Love & Other Drugs

4/5

Provocatively tasteful, Love & Other Drugs is a heartfelt, inspirational tale of romance and true love in an intimacy-challenged world we live in.

Jamie Randall (Gyllenhaal) is a pharmaceutical sales rep of one of the largest drug company in the world, Pfizer. Suffering from ADD and considered a prodigal son by his over-achieving family, Jamie’s defining characteristics are his confidence, good looks, and impeccable charm with women. Maggie Murdock (Hathaway) is an aspiring artist struggling with stage 1 Parkinson’s disease and have shut herself up for love and a romantic relationship. They met in a very unconventional way and together, they found themselves blending with each other perfectly in bed. But can true love blossom in a relationship founded in lust, made stronger by hot, steamy compatibility in sex, threatened by intimacy issues, and a progressive disease?

One of the many things very remarkable about this movie and sets it apart from other sex-dramedy is its portrayal of a no strings attached-FuBu relationship in a classy, artistic way. You would never at any point while watching the movie feel as if you’re treated to a 2-hour sexfest, soft-porn flick. I mean don’t get me wrong because it’s a delight to see Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway naked in hot sexy scenes but when you go see a movie it is ultimately the story that matters the most, and thankfully, this movie didn’t disappoint.

Love & Other Drugs is a timely movie that tackles a relationship that’s so prevalent these days and is actually what most generations Y and Z prefers. The thrill and consequences of a FuBu relationship shaped by more serious tones of an incurable disease and commitment issues woven into a sharply written script provides the depth of the movie. Though it tried so hard to incorporate a lot of sub-plots, some dramatic scenes lacks the touching feel that’ll move you to tears and some comedic lines doesn’t deliver to launch collective laughter, I maintain that the movie has a very strong plot and a script that makes a lot of sense.

Gyllenhaal and Hathaway both gave authentic and noteworthy performances here. The success of this movie above all takes its credit to the awesome, genuinely inexplicable chemistry of Brokeback Mountain partners, Gyllenhaal and Hathaway. They complement each other very well acting-wise as well as looks-wise. Anne Hathaway has always been a very dependable actress. She’s one of the few young Hollywood actresses whose versatility is unquestionable. Jake Gyllenhaal is captivating in this movie. To say he is perfect for the role is an understatement. Jake is suited for this genre because not only can he convey romance in a very natural way, he is also oozing with sex appeal and an angelic face that will undoubtedly tickle pink every girls and gays in the land.

It’s also dumb to not point out how wonderful the musical scoring and how excellently beautiful the song choices were.

Love & Other Drugs veered away from those averages, petty romance movies we’re all sick and tired about. It presented a fresh narrative about a no strings attached relationship founded on lust and sex but keen to a possibility of a happy ever after ending. Watching a movie like Love & Other Drugs will again make you wonder of love’s unpredictability and inexplicable mysteriousness. It is an old age belief that love blooms in the most unexpected and unconventional places, timings, and ways but one thing is for sure…TRUE LOVE happens! Maybe not the way you expect it to be but it does. And when it finally captures you, it’s not even comprehensible why or what made you love the person for all the he is. You just know and feel it deep inside. It’s certainly magic that of all the millions of people in this planet, one such ordinary human being touches your heart and you’re never the same again. That all of a sudden, unconsciously, he/she let your guards down and all your unresolved issues fade away; by leap of faith, you’re sure as heaven and hell that you can give up anything and everything just to be with him for the rest of your existence.

What Happens in Vegas

4/5 stars

Hilarious and full of substance, What Happens in Vegas is one of the best romantic comedies of this year. Though there were a few boring scenes as the movie progresses to it's climax, director Tom Vaughan was able to pick it up and surprise the moviegoers with scenes that'll make you laugh and at the same time fall in love. The storyline is different from other movies of this genre in such a way that the narrative itself is a larger than life kind. It's not your typical love story taken from the slice of life, a love story that you know is possible and may have happen at least once in a person's lifetime. The storyline of What Happens in Vegas is the type that you know is not gonna happen in the real world but for the sake of fiction, you give it a try. With all fairness to the movie, I believe it's successful in making impossible scenarios appear as if it will really happen in real life. After all, this is a romantic comedy and improbable scenarios are part of the package.

This movie is filled with humor that'll surely make you laugh from the story itself down to the characters. In my honest opinion, the comedy it offered including the absurdity of the storyline isn't at all corny. It’s endearing and worth a laugh. Likewise, the movie presented sufficient amount of romance to show how love bloomed in the hearts of two individuals with extremely opposing characters. Towards the end of the film, when more of the romantic side is being focused on, the entire scene of the party at the retreat Joy (Diaz) and Jack (Kutcher) attended and the finale scene at the beach with both characters professing their love for each other are very commendable scenes. The perfect balance of humor and romance in this movie deserves applause.

The pairing of Ashton and Cameron is the primary reason why this movie is able to carry out a plot like this. Their natural comedy combined with the undeniable chemistry between the two of them makes this movie a success. They look good together on screen and make a perfect couple.

Ultimately, what I love about this movie is its take on how love is possible and how a relationship can work despite the enormous disparateness of two characters. It tells us that sometimes it is not your similarities that make you fall for a person but it is actually the person’s unlikeness to you that makes you love him/her.

For whatever its worth, this movie is a must-see. It’s entertaining, engaging, and a perfect movie to give your day a break.

27 Dresses

4/5 stars

I didn’t have second thoughts on watching this movie on its opening day. From its trailer I have seen a week ago, I can tell that this chick flick is quite good. Gladly for ’27 Dresses’, it didn’t disappoint me.

Though undeniably the movie’s plot was predictable and most of the scenes followed the conventional formula of a chick flick, what was so remarkable about the film was its story. It’s so cute and realistic and has managed to stay away from fantasies which most romantic-comedies have. The clichés and coincidences in the movie were all bearable. Another thing that’s nice about this movie was that even though you think you’ve seen this particular scene or character in another film, Director Anne Fletcher have made it look fresh and new again as if it’s the only option and if you’re gonna change it, you’ll just ruin the entire film.

The chemistry of the two lead actors was unbelievable. They act so genuine that you’ll really be carried away and will leave you feeling super kilig.

My top 5 favorite kilig moments were:
1. when Kevin was saying sorry about the article then handed Jane an electronic planner
2. scene where they were on a bar and singing their favorite song
3. the part where Kevin told Jane what’s his favorite part of a wedding
4. when Jane was walking down the aisle (I love James Marsden’s eyes)
5. OF COURSE! the scene where Jane was telling Kevin how she feels for him at the boat wedding

I just love Katherine Heigl so much! I love her as Izzie and I even loved her as Jane. I’m a fan of unrequited love for obvious reasons and she was very effective in portraying this role especially the scenes where she was holding back with the love she feels for George, scenes where she’s about to cry because of the pain of a repressed love but she can’t so she holds back her tears and just smile away. She’s a very good actress!

‘27 Dresses’ is not another chick flick to be bored with. It’s funny, romantic and very very touching. It’s worth the 120 bucks!

PS. James Marsden is gorgeous!