DVD PICKS: Knotty issues for a wedding planner
THE WEDDING PLANNER
Directed by Wayne Wang
Starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey
Distributed by Speedy Video Distributors
MARY Fiore (Jennifer Lopez) had always wanted to be a wedding planner, even when she was a little girl. When she finally becomes one, she is the best in the game, and a celebrity wedding planner too. Mary is just being her hardworking, organised and dedicated (to her work) self when she falls for a handsome doctor, Steve (Matthew McConaughey), whose upcoming wedding turns out to be her biggest job of the year.
This situation turns her life upside down, as she is bewildered about whether she should remain professional or act on her feelings.
I find The Wedding Planner very cute. The pulling factor is, of course, the two leads — Lopez and McConaughey, whose characters are so lovable partly because they are such eye candy. But they are also good actors, and the chemistry between them shines on screen. These elements help build the love story between the characters, and the heartbreak that Mary feels.
Lopez is very capable of playing a Plain Jane, and it is nice to see her sans the glitz and glitter. McConaughey, meanwhile, is exactly the same in all his romantic comedies, down to that sexy swagger when he walks.
The best part about watching The Wedding Planner now is seeing how much younger the cast is. McConaughey is so fresh-faced and clean-cut, while Lopez looks as if she’s just out of high school. And Justin Chambers (Grey’s
Anatomy) looks so totally different in this film than he is now.
MEET BILL
Directed by Bernie Goldman, Melisa Wallack
Starring Aaron Eckhart, Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Alba and Logan Lerman
Distributed by Speedy Video Distributors
THIS movie is about taking charge of your own life. Bill (Aaron Eckhart), is fed up with his job at the bank owned by his father-in-law. Because of the stress, his life is near ruins. He turns to sugar whenever he faces unwanted situations.
To make things worse, he catches his wife Jess (Elizabeth Banks) cheating on him with a dashing news anchor.
Then, against his wishes, Bill has to mentor a smart-mouth boy who is determined to help the former change his life for the better by hooking him up with a sexy salesgirl, Lucy (Jessica Alba). Lucy ends up teaming with Bill and the boy, to get Bill’s life back on track.
Meet Bill is actually a good comedy. The storyline is simple — no hard thinking required to enjoy it — and flows at a moderate pace. The film has an impressive cast and the lead actors are given roles totally different from their usual ones and this makes things interesting.
Surprisingly, Eckhart knocks it out of the park playing a disgruntled man, whose luck worsens day by day. He keeps the audience hooked with Bill’s antics. The rest also do an awesome job. Look out for well-known actors including
Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis and Timothy Olyphant.
Aside from some deleted scenes, the special features offer trailers for some not-so-new films including War, Inc, King Of California, The Amateurs, August and Miss Conception.
LOVE HAPPENS
Directed by Brandon Camp
Starring Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart, Dan Fogler, Judy Greer and Martin Sheen
Distributed by Speedy Video Distributors
LOVE Happens centres on a motivational speaker, Burke (Aaron Eckhart), who doesn’t follow what he preaches.
It is surprising that a man who has mood swings can lead a large group of people in issues requiring comfort.
When his wife dies in a car accident, Burke writes a bestselling book on how to deal with grief and becomes a self-help guru. Then he meets Eloise (Jennifer Aniston) and is instantly smitten, but their first date turns out horribly. Burke is totally baffled but slowly, he realises that he hasn’t really moved on after his wife’s death.
Love Happens isn’t just about romance. It also delves into the drama that encircles Burke. Those who find it difficult to “let go” will surely learn something from the film though there are scenes that indicate that Camp hasn’t done enough research on how people generally mourn. Unfortunately, we are so used to seeing Aniston in comedy that we find her role in a drama such as this somewhat disconcerting. Plus, her character Eloise is not well developed.
Eckhart is a talented actor but Love Happens was a bad choice. Once again, fingers point at Camp and the writers.
Judy Greer and Dan Fogler provide the humour in the film, and technically act as a brightener to the somewhat gloomy setting.
The bonus features comprise several deleted scenes.
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