Alex & Emma (2003)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Rob Reiner

Writer (WGA):

Jeremy Leven (written by)

Release Date:

20 June 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Is it love... or are they just imagining things?

Plot:

A writer must turn out a novel in thirty days or face the wrath of loan sharks.

Plot Keywords:

Novel | Writer | Stenographer | Novelist | Paris When It Sizzles

Cast

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

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Melissa V. Barnes	....	second second assistant director
Frank Capra III	....	first assistant director
Todd Y. Murata	....	second assistant director
Brent Stanton	....	second second assistant director (day player)

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

Sound Department
Neal J. Anderson	....	dialogue editor (as Neal Anderson)
Lon Bender	....	supervising sound editor (as Lon E. Bender)
Bob Bowman	....	first assistant sound editor
David Buell	....	adr recordist
Perry Dodgson	....	boom operator
Robert Eber	....	sound mixer
Paul Flinchbaugh	....	digital audio assistant
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley mixer
Dan Hegeman	....	sound effects editor
Chris Hogan	....	adr editor
J. Stanley Johnston	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Stanley Johnston)
David Kudell	....	assistant sound editor
David Kudell	....	digital audio assistant
Anna MacKenzie	....	adr editor
Mark L. Mangino	....	sound effects editor
Kimberly R. McCord	....	dialogue editor (as Kimberly McCord-Wilson)
James Moriana	....	foley artist
David Raymond	....	utility sound
Melissa Sherwood Hofmann	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Melissa S. Hofmann)
Christopher Sidor	....	sound recordist
Paul P. Soucek	....	adr editor
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Karen Vassar	....	sound editor
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist

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)

Other crew
Nicole Anderson	....	craft service: Boston unit
Michael Wesley Aycock	....	assistant location manager
Bostic Beard	....	set assistant: Mr. Reiner
Tiffany K. Boehmke	....	business affairs executive
Jordi Caballero	....	choreographer
Robert C. Campion	....	production accountant
Bridget Carroll	....	set production assistant
Jeffrey Caruso	....	production secretary
Angie Lee Cobbs	....	assistant: Ms. Hudson
Olivia d'Albis	....	title designer: main titles
David Ducar	....	business and legal affairs
David Falicki	....	set medic
Mark Fitzgerald	....	location manager
Michael Frayeh	....	assistant production accountant
Michael Frayeh	....	post-production accountant
Michael D. Gillis	....	assistant: Mr. Wilson (as Mike Gillis)
Robbie Goldstein	....	location manager
Bill Hardy	....	key set production assistant
Susan Hegarty	....	dialect coach
James Henderson	....	stand-in: Mr. Wilson
Ryce Hetherington	....	production assistant
Lindsay Hudson	....	construction medic
Jerry P. Jacobs	....	production executive
Pam Jones	....	assistant: Mr. Reiner
Alice S. Kim	....	assistant: Mr. Stott
Micki Krimmel	....	production assistant
Keith Lesser	....	assistant: Mr. Greisman
Scott Masterson	....	set production assistant: Boston
Kathleen McCullen	....	stand-in: Kate Hudson
Julie McKinnon	....	stand-in
Kerry Lyn McKissick	....	script supervisor
Dauv McNeely	....	computer and video playback technician
Annette Montalvan	....	set production assistant
Paulette Osorio	....	unit publicist
Nancy Patterson	....	stenographer
Danielle Perry	....	stand-in: Ms. Hudson: Boston
Benjamin R. Reder	....	production counsel
Marci Rosenberg	....	production coordinator
Sabrina Somma	....	rigging medic
Kenny Vasquez	....	set production assistant
Tracy J. Ware	....	masseuse
Ian Watermeier	....	production executive
Troy Waters	....	marine coordinator
Lavinia Zetina	....	payroll accountant

Production Companies

• Epsilon Motion Pictures
• Franchise Pictures
• Reiner-Greisman
• Escape Artists

Distributors

• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Gemini Film (2004) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Quasar Films (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Imagem Filmes (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (2004) (Brazil) (VHS)
• PlazaVista Entertainment (2004) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2003) (Romania) (all media)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2004) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Ring of Fire Studios (visual effects)
• Ring of Fire Studios (main titles animation and production)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Citoyen  main titles
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation (as JoAnn Kane Music Services)
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Pacific Title  end titles and opticals
• Panavision  camera equipment provided by
• Producer's Library Service  stock footage (as Producers Library Service)
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  nextel cell phone rentals
• Signet Sound Studio  score mixed at (as Signet Sound)
• Soundelux  post-production sound editorial
• TM Motion Picture Rentals  grip and electric equipment (as TM Motion Picture Equipment)
• Todd-AO Scoring Stage  score recording
• Todd-AO Studios (West)  foley recorded at (as Todd-AO West)
• Todd-AO Studios  adr recorded at
• Todd-AO Studios  sound re-recording services
• Vine Street Studios  sound re-recorded at (as Todd-AO Vine Street)

Also Known As:

Loosely Based on a True Love Story (USA) (working title)
The Gambler (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and some language.

Runtime:

USA:96 min | Argentina:96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Ireland:15 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Chile:TE | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:IIA | Iceland:L | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:7 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39965) | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Epsilon Motion Pictures

Trivia:

When Alex and Emma go outside for a walk, after they go on the boat, they are walking and there is a flash visible. It was a paparazzo taking a picture.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Alex and Emma are talking in Alex's bedroom, the time on the alarm clock jumps forward and back several hours.

Quotes:

Emma Dinsmore: Elsa? Who's that?
Alex Sheldon: The au-pair.
Emma Dinsmore: I thought Ylva was the au-pair.
Alex Sheldon: I changed it. She didn't have enough edge.
Emma Dinsmore: Swedes have no edge?
Alex Sheldon: No, that's common knowledge. They have that whole light blue flag thing.
Emma Dinsmore: [incredulous] Oh, and all Germans have edge?
Alex Sheldon: Well not all. Some do. Certainly Hitler springs to mind.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Paris - When It Sizzles (1964)

Soundtrack:

Perpetuum Mobile

When Alex Met Emma...

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