Let's just firstly get this out of the way - I love romcoms...they're one of my favourite genres - but just because the film is, does not necessary mean I will instantly fall in love with it. However, this film...had just the right amount of charm, twist, romanticism, and general loveliness for me to fall head over heels for it.
The cast is outstanding. I haven't seen this sort of casting since...'Love Actually'...and in terms of what the papers say that it's the American version of 'Love Actually'. Casting wise...yes it is. Story wise...no where near. I actually preferred this much more to 'Love Actually'...maybe it was because it didn't have an unnecessary amount of sex scenes in it, or maybe it was just Hugh Grant wasn't in it...either way, I loved this film much more.
Some of the brilliant cast included Julia Roberts, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Taylor Lautner, Taylor Swift, Patrick Dempsey, Anne Hathaway, Topher Grace, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Garner and Jamie Foxx among many many others. All the characters are linked somehow...much like 6 degrees of separation, and it's amazing how well they were connected.
Ok, some of the storylines were there to lighten the mood for example Taylor Lautner and Taylor Swift's. It was a story of two high school sweethearts, and they're both just very ditsy, and I loved it. But on the other hand, there were examples of how we can often be blinded by the bigger picture when it comes to love.
Ashton Kutcher's character had a really good story behind it, and he connected loads of characters together. He plays Reed, a local florist, and of course on Valentine's Day - he has lots of business, and he's a very romantic chap. He goes on a romantic rollercoaster for 24 hours...and it's heartbreaking, but it's a romcom - of course it's going to be happy in the end!
There are unexpected twists, you can tell you're not the only one when the cinema behind you are gasping or 'Awwww'ing, or even weeping. I wept tears of joy at the end of this film...and I rarely do this. With sad films, yes I cry at most. But happy endings? Rarely...but this film just got to me!
Julia Roberts played an unusual character in this for her...but she pulled it off. She's a soldier in the army who is returning home for a night, before going on her next tour. I would never have put Julia in this role, but full credit to the casting directors - it really worked. She's so down to earth, despite being one of the most famous people in the world...and this always shines through in her performances. Just magnificent.
I would never have expected Jamie Foxx to have been in this kind of film. From what I've seen him in, he's either in quite dark films like 'Law Abiding Citizen' or just action films like 'Collateral'. So, Jamie Foxx in a romcom? Unusual...yet again, it works! His character represents people who hate the commercialism on Valentine's Day and would much rather people did other things. This film had to have his character in it, otherwise it wouldn't represent Valentine's Day in its fullness. He did a great job.
The characters are great...the script isn't brilliant, but it provides you with enough to fall in love with the right people! The soundtrack is really good, I was loving it all the way through.
The film just deals with everything you could face in a relationship, young or old. And it does get you thinking about how "love" is perceived and changes depending on who you are. From loving your teacher, to the high school jock, to the random guy you met last night, to your husband you met 50 years ago...whatever, it covers it all.
The out-takes at the end are great - watch 'Pretty Woman' before seeing this, and you'll appreciate them even more so!
It certainly won't be to everyone's taste. It's a romcom, and you can't please everybody. But it's a lighthearted and beautiful film...that will make you laugh, cry, and possibly move you to want to buy the DVD...I certainly will in 17 weeks time. Bring it on.
