After seeing this movie, I had to go and look up how tall Gwyneth Paltrow is, because it's the first time I've watched a film and thought "my God, this girl is bigger than *both* her boyfriends". Not that there's anything particularly terrible about that; the trouble is, the problems don't end there.
Which is a pity, since it had a good idea and a hell of a cast; just not the right one, unfortunately.
Take Gwyneth Paltrow's accent: For an American, she does a damn good job of "English"; the thing is, an English actress would have done so much better. We're also better at dowdy, and this film needed someone who could scrub up well. Ms. P is just too glamorous. Honeysuckle Weeks would have been my choice, but I'm biased.
Next, there is the "device": Used waay too soon (about 3 minutes in, as I recall), so we get no chance to see what GP's life was like before the fateful split and introduce some of the other characters. It also seemed to me they could have used more techniques (split-screen, double exposure or simply quick cuts) to keep the two narratives in sync. There is really only one point where the two halves are brought together before the conclusion.
Third: The blokes. The script is definitely to blame here, because both Johns are very good actors. Unfortunately, Lynch seemed awfully wimpy for a chap juggling two gorgeous gals; and Hannah comes across as a bit forced. The exception is Douglas McFerran, who was spot on as Russell, and gave me my few genuine laughs of the movie.
Fourth: Oh dear, Hollywood does like its packages done up with nice pink ribbon doesn't it? Guess I should've been a scriptwriter, because I can think of at least 3 endings that would have been better than the one they chose.
All that said, it's not a terrible movie; just not as good as I'd hoped. Look up the definition of a curate's egg and you'll probably find it mentioned -- and if you want to see a better film on a similar theme, check out "The Man with Rain in his Shoes" (on this side of the pond, it's called "If only").
6/10.
Which is a pity, since it had a good idea and a hell of a cast; just not the right one, unfortunately.
Take Gwyneth Paltrow's accent: For an American, she does a damn good job of "English"; the thing is, an English actress would have done so much better. We're also better at dowdy, and this film needed someone who could scrub up well. Ms. P is just too glamorous. Honeysuckle Weeks would have been my choice, but I'm biased.
Next, there is the "device": Used waay too soon (about 3 minutes in, as I recall), so we get no chance to see what GP's life was like before the fateful split and introduce some of the other characters. It also seemed to me they could have used more techniques (split-screen, double exposure or simply quick cuts) to keep the two narratives in sync. There is really only one point where the two halves are brought together before the conclusion.
Third: The blokes. The script is definitely to blame here, because both Johns are very good actors. Unfortunately, Lynch seemed awfully wimpy for a chap juggling two gorgeous gals; and Hannah comes across as a bit forced. The exception is Douglas McFerran, who was spot on as Russell, and gave me my few genuine laughs of the movie.
Fourth: Oh dear, Hollywood does like its packages done up with nice pink ribbon doesn't it? Guess I should've been a scriptwriter, because I can think of at least 3 endings that would have been better than the one they chose.
All that said, it's not a terrible movie; just not as good as I'd hoped. Look up the definition of a curate's egg and you'll probably find it mentioned -- and if you want to see a better film on a similar theme, check out "The Man with Rain in his Shoes" (on this side of the pond, it's called "If only").
6/10.