I have seen Cameron Diaz in comedies where she wasn't funny at all. She was adorable in "There's Something about Mary," but I thought she was UN-FUNNY and obnoxious in the movie where she trades places with Kate Winslet during the holidays. That movie was a loser, especially for Cameron. I believe that she did what the director asked her to do. Her acting made me uncomfortable.
I mention this because I was so happy with her performance in The Other Woman. She didn't laugh or cry or act melodramatic in inappropriate moments. She was appropriate for her character, but very charming. Leslie Mann is the actress who does some over-acting, or her part is written so that she is hysterical a good part of the time, but she does this rather well. I'd read that Kate Upton wasn't all that great in this flick but this was a perfect movie for her. She is a beauty with a pleasing charm.
THIS IS A SMALL SPOILER. I'M NOT GIVING AWAY MUCH OF THE PLOT. I'M DESCRIBING THE REACTION THAT EACH WOMAN HAS WHEN THEY FIND OUT THEY'RE DATING A CHEATER.
I believe that all this is evident in the previews. The previews often give away half the plot anyway, but the part that I describe is evident during the first third of the movie.
Let's get to the good part of this review. This movie is about three woman who realize that they're all with the same cheating man. That is the premise of the movie. Leslie Mann plays the wife. This is what I love about the story: There is no competition whatsoever between women. I was able to love Cameron Diaz' part because she isn't willing to be the other woman. She isn't willing to beat out the wife. The same is true of Kate Upton's character. These women make some clarifications about the woman "mistress." You can't be a mistress if you don't know that the man has a wife. If you pull yourself out of the situation when you find out, you are not a mistress. I like this definition.
I think this is a movie more suited for women viewers because I could revel in the good feelings of loyalty that these women had as friends under duress. Cameron Diaz plays a career woman who also knows how to attract men. She has a balanced life. She's a successful single woman who has scruples. She is still disappointed in men, or at least, this man.
Leslie Mann's character is dingy, but she isn't stupid. She's emotional, and she plays a funny drunk. She is not quick to hate "the other woman." Because these women don't hate each other, I can have fun watching this movie. I can enjoy the relationship that these women create as they deal with this cheating man.
Kate Upton doesn't have a huge part; her character isn't super developed but this isn't necessary. A third woman is needed in this story to show that this man is a cheater all the way. He'll cheat on the wife. He'll cheat on his hot intelligent girlfriend. He'll even cheat on the even hotter, younger girlfriend.
Another big plus for women viewers is Taylor Kinney who is mostly known for the TV show Chicago Fire. But I'd never seen him. He's a nice surprise as the brother to Leslie Mann's character.
This isn't a perfect movie. Its a very good comedy. I didn't give it a 9 or a 10 because it isn't When Harry Met Sally or The Princess Bride, my favorite comedies that I've watched many many times.
One more thing: There is some gross humor that doesn't work for me (even though I loved Bridesmaids, one of the tackiest movies ever, but I didn't like all of Bridemaids' tacky gross stuff either).
I hate the term "chick flick." This movie would be fun for women to watch together. Because most of the actors in the movie are women, I'd say that women will prefer this movie.
Here's a newsflash: I have no desire to watch a movie with men only. Men enjoy watching other heroic men doing heroic things. We don't call their movies "men flicks," or something similar that's a vague put-down.
The Other Woman is fun and sweet. The financial transactions in the story weren't clear to me, and perhaps twenty minutes of nothing happening could have been shaved off the movie.
But this movie is cute. The main characters are moral; they take the high ground under duress. I enjoy the distinction made between strong moral women who like to let their hair down and have a good time and weak desperate women who don't mind breaking up families or stepping on anyone to get their man.
The moral code in this craziness is refreshing.
I mention this because I was so happy with her performance in The Other Woman. She didn't laugh or cry or act melodramatic in inappropriate moments. She was appropriate for her character, but very charming. Leslie Mann is the actress who does some over-acting, or her part is written so that she is hysterical a good part of the time, but she does this rather well. I'd read that Kate Upton wasn't all that great in this flick but this was a perfect movie for her. She is a beauty with a pleasing charm.
THIS IS A SMALL SPOILER. I'M NOT GIVING AWAY MUCH OF THE PLOT. I'M DESCRIBING THE REACTION THAT EACH WOMAN HAS WHEN THEY FIND OUT THEY'RE DATING A CHEATER.
I believe that all this is evident in the previews. The previews often give away half the plot anyway, but the part that I describe is evident during the first third of the movie.
Let's get to the good part of this review. This movie is about three woman who realize that they're all with the same cheating man. That is the premise of the movie. Leslie Mann plays the wife. This is what I love about the story: There is no competition whatsoever between women. I was able to love Cameron Diaz' part because she isn't willing to be the other woman. She isn't willing to beat out the wife. The same is true of Kate Upton's character. These women make some clarifications about the woman "mistress." You can't be a mistress if you don't know that the man has a wife. If you pull yourself out of the situation when you find out, you are not a mistress. I like this definition.
I think this is a movie more suited for women viewers because I could revel in the good feelings of loyalty that these women had as friends under duress. Cameron Diaz plays a career woman who also knows how to attract men. She has a balanced life. She's a successful single woman who has scruples. She is still disappointed in men, or at least, this man.
Leslie Mann's character is dingy, but she isn't stupid. She's emotional, and she plays a funny drunk. She is not quick to hate "the other woman." Because these women don't hate each other, I can have fun watching this movie. I can enjoy the relationship that these women create as they deal with this cheating man.
Kate Upton doesn't have a huge part; her character isn't super developed but this isn't necessary. A third woman is needed in this story to show that this man is a cheater all the way. He'll cheat on the wife. He'll cheat on his hot intelligent girlfriend. He'll even cheat on the even hotter, younger girlfriend.
Another big plus for women viewers is Taylor Kinney who is mostly known for the TV show Chicago Fire. But I'd never seen him. He's a nice surprise as the brother to Leslie Mann's character.
This isn't a perfect movie. Its a very good comedy. I didn't give it a 9 or a 10 because it isn't When Harry Met Sally or The Princess Bride, my favorite comedies that I've watched many many times.
One more thing: There is some gross humor that doesn't work for me (even though I loved Bridesmaids, one of the tackiest movies ever, but I didn't like all of Bridemaids' tacky gross stuff either).
I hate the term "chick flick." This movie would be fun for women to watch together. Because most of the actors in the movie are women, I'd say that women will prefer this movie.
Here's a newsflash: I have no desire to watch a movie with men only. Men enjoy watching other heroic men doing heroic things. We don't call their movies "men flicks," or something similar that's a vague put-down.
The Other Woman is fun and sweet. The financial transactions in the story weren't clear to me, and perhaps twenty minutes of nothing happening could have been shaved off the movie.
But this movie is cute. The main characters are moral; they take the high ground under duress. I enjoy the distinction made between strong moral women who like to let their hair down and have a good time and weak desperate women who don't mind breaking up families or stepping on anyone to get their man.
The moral code in this craziness is refreshing.
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