Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Film review: Love and Other Disasters

Love and Other Disasters
2006
Written & directed by Alek Keshishian

This was so much fun. British romantic comedy, a bit of an "Emma" interpretation but not strictly.


American-raised Londoner Emily Jackson, or "Jacks" (Brittany Murphy) tries hard to set up her friends - particularly her gay best friend/roommate, Peter (Matthew Rhys) - with various romantic possibilities but is less anxious to be proactive about her own unsatisfactory situation of still sleeping with her ex-boyfriend. Assumptions are made left and right, people meet and mix and hit it off and don't, et cetera.

It is a relatively predictable plot along the broad outlines, but it is the dialogue - fast, furious, and witty - and the characterizations -strikingly individual and remarkably truthful - that make this a wonderfully enjoyable, and memorable, film. I loved the characters, I liked them, I wanted them all to find what they wanted (even if it wasn't what they were looking for). I also loved the friendship among Jacks, Peter, and Tallulah (a wonderful and brave Catherine Tate), and I liked Jacks so much, which is rare in romantic comedies. She was smart and passionate and humorous and cared deeply about her friends and helping other people, and I was very happy to watch a movie about her.

And let us just say that her a la Audrey Hepburn outfits are fabulous, but she scampers around in lacy undies a good bit, too, which was more than a little fantastic. If only Paolo (Santiago Cabrera) had done the same, it would have been perfect...

So much fun. Especially recommended for cuddling up with a glass of something sweet and tasty and a good friend or romantic partner.

IMDB Link: Love and Other Disasters

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