunts | |
| Diamond Farnsworth | .... | stunt coordinator | |
| Jeremy Fitzgerald | .... | stunts | |
| Steve Kelso | .... | stunts | |
Camera and Electrical Department | |||
| Norman Ash | .... | set lighting technician | |
| Paul Birk | .... | electrician | |
| Jeff Case | .... | key grip | |
| John T. Connor | .... | assistant camera | |
| Brandon M. Cox | .... | film loader | |
| Scott Crabbe | .... | video assist operator | |
| Don Estes | .... | grip | |
| Carlos M. Gallardo | .... | grip (as Carlos Gallardo) | |
| Bob Gorelick | .... | Steadicam operator | |
| Bob Gorelick | .... | camera operator | |
| Brendan Keefe | .... | electrician: Boston | |
| Scott Kidner | .... | assistant chief lighting technician | |
| Bill Pollock | .... | best boy | |
| David W. Slodki | .... | lighting console programmer | |
| Suzanne Tenner | .... | still photographer | |
| Frans Wetterings III | .... | gaffer: Boston | |
| Greg Wimer | .... | first assistant camera | |
| Eric Komar | .... | dolly grip: "a" camera, second unit (uncredited) | |
| Ron Newburn | .... | lighting technician (uncredited) | |
Casting Department | |||
| Michelle Lewitt | .... | casting associate | |
| Jocelyn E. Thomas | .... | casting assistant (uncredited) | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Jennifer Lax | .... | costume shopper | |
| Robin Roberts | .... | costume supervisor | |
| Candice Sabbah | .... | costumer: Ms. Hudson (as Candice Sabbah Dobkousky) | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Gary Burritt | .... | negative cutter | |
| Aaron Marshall | .... | first assistant editor | |
| David Orr | .... | color timer | |
| Tom Scully | .... | assistant editor | |
| Jim Towne | .... | assistant editor | |
Music Department | |||
| Pete Anthony | .... | conductor | |
| Jeff Atmajian | .... | orchestrator | |
| Frank Bennett | .... | orchestrator | |
| Tim Boyle | .... | score mixer | |
| Vincent Cirilli | .... | scoring | |
| Jane Antonia Cornish | .... | orchestrator | |
| Sandy DeCrescent | .... | orchestra contractor | |
| Jon Kull | .... | orchestrator | |
| Patrick Russ | .... | orchestrator | |
| Carl Rydlund | .... | orchestrator | |
| Steven L. Smith | .... | music preparation | |
| Scott Stambler | .... | music editor | |
| Diana Stata | .... | music clearances | |
| Nick Vidar | .... | music programmer | |
| Laura Ziffren | .... | music supervisor (as Laura Z. Wasserman) | |
Transportation Department | |||
| Adrian Cannon | .... | driver: Mr. Reiner | |
| Kelsey Kimes | .... | driver | |
| Mike Miliotti | .... | driver: production van | |
| Jack Jay Reece | .... | driver (as Jay Reece) | |
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| The Bad and the Beautiful | The Devil Wears Prada | Prick Up Your Ears | Basic Instinct | Sideways |
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| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Comedy section | IMDb USA section |
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I will admit that I went into "Alex & Emma" with great hesitation, but came out with a renewed feeling of surprisement. Here's a film that got bad word of mouth from press screenings and essentially flopped -- but I enjoyed it. It's not as clever a contrast between the sexes as "When Harry Met Sally...," and it's not quite as fun as "Sleepless in Seattle." But, for all it's worth, I consider one of the better romantic comedies of 2003.
Luke Wilson is Alex, a genius writer living in a crusty apartment in Manhattan. He has thirty days to write a full-length work of fiction and turn it into his publisher for over one hundred grand, otherwise the Cuban Mafia is going to hunt him down and kill him. Why? He owes them 100,000 dollars of his income.
Kate Hudson is Emma, a stenographer hired by Alex to transcribe his words onto paper, since his laptop was smashed up by the Cubans. She begins the job with hesitation and offers helpful advice from a reader's perspective throughout the process.
Meanwhile, we get a story-within-a-story when the film moves from Alex's world to Adam's, the subject of Alex's novel. Adam (Wilson) is heading to the fictional island of St. Charles, located near Maine. I missed why he was coming in the first place because I have a short attention span, but it had something to do with collecting a payment.
When he arrives, he meets a beautiful French woman (Sophie Marceau) and the man who wants to marry her (David Paymer). The only problem is that he finds himself falling for her, too. And the woman's servant, Ylsa, or Illsa, or...I forget, they kept changing her name, from Swedish to German to Latino to American. I don't remember who she finally turned out to be. Let's just say Ylsa ("spelled the way it sounds," Alex says), also played by Kate Hudson.
Life parallels fiction. Of course, I guessed the "surprise" twist of it all about a mile away. But that didn't matter, because this is a pretty funny movie. There are some great one-liners and little gags, especially for writers. It spoofs the process of it all. Of course, if you view the movie with a critical eye you'll find many flaws. (Roger Ebert pointed out that Alex, when dictating, never seems to pause to find words and never messes up sentences, but hey...it's a movie, how interesting would it be if he just kept starting his sentences over and over?)
But some of the jokes are very funny. For example, during his writing process, Emma interrupts to tell Alex that the name "Ylsa" is not spelled the way it sounds. He says it is. She says it would be, "Ilsa." He disagrees. So in his book, he makes the character Adam ask how it is spelled, and he has Ylsa, respond, "Y-l-s-a, spelled just how it sounds."
Rob Reiner takes a small role as Alex's publisher. When writing out his check to Alex he says, "Now, is it made out to Cuban Mafia or The Cuban Mafia?" I love this stuff. Reiner has directed some great films in his past ("This is Spinal Tap," "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally," "A Few Good Men," am I missing any?). He has directed another winner.
I really don't understand this film's negative reviews. Okay, so it isn't the most original film to come along in years, but what film is?Compared to so many other "romantic comedies," this one made me laugh. A lot more than I thought I would. After starting to grow weary of Luke Wilson after seeing his smug role in "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde," I was surprised by his turn here. He's getting back to his roots. Kate Hudson (daughter of Goldie Hawn) has yet to really surprise me in any way, but she's not too bad.
When I occasionally enjoy a movie that got bad reviews, I can usually see why the movie got them. Here, on the other hand, I can not really see what the problem is. It's got a simple premise, a cute story, engaging leads, and an interesting story with more than a handful of laughs. I laughed less at last year's "The Hot Chick" and that was considered a comedy. So is this a bad movie? No, I don't think so. Not at all. But, apparently, many people do. It's too bad.
Note: There's a direct reference to "When Harry Met Sally..." in this film. Emma says she always turns to the last page of a book before she reads it. If you recall, Billy Crystal said the same thing one time back in 1989.
3/4 stars -
John Ulmer