Welcome to another edition of Adams Movie Reviews!!
**queue intro music**
Todays movie review is the romantic comedy How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) starring the dazzling Kate Hudson who plays Andie a journalist for a women's magazine Composure and super chilled cool bloke Matthew McConaughey who plays Benjamin (Ben) an advertising executive. Both characters are at a point in their lives who want to either be taken seriously or score the biggest client in their professional career. For Andie she wants to write serious topical pieces whether it be geopolitical or sociopolitical and Ben wants to lead a project to land a massive diamond seller client. Andie's boss proposes to Andie to take on this specific assignment which will demonstrate her abilities as a writer and journalist - exploring the common mistakes that women make in relationships that lead to their partners breaking up with them. Ben on the other hand makes a bet with his boss and his colleagues who also want to lead the project to score the diamond client. The bet is that he can make any woman fall in love with him in 10 days. Both the bet and the assignment become a central plot point in the film, setting the stage for the comedic and romantic interactions between Andie and Ben.
The funny twist is that both characters are unaware of the others ulterior motives. The film follows the comedic and romantic journey as Andie tries to drive Ben away with her intentionally irritating behaviour, while Benjamin simultaneously works to win her heart. The story explores the challenges of love, miscommunication and the importance of authenticity in relationships.
Now this flick is super 2000s romcom, with the predictability levels on a high radar and providing us exaggerated scenarios whether it be playing poker night which is interrupted by Andie to the movie scene where Ben gets knocked out to even Ben driving his motorbike on Brooklyn Bridge to chase Andie at the end of the film. Due to the exaggeration of certain scenes this lead to characters exaggerating their performances for comedic effect including the main stars which lacked authenticity. Forced humour didn't ode well in the film which led to moments that may have come across as contrived.
The only memorable scene for me was both of the actors retreating at a family home and engaging in a card game called Bullshiz. The game is also known by other names like Cheat, I Doubt It, Bluff and other variations. In the movie, the characters use the game as a way to add humour, to get to know each other better and add tension to their interactions and it becomes a playful and competitive element in their developing relationship. The funny thing about the game is like a metaphor on the whole story of the movie.
The movie provides a decent typical romcom soundtrack including Somebody Like You by Keith Urban, Follow You Down by Gin Blossoms, Weight of the World by Chantal Kreviazuk and the actors themselves sing the song You're So Vain by Carly Simon.
The flick nicely navigates through the clichés of romantic comedies, embracing them with a self-awareness that adds to the overall charm along with providing situational humour including Andie trying to be annoying to Ben in order for Ben to leave Andie - for example the NBA playoffs where Andie requests a diet soft drink. While the plot may be somewhat predictable, the journey is enjoyable, overall 6/10.
**queue intro music**
Todays movie review is the romantic comedy How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) starring the dazzling Kate Hudson who plays Andie a journalist for a women's magazine Composure and super chilled cool bloke Matthew McConaughey who plays Benjamin (Ben) an advertising executive. Both characters are at a point in their lives who want to either be taken seriously or score the biggest client in their professional career. For Andie she wants to write serious topical pieces whether it be geopolitical or sociopolitical and Ben wants to lead a project to land a massive diamond seller client. Andie's boss proposes to Andie to take on this specific assignment which will demonstrate her abilities as a writer and journalist - exploring the common mistakes that women make in relationships that lead to their partners breaking up with them. Ben on the other hand makes a bet with his boss and his colleagues who also want to lead the project to score the diamond client. The bet is that he can make any woman fall in love with him in 10 days. Both the bet and the assignment become a central plot point in the film, setting the stage for the comedic and romantic interactions between Andie and Ben.
The funny twist is that both characters are unaware of the others ulterior motives. The film follows the comedic and romantic journey as Andie tries to drive Ben away with her intentionally irritating behaviour, while Benjamin simultaneously works to win her heart. The story explores the challenges of love, miscommunication and the importance of authenticity in relationships.
Now this flick is super 2000s romcom, with the predictability levels on a high radar and providing us exaggerated scenarios whether it be playing poker night which is interrupted by Andie to the movie scene where Ben gets knocked out to even Ben driving his motorbike on Brooklyn Bridge to chase Andie at the end of the film. Due to the exaggeration of certain scenes this lead to characters exaggerating their performances for comedic effect including the main stars which lacked authenticity. Forced humour didn't ode well in the film which led to moments that may have come across as contrived.
The only memorable scene for me was both of the actors retreating at a family home and engaging in a card game called Bullshiz. The game is also known by other names like Cheat, I Doubt It, Bluff and other variations. In the movie, the characters use the game as a way to add humour, to get to know each other better and add tension to their interactions and it becomes a playful and competitive element in their developing relationship. The funny thing about the game is like a metaphor on the whole story of the movie.
The movie provides a decent typical romcom soundtrack including Somebody Like You by Keith Urban, Follow You Down by Gin Blossoms, Weight of the World by Chantal Kreviazuk and the actors themselves sing the song You're So Vain by Carly Simon.
The flick nicely navigates through the clichés of romantic comedies, embracing them with a self-awareness that adds to the overall charm along with providing situational humour including Andie trying to be annoying to Ben in order for Ben to leave Andie - for example the NBA playoffs where Andie requests a diet soft drink. While the plot may be somewhat predictable, the journey is enjoyable, overall 6/10.