:
Renée Zellweger,
Renée Zellweger,
Ewan McGregor,
more...
:
Peyton Reed,
Peyton Reed
see all cast/crew...
: 
: 20th Century Fox
: Comedies, Parodies, Romantic Comedy, Costume Drama/Period Piece
: 102 min.
: English, Spanish, French
: English, Spanish
see additional details...
|
|
Director Peyton Reed and screenwriters Eve Ahlert and Dennis Drake pay homage to the frothy romantic comedies of the early '60s -- in particular the Doris Day/Rock Hudson vehicles -- in this light-hearted and affectionate spoof. Barbara Novak (Renée Zellweger) is a sweet but savvy small-town librarian who has arrived in New York City with big plans to take on the town. Embracing a feminist philosophy years before it becomes common or fashionable, Novak writes a book called "Down With Love," in which she presents her theory that romantic relationships cause more problems than they solve for women, and urges women to focus instead on what will truly make them happy -- self-reliance, a solid career, and a healthy sex life (or chocolate if the latter is unavailable at the moment). Almost overnight, "Down With Love" becomes a minor scandal and a major bestseller, but not every man is America is happy with the new breed of liberated (and demanding) women spawned by the book's success, and Catcher Block (Ewan McGregor), a lady-killing bachelor who writes for Know Magazine, decides to put Novak to the test. Posing as a shy, retiring type, Block is determined to make Novak fall in love with him, and then share the details with the world through an article in Know. Block's editor Peter MacMannus (David Hyde-Pierce) thinks this is a splendid idea, but to Block's distress, he discovers himself developing real feelings for Novak. Down With Love also features Tony Randall, who significantly appeared in three films with Rock Hudson and Doris Day. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Special Features:
- Director's Commentary
- Deleted Scenes
- HBO Special
- 8 Production Vignettes
- Gag Reel
- Music Video
|
| Up with Escapist Romance
by underdog
November 24, 2003 - 10:04 AM PST
|
|
|
4 out of 4 members found this review helpful
|
Just the ticket for anyone seeking an escape, this silly but exuberant salute to/satire of 50's romantic comedies is good fun if you can suspend your disbelief (far enough to span a bridge across the gaps in the plot). The real star of this film is the look, the exuberant set design by Don Diers, who skillfully created a retro-postmodern 50's look, with every corner of every frame stuffed (sometimes overstuffed) with uncanny details and bright props. It really does capture the feel of movies like Pillow Talk, but adding a modern day sensibility, a wink. And just as in those older movies, the plot is acceptably predictable (except for a good twist here and there), with two strong-minded people hating each other at the beginning but by the end...
Zellweger and McGregor are entirely cute but not too cute, and seem to have a great time in their roles -- McGregor's accent slips in between Glasgow and Manhattan but when his character pretends to be Texan he nails it. And David Hyde Pierce is particularly perfect casting, channeling Tony Randall (who was in many of these movies in just this sort of role, and who has a cameo in Down With Love), by way of Niles Crane. There are times when the plot's mechanics seem in danger of tripping up the film, but it all rights itself by the end. A forgettable but frothy and bright delight. |
|
|
GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 6.26)
202 Votes
add to list 
|
|
|
Your cart
ABernstineIII
amit
© 2006 All Media Guide, LLC. Portions of content provided by All Movie Guide®,
a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.