Love and Other Disasters (2006)

An American intern at U.K. Vogue helps her friends find love.

Director:

Alek Keshishian

Writer:

Alek Keshishian

Stars:

Brittany Murphy, Matthew Rhys, Catherine Tate

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brittany Murphy	...	Emily Jackson-Jacks
Matthew Rhys	...	Peter Simon
Catherine Tate	...	Tallulah Riggs-Wentworth
Santiago Cabrera	...	Paolo Sarmiento
Elliot Cowan	...	James Wildstone
Stephanie Beacham	...	Felicity Riggs-Wentworth
Jamie Sives	...	Finlay McMillian
Will Keen	...	David Williams
Michael Lerner	...	Marvin Bernstein
Dawn French	...	Therapist
Richard Wilson	...	Registrar
Adam Rayner	...	Tom / Fantasy David
Angus Deayton	...	Celebrity
Frédéric Anscombre	...	Sascha Santori
Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu	...	Daphne Spring (as Phillipine Leroy-Beaulieu)

Storyline

Emily Jackson lives a fast-paced life. Always on the go, able to talk around the clock, with a sensitive soul she loves playing matchmaker for her friends. It's Emily's gay roommate and frequent companion Peter, who becomes again the subject matchmaking skills when handsome new photographer assistant Paolo arrives at the Vogue offices, where Emily works. She makes it her mission to bring the two men together. Unfortunately for her, she is so busy arranging a love connection between Peter and Paolo that she remains completely blind to the one suitor who longs to provide her with the loving companionship that she so cheerfully arranges for others. And so it does make sense that Peter, a screenwriter in the making, starts telling the story from his own point of view.

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Plot Keywords:

stripper | talking about sex | woman in a bathtub | sexual attraction | mini skirt | 

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Taglines:

A Comedy That Proves Love is Blind

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, including sexual references

Details

Official Sites:

3L Filmverleih [Germany] Europa Corp. [France]

Country:

France UK

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

25 April 2007 (France)

Also Known As:

Amor e Outros Desastres

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

EuropaCorp,Skyline Films,Ruby Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The town official who is supposed to marry Jacks and Paolo is portrayed by Richard Wilson, who also portrayed Gaius in Merlin (2008). Beginning in 2008, Santiago Cabrera, who portrays Paolo in this film, co-starred with Richard Wilson on Merlin, in the recurring role of Sir Lancelot.

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Quotes

Peter Simon: Jack's?
Emily 'Jacks' Jackson: Hmm?
Peter Simon: What are you doing?
Emily 'Jacks' Jackson: Reading this delicious recipe for beet root salad with margarine and balsamic vinegar dressing.
Peter Simon: What are you doing with James?
Emily 'Jacks' Jackson: Nothing.
Peter Simon: You broke up with him a month ago.
Emily 'Jacks' Jackson: I know. It's just sex. He fills a void. Literally.
Peter Simon: I don't see how you expect to meet someone new if you spend all of your time with your ex.
Emily 'Jacks' Jackson: Good point. Maybe I should get back together with James so I spend less time with him.
[...]

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Connections

References Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

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Soundtracks

L.O.V.E.
( Bert Kaempfert / Milton Gabler )
Performed by Nat 'King' Cole (as Nat King Cole)
© 1964 Screen Gems / EMI Music Inc. / Edition Doma Bert Kaempfert
Originally © 1964 Capitol Records, Inc.
Digitally Remastered © 2004 Capitol Records, Inc.
Courtesy of EMI Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music France and EMI Music France
All Rights Reserved for the Entire Universe

User Reviews

Metatheatric humor

Love (and Other Disasters) is not a typical romantic comedy, primarily as it pokes fun at the various aspects of the genre - predictable plot, grand romantic finale, happy coincidences etc. It is a light-hearted tongue in cheek movie that has all the spunk of a good romantic comedy with enough self-effacing genre-specific humor to keep it fresh and non-cloyingly sweet.

Other viewers have noted that Brittany Murphy is stiff and unbelievable, and that other characters are overly dramatic. But as the film draws attention to its very fictitious, theatrical nature, the characters fall into place as humorous fabricated, sensationalized versions of human nature in this light satire.

Also worth noting is the film's lovely approach towards homosexuality. Admittedly Peter's love life is a side-line plot, but what is shown has a ring of sincerity to it and avoids sensationalizing or stereotyping homosexual characters. While this movie is unlikely to win any Oscars, it is definitely one of the best romantic comedies I've seen.