VALENTINE'S DAY (REVIEW)
The
serenity of cupid and all that's involved with February 14th is more than just
another love story in 'Valentine's Day' - it's an extreme makeover.
Directed
by Garry Marshall, who is responsible for romantic favourites such as 'Pretty
Woman' & 'The Other Sister', interweaves a multiple character ensemble that
criss-crosses endlessly like a travelogue in and around Las Angeles. At the centre
of this multi strand story is Reed (Ashton Kutcher). A florist, he is vibrant
about his job and would do anything for his best friend, Julia (Jennifer Garner),
who is madly in love with a doctor (Patrick Dempsey). He holds a secret that Reed
realises and becomes in two minds whether to tell Julia. However, Julia becomes
a little more than surprised when learning that Reed's girlfriend (Jessica Alba)
has accepted his wedding proposal. Popping the question on Valentine's Day, Reed
believes, gives him free reign in an array of sugary sweet antics that most blokes
would probably cringe at, but their ladies would adore. At one point, Reed explains
his reasoning to Julia, 'You don't think, you just do!' And, so sets the pattern
for the whole film.
Reed's flower shop is the hub for many
of the amusing exchanges and mixed messages. An assortment of love struck oddballs
drop in to order a bouquet. Among the huge cast are Jamie Foxx as Kelvin, a sports
news man who is upset he has been assigned to do a romantic fluff piece by his
boss when he'd rather be off chasing down a football star for a story. Julia Roberts
plays an Army Captain, yes you read correctly! Who finds true love in the seat
next to her on a flight back home from Iraq? His name is Holden, (Bradley Cooper),
but things may not be what they seem with this almost perfect guy. Her real life
niece, Emma Roberts, makes an appearance as precocious teen Grace, openly scheduling
'losin it' with her boyfriend.
Country crooner and Grammy winning
starlet, Taylor Swift, is a natural in her big screen debut. She is delightful
as a gushing blonde in love with an athletic jock, Twilight's Taylor Lautner,
two high schoolers with eyes fluttering only for each other. Veterans Hector Elizondo
and Shirley MacLaine add some colourful charm and wit as Edgar and Estelle - elders
who have been together forever. The pair are priceless with facial expressions
and perfect remarks to Grace as she sits opposite, while explaining her intimate
intentions to them.
A glamorous Anne Hathaway is fantastic
as Liz, a talent agent with all the connections, but finds dating the mailroom
assistant a bumpy ride. Meanwhile Kara (Jessica Biel) is seemingly all out of
love and strictly anti Valentine's Day. She is disgruntled at all the happiness
around her, becoming more annoying as the day wears on. Working as a publicist
for her boss Kelvin, things on that front are likely to change when she least
expects it. Kathy Bates appears as a love therapist, rounding out a cast more
than I can name in this review. More complicated than, 'It's Complicated', everyone
is connected in some way during this film.
'Valentine's Day'
brings tears, hugs, laughs, tenderness and rapture of the heart -all this to the
background of some obligatory love songs in the soundtrack. The only thing missing
is Meg Ryan! Being a hopeless romantic, I found this to be an entertaining 125
minutes being swept away by the son of Venus, Cupid's arrow, even though I saw
this by myself.
For the couples who make it until the end,
stick around as there are some hilarious bloopers during the final credits. If
all this sounds more like the Valentine's Day massacre than a hallmark card moment,
but you're still keen to see a romance film on Sunday, go catch 'Up in the Air',
where the romantic twist, is a much darker one.
Shane A.
Bassett
