A movie is to a viewer what makeup is to a woman. You begin with a good foundation and move on to the other accessories ultimately creating the ultimate achieving the ideal look. I found this movie excellently executed in this sense. Lets dress this movie up!
Foundation
Kate Hudson – Andie Anderson
Matthew McConaughey – Benjamin Barry
Adam Goldberg – Tony
Michael Michele – Spears
Shalom Harlow – Green
Bebe Neuwirth – Lana Jong
Robert Klein – Phillip Warren
Kathryn Hahn – Michelle
Thomas Lennon – Thayer
Annie Parisse – Jeannie
Andie Anderson is a beautiful, intelligent and ambitious writer for a womans magazine “Composure”. Though her dreams lie in the authoring of political and other world issues, she is wedged into the slot of a “How to…” writer.
When her friend and co-worker, Michelle suffers heartbreak for the nth time, the editor, Lana Jong, decides to turn it into a story for her magazine. Amidst Michelles protests, Andie helps salvage her dignity and affirms that she will write the story. Thus the storyline “How to lose a guy in 10 days.”
Benjamin Barry is super-sexy macho-advertising executive. He turns heads in the office when he comes in and displays his 6 pecs to all who care to look. A hot diamond account I being handed over by his boss, Phillip Warren, to his female co-workers, Spears and Green but he’s not going to let this one slip by him that easily! When he shows up that evening at their meeting, he lobbies for his case with the forthright claim that he deserves to get the account because he knows the fairer sex better than anyone. Thus, a challenge is put forth to him by his female counterparts with the head honchos blessings – If he can make a girl fall in love with him within 10 days, the account is his.
Lipstick, powder and paint
What are the chances that two stunning people, each with a hidden agenda of their own, meet each other in a crowded bar? Slim; but with a little endorsement from some office workers, it does happen.
The chemistry is unmistakable and to watch each one slowly getting attracted to each other with no ulterior motives is amusing. While Andie makes all the classical mistakes of dating, Ben does all in his power to woo Andie. Each one is impressed with the others intelligence and share common interests. Andie striving to drive the man away and Benjy (Boo Boo!) putting on his best performance to get the girl. With both partners working at cross purposes, theres bound to be atleast a few moments when the whole puzzle falls into place and a happy ending seems an immediate possibility.I said possibility!
When two amazing people are equivocal in their passions, turbulence is nigh at hand! To hand out this movie piecemeal to readers and potential viewers would be iniquitous since the entire movie is comprised of the heroine making traditional dating faux pas and the hero doing everything right to win the girls heart.
I could, however, give you a few clues on “How to lose a man in 10 days”
1.Talk about all your ex-boyfriends and if that doesn’t work, talk about his ex-girlfriends.
2.Encourage him to have a boys night out and drop in to make sure hes having fun.
3.Call him atleast 20 times a day. You may or may not leave messages on his answering machine.
4.Be as clinging as fly-paper.
5.Get him a dog he doesn’t want.
6.Name his privates after a female paragon.
That and so much more can be expected in this movie!
Piece de resistance!
Ten days, a weekend with the Barry family (and a game of Bullshit) later, Andie is no closer to achieving her goal and the truth dawns on her that she’s enamored with Ben. However, before they go out and start the fiesta, Spears and Green (Oh! Hell hath no fury than a woman scorned) circuitously wedge a sliver of doubt in the mind of the lovely Andie who, in an inebriated state, proceeds to mortify Ben. In the diamond-frosted locale of the greatest advertising coup d’état for Ben, Andie clears the cobwebs of the deception and lies to uncover the truth of her feelings for Ben.
Will the lovely couple ever find love with each other again? Will Andie continue working for Composure after having her heart broken? Will Ben seek out the woman who might be his soul mate?
Critique
Unlike many romantic comedies, this one stands out as not being histrionic and augmented in any sense. Kate Hudsons performance is praiseworthy. There are moments when you roll your eyes to the ceiling at her outrageous behaviour but you cannot lose sight of the fact that shes trying to “lose the guy”.
Matthew McConaughey, as the virile advertisement guy does not come across as overly masculine. To cut a long review short, everyone played their parts well. Each scene was minimalist and subtle in set design and performance.
Director Donald Petrie has achieved an equilibrium that has resulted in a seamless romantic flick. The music in the film comprises of some of the best in the music industry. Songs like Somebody like you by Keith Urban, Feels like Home but Chantal Kreviazuk, You’re so vain by Carly Simon, Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer and a few others cleverly interspersed into the movie all blend into the theme of the moment to create a cadence that only instills a sense of gratification.
I would like to add that I am not into mushy slushy stuff. This movie was not cloying or spewing with clichéd romantic witticisms. It was not hysterically hilarious nor was it embellished with steamy sex. It had a smidgen of everything to create the perfect “look” for the evening out. From love ferns to a chinese crested, this film is sure to bring a little sunshine into your heart.