Rating: Summary: Good way to kill some time Review: A satire set in 1962 based on the war of the sexes, style of the 1960's/early 1070's sex comedies, Renee Zellweger plays feminist writer Barbara Novak, who advocates in her smash hit book that women play the game for sex alone while rejecting love and marriage. Super-egotist and 'man about town' Catcher Block (Ewan McGregor) after being slighted by her, vows revenge, and disguises himself as a shy and retiring scientist. It is hard watching cute and lovely Renee Zellweger playing the hard-nosed feminist that her role requires, but I'm aware that was the whole purpose of the casting., and despite having no sympathy for the agendas of wither Barbara Novak or Catcher Block , I cant help feeling sympathy for Barbara because Renee Zellweger is so adorable. So when Catcher tries to announce triumphantly his victory, I wince in sympathy for Barbara, and am relieved when Barbara announces that she is to have the last laugh. David Hyde Pierce (Frasier) provides lots of laughs as Cathcher's neurotic editor, Peter McManus.An entertaining and light comedy.
Rating: Summary: The fastest, most fun 90 minutes I've had in a long time Review: /Down With Love/ is, without doubt, a very silly movie. But it's fun, it moves at a good clip, and it is filled with cool characters. Renee is cute and stylish, Ewan's got his pseudo-suave demeanor, and David Hyde Pierce offers up an excellent supporting character (Niles as a beatnik? It's worth seeing the movie just for that). The genuinely surprising twist in the story combined with a number of 60s clichés makes for a really enjoyable experience overall. Oh and the music is very well done too, in my opinion. I think this movie was unfairly passed over in the theaters, which is a shame. It's a blast to watch, and it's really well done. /Down With Love/ is the most fun I've had in 90 minutes in a long time, and definitely one of the more well crafted movies of the last few years.
Rating: Summary: Tons of fun... Review: and very re-watchable. If you enjoy witty fast-paced humor and the Day-Hudson oeuvre, then this is a film worth owning a copy of. The entire cast seems to be having a ball and the director has had a field day filling the screen with luscious 'technicolor' and an endless array of sly hilarious sight/set gags (e.g. an impossible view of Manhattan that'll make any New Yorker laugh out loud). The soundtrack will keep you humming all day long (kudos to newcomer Michael Buble who provides some of the vocal stylings). This is a 'send-up' in every sense of the phrase and will have you chuckling and feeling good from the first "reel" to the last!
Rating: Summary: Over-the-top imitation, not fun duplication, of a magic era Review: I absolutely adore those fluffy romantic comedies of the 60s and thought I would love Down with Love. Wow, what a disappointment! The costumes are glorious and the sets are, as Renee Zellweger put it, sheer eye candy (absolutely yummy), but that's the best thing about the movie. It could have been sooo much better. The premise is fun, the actors are great, what happened? I thought the acting was so over-the-top (Renee's ridiculous, pouty mugging became annoying to watch within the first 15 minutes) and the story line was so silly and overdone that the movie seemed to be making fun of the whole Rock and Doris genre, not recreating it. Some plot lines were lifted straight out of classics like Pillow Talk, but without any of the magic. There was no chemistry among the actors and, unlike the originals, the story drags. I've seen this story done better on TV sitcoms! I liked the idea for Down with Love, but the way the story was handled was more like a poorly done chick-flick version of Austin Powers, mocking the era. I also thought the sexual innuendo was often juvenile, dumbed-down and crude (especially the split-screen scene), unlike the subtle, sly, adult sexual play in the 60s movies. Again, I think Austin Powers served as the model for this film. I don't mind sexual humor if it's smart. DWL's sexual innuendo was done up in silly teen-slightly-crude. Stupid and boring. I guess I love 60s romantic comedies too much to like Down with Love. I truly thought I would love this movie. I wish someone wout try again and bring back the sweet magic. of 60s romance.
Rating: Summary: Watch Something Else Review: This is a modern revamp of "Boomerang" starring Eddie Murphy. The movie questions what happens to the guys when they are at the wrong end of the stick. The set is based upon the Swinging 60's "Doris Day & Rod Hudson"s era. The costume worn in this movie is ever-changing & proves to be the highlight of the movie. Ewan & Renee are rather clinical in their appearance, perhaps deliberately as the Director attempts to achieve the cartoon, "Jetson"s look. I can't help but noticing that almost all the cast in this movie is from TV series such as Frasiers, Jack & Jill, Boston High. Still, the cast doesn't disappoint & manages to hold up their own against the high calibre & highly paid Ewan & Renee. Quite pedestrian, if you ask me & something to watch on a rainy day. I wouldn't have watched it if I weren't few thousand feet trapped in the airplane en-route to Sydney from Christchurch to catch the Bledisloe Rugby Match between All Blacks & Wallabies, which we managed to trounced them convincingly seven tries to three! Anyway, that's another story...
Rating: Summary: Hilarious Remake of 60's sex comedies! Review: As an individual in my 20's who was obviously not alive during the 60's but was brought up on all the movies from that era, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie! A big fan of "Pillow Talk" and other Rock Hudson/Doris Day romps, I thought this movie was hysterically funny. Some people might not enjoy the formulaic plot (if you've seen those other movies, you'll know exactly what's going to happen), but I found it very amusing. I thought it was a great parody on those early sex comedies. Now, certainly, the movie took some of those scenes from Pillow Talk (remember the bathtub scene?) and took them to the next level. But again, I thought it was quite clever. I also enjoyed the beautiful camera work, the set, and the costumes. It was really a treat for the eyes. The use of colors was fabulous, and there was always something to look at in the back of the scene. Now, I did see this movie with someone in their late teens, and they did not enjoy it nearly as much as I did. Perhaps only those who know and love the original old films can be as charmed by this movie? If you enjoy those, you'll love this!
Rating: Summary: Funny, Serious, and Romantic with a twist. Review: This movie is definitely for anyone with a sense of humor. The innuendos in the movie are funny and definitely shows the life of a single woman trapped in the fifties... If you like romantic comedies then this movie for you. I would not recommend it as a family movie because of the adult content but if you are just wanting to watch a movie with a friend then this movie would work.
Rating: Summary: Good Fun Review: What FAR FROM HEAVEN was to Douglas Sirk, DOWN WITH LOVE is for Doris & Rock. Renee is Doris. Ewan is Rock. Even David Hyde Pierce shows up to play Tony Randall. Even Tony Randall shows up to play the publishing mogul. Since everyone is here, let the chase begin. The time is 1962 and Renee is a Maine Librarian that comes to NY to publish a book about how women don't need men. Love is really a trap. Instead they should learn to be like men and enjoy the act without the attachment. Ewan plays the playboy reporter who gets around. The publishing and sensation of Renee's book makes it impossible for Ewan to get any action so he decides to seduce Renee. This will prove that Renee can fall in love and that the whole thing is a sham. In many ways you've seen it all before, but in many ways you've never seen it like this. The great fun of the movie is that the messages about women standing up are so old that they are played for great comedy. The movie doesn't aspire to any sort of seriousness and therefore the "message" is really just the obstacle to what the characters really want. What do they want? The same traditional thing as everyone else while it looks as though they are new and enlightened people. Renee wants Ewan, and Ewan wants Renee. I felt that the movie was great fun in that it captured the style as well as Far From Heaven captured its style, but it didn't have any messages to ram down your larynx so you were free to enjoy the romp. The ending may have been a bit much. Instead of ending the conventional way they gave it an extra twist that seemed tacked on. The last shot was genius in its silliness.
Rating: Summary: Superb Romantic Comedy! Review: I really enjoyed this very funny film which presents an interesting aspect of gender roles and dating life in early 1960s. I wasn't even born then but I am fascinated by that period. The acting of Ewan McGregor and Renee Zellweger are impressive and they do have chemistry onscreen. My fave though is David Hyde Pierce who is totally hilarious. I agree with one post that says that this film would have done better if released during the year-end holidays. Well, I am definitely including this in my DVD collection.
Rating: Summary: Up with Down with Love Review: Down with Love was an incredible movie for romantic comedy people as well as comedy people. The script was very well written and well acted. Ewan and Renee are a perfect blend of charisma and innocence, and had real chemistry; and David and Sarah as a pair were incredible as opposites. The movie was really charming and surprising as well. They really didn't oversell the twist that they put in the movie!! It's a doosey of a twist!! The set was perfect for this kind of movie too, the colors were vibrant and bright, the costumes also had an authenticity to them, it just takes you to another world. You really feel like this was made in the sixties. Oh, and watch out for a few farmiliar faces in this movie as well (a la SNL). All in all the movie was delightful without the romance of it being too overplayed or overdone. Watch out for lots of inuendos!!
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