Rating: 
Summary: Engaging Leads, But the Story Is Too Mechanical
Review: "Alex & Emma" is actually a remake of the 1997 UK-Hungarian film 'The Gambler' starring Michael Gambon and Johdi May. And the original is about the Russian writer Dostoevskey, and what happened to him while writing the novella of that title. You should keep this in mind, because "A & E" suffers from the wrong-headed judgment of modernizing the setting of the original which was deep in the 19th century.The story of this romantic comedy is, simply put, "When Alex meets Emma (or vice virsa)" directed by Rob Reiner, who knows a few things about this genre. Alex (Luke Wilson) is a writer stumbled on the writer's block, and in debt. He must make money in 30 days, and to do so, he hires a stenographer Emma (Kate Hudson), and attempts to finish writing a novel. The novel develops, thanks to the unexpected inspiration from Emma. It is about Adam, a tutor living in the 1920s, who falls in love with a French lady Polina (Sophie Marceau). From then on, we see two stories one after the other, both influencing each other. NOW, the good thing about "A & E" is that Kate Hudson (who plays five roles in this film) is delightful to see. Luke Wilson is also good and likable, and they make a couple of man and woman who must fall in love with each other. And we know it, and welcome it. BUT the problem is, as I said before, the setting. In the original "Gambler", Dostoevskey had to submit his rights for publishing his novels to the greedy publisher, not his life as depicted here. No one believes in the central story of "Alex & Emma" when it talks about the 30 days limit and being killed. Think about it. Some mobsters are after you, and they want the money back. However, they burn (yes, literally burn) your lap-top PC, which only prevents your scheme of returning money. That's a too obvious and tactless device on the filmmaker's side to have Alex hire Emma. And in the original, the stenographer has no other place to go except the writer (it was the 19th century, and women's jobs were quite limited). In "Alex and Emma," though Emma needs money (she comes by bus, see?), and she knows Alex is broke because of gambling, she still decides to work for him as long as 30 days without being even paid in advance! And to make matters worse, what Alex writes is not funny at all, but still we are to believe this "story within story" is to be a hit to pay back all the debt. Sorry, but I can't believe it. "Alex & Emma" is engaging only when it forgets its plot, which is a poor excuse for bringing the leads together. And Luke Wilson and Kate Hudson do their jobs quite nicely. Pity that the characters are empty, and the story unbelievable. "When Harry met Sally ..." are about real people. The same cannot be said about "Alex & Emma."
Rating: 
Summary: Completely and utterly terrible
Review: I wanted to like this movie; honestly I did. I ignored the horrible film critic reviews and the lack of hype, sure that somewhere in the premise of this movie there would be a glimmer of interest, spark, or maybe even just a little bit of good acting. So... I took a risk and rented this movie.
Bad idea. Bad, bad idea. I don't know which I want back more: my $4 rental fee or my two hours.
The only, and I mean only, decent thing about this film is that you get to look at Luke Wilson for an extended period of time. Enjoy it, because if you make it to the end of the film, even his cuteness may not keep you from hating him for subjecting you to his aversive non-acting for so long.
Kate Hudson is also cute, in the puppy and kitty sense of the word, but she's also utterly forgettable. One word describes it best: bleh.
Don't get me started about the circa-1920 plot-within-a-plot, which is the only thing that could possibly be worse than the present-day part of the movie.
Of course, this is a romantic comedy, so somebody has to fall in love, but by the time you reach that obvious conclusion, you simply don't care. Don't worry, the characters don't act like they care either.
Few films inspire me to get on the Internet and write a scathing review, but if I can keep just one person from wasting their time and brain cells by watching this insipid flick, it'll be worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: SLOW BUT BRILLIANT.
Review: If you are looking into buying thid DVD, i would certainly recomend that you hire before you buy. It's one of them films where you either do like it or you just can't stand it. Me, i don't normally hire before i buy because i choose most of my films with the actors i like in them but when i saw it, i realized it'ss not all that good for some people. Firsty, a man hires a woman to do a book with him for 30 days or if he dosen't get it finished by then he will be in serious trouble. Anyway she and him think in the end of doing a story basedin the days ages ago, a romantic story. Finally when they have done the book, they fall in love with each other. Great romantic film.
Rating: 
Summary: Romantic Comedy Will Leave You Feeling Good
Review: If I had to choose just one word to describe this movie, it would be bittersweet. Alex Sheldon, played by Luke Wilson, is a somewhat struggling author. He is young, single, and attractive - but being hounded by the Cuban mob to pay back a loan he foolishly took from them. How anyone can lose $50,000 betting on the dog races is beyond me, but then to find out he also lost an additional $75,000 of his own cash is totally astounding! So the loan sharks want their money, plus interest, totaling $100,000. The only way Alex can procure the cash is to finish his novel.
Suffering from a writer's block on the first sentence, he lies to the loan sharks with baseball bats who have come to give him a friendly reminder. When the lie is discovered, they torch his laptop. Really intelligent criminals we have here... destroy the means of making the money! In desperation Alex requests a stenographer from a company under false pretences, and Emma Dinsmore, portrayed by Kate Hudson, is brought into the picture. Finding the circumstances of her employment to be a complete lie, she is about to leave, but Alex convinces her to stay.
As Alex dictates the novel, Emma adds her two cents constantly, actually helping him with her quirky thoughts and ideas. As the fictional Adam Shipley (Luke Wilson) falls in love with his employer, the beautiful Polina Delacroix (Sophie Marceau), he strings along the "au pair" (Kate Hudson) who is a difficult character for Alex to settle on. At first she is Swedish, then German, and finally, American. The novel takes form and begins to heat up, and so does a growing relationship between writer and stenographer. Spending so much time so tightly connected to one another, it would be difficult not to begin to feel something.
Sadly, the novel and real life begin to echo one another and love may be lost in reality as well as in fiction. The pressure is on, only 30 days to write the novel, from beginning to end. Struggling with personal issues and trying to win over Emma, Alex dances to a fairly predictable plot, however, there are a number of twists that will keep you guessing and wondering.
This script is a brilliant piece of work in my mind. There is so much to be found, both in the blatant and the subtle, one almost has to see it again to catch everything. I found myself laughing a number of times, and almost groaning in sympathy in a few places. As you jump back and forth between the novel's plot and the reality of Alex and Emma, you find yourself caught up in the twists and turns and amazement at how reality mimics fiction, or vice-versa, so closely.
Rob Reiner did a great job of directing, and was perfect in his role as Alex's publisher. The writers all have wonderful senses of humour as this script has proven. This is definitely a romantic comedy that will leave you feeling good!
Review Originally Posted at LinearReflections.com
Rating:
Summary: It charmed me in spite of itself
Review: You could say "jejune". You could say "banal". I suppose you could even say "insipid". But despite that, I remain charmed by this film. It's a silly, little, romantic comedy that's been done many times before, yet it works again. I've watched it more than once which for me is a true test. I like to fall asleep with it playing, not because it's inherently dull; rather, because the feelings it provokes are soft, and warm, and pleasant. I can drift off knowing that all ends well; and really, sometimes that's all I need.
Rating:
Summary: Kate Hudson is the cute all-American girl-next door type
Review: albeit with an attitude. She's stuck in a way too predictible formula comedy. All that is left is the particulars. A novelist, Alex is under fire, literally to produce a novel quickly to get the money to pay off loan sharks who want to kill him. He hires steno, Emma & she moves almost literally into his life as he begins to crank out a novel; with her critical comments along the way. It is soon obvious that the novel is paralleling their going relationship. Yes, of course, they are falling in love.
The movie flashes between the present day & the 1920's Gatsby-like setting of the novel. The problem is they are all too aware that this is happening. That they know that this is causes the movie to lose much of the charm it could have had if the two stories proceeded with Emma & Alex blithely ignorant of what was happening. Art imitates life. Or is it life imitates art? I could squeeze 21/2 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Not the best out there, but entertaining and romantic...
Review: I am a sucker for romantic comedies despite the predictable endings. I rented this DVD during a rather tedious reading rut and enjoyed it very much. It isn't the best film I've seen by a long shot, but I loved the story of a blocked writer (Luke Wilson) dictating his novel to a sarcastic stenographer (Kate Hudson) after two Cuban loan sharks threaten to kill him if he doesn't pay back $100,000. I didn't like the whole loan shark thing, but the rest of the story is cute. Alex tells the story of a lovesick writer doing whatever is possible to woo a beautiful French woman. Is it all taken from his imagination or from real life? I liked Hudson's portrayal of Emma. Her character's dry humor made me laugh at times. Wilson also does a nice job playing the neurotic Alex. Even though most writers wouldn't let anyone interfere with their writing in real life, it is interesting to see what difference it would make if a regular reader would give an honest take on your work in progress. But, as said earlier, I cannot imagine a writer allowing that to happen, for writers are very sensitive about their work. I also liked that the movie is set in Boston. Anyway, Alex and Emma isn't a major film extravaganza, but it is a wonderful, cute film nevertheless. The DVD itself isn't so special either. It has no extra features to make it memorable. If you're in the bargain for a light romantic comedy, or if you're a romantic comedy enthusiast, I suggest you give Alex and Emma a whirl.
Rating:
Summary: 3 1/2 STARS!!!
Review: Well for a start "Alex & Emma" is a very different movie compared to most of what we are seeing today. It follows a problem Alex Sheldon, an author who has debt, has. He must come up with $100000 by 30 days. Now he meets Emma and makes her a stenographer (after lots of sarcastic comments and so-called seduction). As he dictates and she types they form a story toghether and make objections and alterations from each others advice. This movie has 2 plots one which follows Alex and Emma writing the story and the other follows the story they are coming up with. This movie is original (like nothing you have seen)but may not shine for people as it is very hard to adapt to 2 stories and the story someties includes things that dont need to be included. Afterall i give this movie three and a half out of five.
Rating:
Summary: Passable but done already by the greats
Review: Okay, am I the only one out there who thinks that "Alex & Emma" is just a thinly-veiled attempt of a remake of "Paris When It Sizzles" starring Audrey Hepburn and Bill Holden???? If so, then everyone out there needs to see "Paris . . ." immediately. Where "Alex & Emma" falls short, "Paris" truly does Sizzle. But, hey, when it comes down to it, I seriously doubt if Luke Wilson and Kate Hudson will ever command the screen as Audrey and Bill did. Yes, "Alex & Emma" is kind of cute, kind of corny, but so trite! If you can't improve on the original, then please, don't even try. As another reviewer stated, the film loses the viewer about halfway through - it just gets old! But, if you are a diehard Luke or Kate fan, like an incredibly simple plot, and some expected humor, then please view "Alex & Emma." I gave the film two stars simply because the viewer doesn't have to think too hard about where this film is headed, and on a Friday evening after work, who wants to think!
Rating:
Summary: Funny and Witty
Review: I must admit that I had reservations about whether or not I would enjoy this movie. I was pleasantly surprised by its humor and wit, and Wilson and Hudson have a great chemistry together. Some of the exchanges between their characters reminded me of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan movies (of which I am a big fan). I am surprised at how many negative reviews it has received here. While I acknowledge that it is not the greatest film of all-time, it was a very entertaining movie, one I would recommend to any fan of romantic comedies.
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