Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing...
Review: "Work with what you've got" I guess was the mantra during this one. I really expected this to be better. (Colin Firth? Minnie Driver? Mary Steenburgen? Please.) It's never a good indication of "good" when I can stop a movie umpteen times and do whatever I just thought of because "now seems like a good time." What a shame. I wouldn't say this was a complete waste of time. It was interesting. Somewhat unbelievable, definitely, but interesting. And it got a little better as it went on. But not much. One very sweet 3 seconds and an actual moment warranting genuine laughter. I guess you can't expect everything to be stellar. This was quirky and a bit weird. But watch-able. If you're patient.
Rating: 
Summary: Hope for a Good Movie Springs Down
Review: 'Hope Springs' is a new romantic drama from Touchstone Pictures, starring Colin Firth and Minnie Driver. I was first attracted to this video by the picture of Colin Firth on the box; then I liked the blurb, saying that it is a charming Hollywood-style and witty British style romantic comedy. But my best hopes quickly sprang to bewilderment and scepticism. A British artist, Colin (Colin Firth), is dumped by his girlfriend, Vera (Minnie Driver) and takes refuge in a tiny New England town of Hope. There he meets a nurse, Mandy (Heather Graham) and they presumably fall in love. Then in the middle of their young relationship Vera comes to claim her former boyfriend. A series of encounters between the three principal characters follow and end quite suddenly with Colin opting for Mandy. Colin seems to be the typical, if not exaggerated, product of Western civilisation: he almost dies after a five-hour flight to the States, is indecisive till the end, too nervous at some point (especially against a background of calm Vera). He only feels sure in his craft of drawing portraits. Mandy begins as a psychotic provincial chicken, drinking alcohol straight from the bottle, then driving a car, and then undressing before Colin without any invitation or encouragement on his side. She ends a quieter and more positive character though. Vera is a composed, determined self-made woman; still she smokes so much during her appearance in the film that you begin to understand Americans who ban smoking from any public place. The film may be also called a lollipop advertising the ideal image of America: with not a single obese person, with hotel managers coming to spiritual rescue of their customers (complete strangers) by sending a woman to soothe the heart sores of a newcomer to town, such woman entering a stranger's room without permission and starting by massaging the temples of a jet-lag wreck. Taking into account the really beautiful backdrop of New England fall, the picture of small-town American paradise seems to be complete. Minnie Driver's acting is better than of anyone else in the film. Colin Firth would hardly be remembered much by his role in 'Hope Springs'. His personal charm saves the picture sometimes, but is not enough to save the script. The musical score is often better than the film itself, though you won't find anything beyond the ordinary. If you believe in badly-written fairy-tales, or if you are a fan of someone from the cast; or if you need another portrayal of fall leaves in the cinema ' then 'Hope Springs' is for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Pure Fun!
Review: (...) The movie is based on the book "New Cardiff" by the same man that wrote THE GRADUATE (not a bad pedigree) and-SHOCK-the character's name was ALREADY COLIN!!!! Just a happy coincidence or maybe serendipity (don't worry, Tennessee gal--you can look those words up in the dictionary). This is a delightful movie, very faithful to the book--the best part is that Colin is in virtually every scene! It's a shame that the studio did not release the film to US theaters--it was very well received in the UK. Colin shows his charming comic ability and self-depricating humor. I'm sure he gets tired of looking angry or unhappy in his other films--this gives him a chance to show his wonderful smile! (also, Love Actually is one of the funniest films made and was a runaway hit in the US)
Rating: 
Summary: A highly enjoyable romantic comedy
Review: Although the writing could have been better (in developing the characters, their backgrounds and motivations) the acting was first class, and more than carried the movie. I found all the leads appealing and convincing, and the character actors delightful. If you'd like to watch something light, cheering and well acted, I'd recommend this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Colin-oscopy
Review: Another Colin Firth fan here to warn you away from this movie. This is one of the most cliched and predictable romantic comedies to come down the pike in quite a while. But it's worst than that: It fails to make us care one bit about the characters. It's not Firth's fault -- he squeezes what charm he can out of the material. Minnie Driver also does her best -- in fact, her funny, clipped delivery in this makes me yearn to see her do Noel Coward. And Heather Graham has a couple of hilarious moments, although it's hard to see the long-term appeal of her off-the-rails character to "Colin." Oh, I see I'm making it sound better than it is. Trust me, it's skippable. Nothing makes sense in this movie, but the forced plot -- or what little there is of it -- exists only two get these two obviously incompatible characters together in the end. Instead of being happy for the characters, you cringe at the thought of their getting together. Can anything be a clearer sign of failure for a romantic comedy?
Rating: 
Summary: This Was Awful
Review: Boring. Yawnfest. Fist-crashingly bad writing. I could go on. I think I will.... Lame characters. Terrible use of music. (WHO decided to use that terrible remake of "I'm Not in Love"?) Waste of Firth. Small thank you to Oliver Platt for (once again) being the only good thing in a veddy bad movie. The. Plot. Barely. Moves. I dare anyone to give a rat's patoot which of the two boring females boring British protagonist chooses. Hackneyed use of "charming, oafish, quirky East-coast Americans." Skip it.
Rating:
Summary: Oh Darcy, we hardly knew thee!
Review: Colin Firth is one of my favorite actors-I have seen A&E's Pride & Prejudice innumerable times; I just love Bridget Jones Diary because he's in it, Valmont is a really great period movie and he is so believable as the cuckold Clifton in the English Patient but his last few movies have been such poor choices-What A Girl Wants; Love Actually; and now Hope Spring that I am starting to think his career is washed up. Please don't waste your precious time or money on this bit of tripe. Totally implausible plot line about jilted artist (Firth) who comes to New England to mend his broken heart after being dumped by finance (Minnie Driver). It is so unoriginal that his character's name is Colin?! Pleex, a different name doesn't cost extra. What about Jeremy, Ian, Sean, Rupert, Lawrence, Edward, Evelyn or even Fitzwilliam. He hooks up with Mustang driving Heather Graham (where are your roller skates?) Of course, ex shows up to try to win him back. Guess who wins?? Blondes do have more fun. Totally implausible Romantic Comedy (??)whose script is an insult to the really good cast also consisting of Mary Steenburgen and Oliver Platt. Lovely location shots but who cares.
Rating:
Summary: Oh Darcy, we hardly knew thee!
Review: Colin Firth is one of my favorite actors-I have seen A&E's Pride & Prejudice innumerable times; I just love Bridget Jones Diary because he's in it, Valmont is a really great period movie and he is so believable as the cuckold Clifton in the English Patient but his last few movies have been such poor choices-What A Girl Wants; Love Actually; and now Hope Spring that I am starting to think his career is washed up. Please don't waste your precious time or money on this bit of tripe. Totally implausible plot line about jilted artist (Firth) who comes to New England to mend his broken heart after being dumped by finance (Minnie Driver). It is so unoriginal that his character's name is Colin?! Pleex, a different name doesn't cost extra. What about Jeremy, Ian, Sean, Rupert, Lawrence, Edward, Evelyn or even Fitzwilliam. He hooks up with Mustang driving Heather Graham (where are your roller skates?) Of course, ex shows up to try to win him back. Guess who wins?? Blondes do have more fun. Totally implausible Romantic Comedy (??)whose script is an insult to the really good cast also consisting of Mary Steenburgen and Oliver Platt. Lovely location shots but who cares.
Rating:
Summary: horrible
Review: Going into the movie, I expected more than I received. I like Colin Firth and Minnie Driver, but they seemed miscast along side Heather Graham. Nothing really fit with this movie. The storyline was lame; Heather's character did not make sense, nor was she any good; there were too many holes in the storyline. Those are only a few of the problems. This movie was just plain awful. One of the worst I have ever seen. Save yourself the anguish.
Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Movie
Review: Hope Springs is funny and entertaining. A delightful way to spend an hour and a half. If you enjoy a good laugh and a nice romance this movie is for you. I, personally, laughed my head off and found it to be quirky fun.
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