Saturday, October 17, 2009
Returning to Love Happens
Last weekend Nadya and I finally had the opportunity to see a movie again and we saw Love Happens. We hoped to see this when we first heard about it, and we were further encouraged by Leen's compelling review. I feel like Leen really nailed it in her description of the movie, its strengths and its appeal. I agree with Leen that the movie is definitely worth seeing.
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I don't think I need to add anything to the excellent description that Leen gave for this movie. I do want to add some of my impressions and thoughts. First off, I was surprised that Jennifer Aniston got second billing. This made sense as the movie enfolded: the story and the relationship are anchored in Aaron Eckhart's character Burke.
ReplyDeleteThis doesn't diminish Aniston's role as the romantic but practical Eloise. I don't think I've seen her in a better performance. Early in the movie when Eloise was deciding whether to go out with this celebrity who was in town briefly, a dozen separate emotions played out on her face in rapid succession. From that moment I was taken with Eloise.
This movie is indeed refreshing. I appreciate the intriguing reason why Burke was first attracted to Eloise. I was moved by the wrenching parts of the story that seemed realistic without being manipulative. Not all dilemmas are resolved and those that are do not happen easily. I really didn't know how the movie would end until the ending. All kinds of endings are left open as possible and reasonable.
Before we saw the movie I happened to notice that it was given surprisingly negative marks by several reviewers. I was skeptical of those grades even before I read Leen's take. Nadya and I now suspect that part of why so many reviewers panned it was because it doesn't really fit a specific genre. It has romance, it has comedy, it has drama but it is not really any one of those things. I believe that many critics dislike movies that defy classification. To its credit, this movie defies classification.
I haven't gone back to read those negative reviews. I probably won't bother. Leen did a much better job representing this movie. This is not to say that everyone will like this movie. I will say that I believe that readers should be able to tell from Leen's review whether this is the kind of movie they should see or avoid. This is the mark of a fine review.
Jim
Thanks for that, Jim.
ReplyDeleteSadly, it is no longer playing at a theatre near me. I'll have to wait for it on DVD.
M.
Glad you liked it, Jim :)
ReplyDelete