Love & Other Drugs

Keep your eye out for this one in Cinemas November 2010

Bride Wars

Alyse Cox

Director: Gary Winick

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Kate Hudson

Rating: PG

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Best friends + both getting married + both have the same dream venue for their wedding + there is only one date available = Bride Wars

Best friends, Emma and Liv (Hathaway & Hudson) have both finally decided to tie the knot. When their dream venue is double booked and only one space is available the girls begin a ruthless battle with each other in order to persuade the other to give the date over.

Their inability to come to a consensus results in both girls taking drastic measures by making the others wedding experience horrific. However, during the process they both discover what they really want and find that maybe the date and their men are not meant to be their s after all.

With some seriously funny ideas this film is bound to make you giggle... However, there is much criticism with a film like this. The perceptions are, at times, very shallow, and the film as a whole is rather brutal and portrays a rather unrealistic idea about the stubbornness and bitchiness of women. Once is enough for this film, there is not much too but it will make you laugh. If you are not in the mood for incredibly bitchy portrayal of friends who refuse to show a little grace then I would not recommend this film. In saying that, their are hilariously funny moments in the creativity the two friends invest into their plans to bring each other down.

All in all, it is far not the ultimate Romantic comedy but it should make you laugh at least at the girls preposterous behavior.

Bride Wars Trailer:

The Back-Up Plan (2010)

Sophie Rutherford

Director: Alan Poul

Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O'Loughlin

Rating: PG
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Zoe (Jennifer Lopez) is a woman who feels that her biological clock is ticking, and that she has run out of time to find 'mister right'. So she decides to have IVF and have a baby on her own. The very minute she walks out of the clinic after being 'inseminated', she jumps into the same cab as 'mister right'. Zoe and Stan (Alex O'Loughlin) fight over who should get the cab, and the rest is romantic comedy history.

The film deals with many aspects of life; love, relationships, broken hearts, babies, and all the ordeals that go along with being pregnant. Pregnant women, or women who have had children, can relate to what Zoe is going through, and all women yet to experience childbirth can laugh along at what is yet to come. The Back-up Plan does follow the required romantic comedy plot structure, but with several memorable moments and plenty of laughs. It should be most remembered for the scene in which a friend of Zoes from her Single Mothers and Proud group is giving birth. Zoe and Stan go along, and are confronted with all the realities of childbirth. Fully complemented by some very strange farmyard animal noises, hilarious facial expressions (by the woman giving birth), and a rather large woman banging on a drum and chanting. It makes for a very funny scene and should put a big smile on your face!

A feel good romantic comedy that will restore your faith in the male species and make you once again believe that mister right is just around the corner. 

It Could Happen To You

Sophie Rutherford

Director: Andrew Bergman
Starring: Nicholas Cage, Bridget Fonda, Rosie Perez
Rating: PG

It Could Happen To You is an old school romantic comedy that really makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. Charlie  (Nicholas Cage) is a decent, hard working New York Cop, who meets decent, hardworking waitress Yvonne (Bridget Fonda). Charlie cannot leave a tip one day, so he tells Yvonne that he will split his lottery ticket with her if he wins. Sure enough, he wins $4 million, and the rest of the movie follows Charlie in his decision to actually share his winnings, and the romance that follows between himself and Yvonne.

While this movie could have been sappy and overdone, It Could Happen To You is written beautifully, and the on screen chemistry between the two leading actors keeps you captivated till the end. It has just the right amount of romance blended with comedic moments, and of course, plenty of feel good moments to leave you with a smile plastered on your face. For atleast afew hours after.

Recommended Audience: Girls night in, or romantic night in with the b/f...even he might like this one!

Watch the trailer for It Could Happen To You

The Holiday

Sophie Rutherford

Director: Nancy Meyers
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Jack Black
Rating: PG

The Holiday shows two women from different worlds, who want to trade what they have for something else. The two women, Iris (Kate Winslet) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz) swap homes for the holidays, Iris to Amandas LA pad, and Amanda to Iris's house in the English countryside. What the two women did not expect is the direction this move would take each of their lives. Iris falls for film composer Miles (Jack Black), and Amanda is charmed by Iris's brother Graham (Jude Law). Several hurdles arise during the film, but are predictably solved and the movie ends happily ever after.

This is a good veg out film to see with the girls, but is hopelessly predictable. It would be bearable if it had a bevvy of good looking men, but Law is the only major player in the looks department, made all the more attractive by being cast opposite Black.

Recommended audience - Girls night in.

Check out the trailer for The Holiday

Moulin Rouge!

Alyse Cox

Director: Baz Luhrmann, Jim Broadbent
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor
Rating: M
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Feel like an out-there Romantic Musical? Then Moulin Rouge! is your film! Set in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris in France the film is based on the Orphean Myth and the Giuseppe Verdi's opera; La Traviata.

The film portrays a story of a young English poet and writer, by the name of Christian (McGregor), Who moves to the Montmartre Quarter. There he falls in love with the Star of the Moulin Rouge, Courtesan and Cabaret actress Satine (Kidman). There is a hold on Satine's life by both the La Traviata and the Duke (Roxburgh) that Christian dares to break which could either result in their happily ever after or their destruction.

Mysterious but bright and colourful the humour in this film is elegant and well devised. With plenty of AWESOME music, singing and dancing it is definently worth the viewing. However, the runs at a considerably fast pass and therefore the story is found to be shallow and completely irrational. As you will notice in all Luhrmann's films, he has an eye for the glamour and extreme dramatisation.

If you enjoyed Baz Luhrmann's other films such as Romeo and Juliet, Strictly Ballroom and Australia this is definently one not to miss!

Recommended Audience: Girls night in

CHECK OUT THE TRAILER

Valentine's Day

Alyse Cox

Director: Garry Marshall

Starring: Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Carter Jenkins, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, Taylor Swift, Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts, Shirley Maclaine.

Rating: M

♥ ♥ ♥ 

Valentine's Day tracks a group of people through their experiences on Valentines Day. From High School sweethearts to those who have celebrated years of love this film brings together all kinds of people and relationships from different experiences. In short, this film has something for everyone.

The film deals with the break-ups, the make-ups, the affairs, forgiveness, the kinky and love that is unbroken and unbound. New love is found and old love revealed. The characters are cleavily connected together so that they all run across each other in the film.

The only criticism of such a film would be its an American take off of Love Actually. It has a similar concept and interconnectivity of characters. However, regardless of similarities Valentine's Day presents new ideas with more characters and pulls the whole thing off quite nicely. Besides if you enjoyed Love Actually you will most likely enjoy Valentine's Day but that is not to say that if you did not like Love Actually you will not like Valentine's Day. Give this film a go it is a guarrenteed pleaser.

With a steller cast this film is definently one to see! Quirky and funny, yet serious and sublime Valentine's Day is worth viewing.

Reccommeded Audience: Anyone who likes that 'warm and fuzzy' feeling.

 CHECK OUT THE TRAILER