Okay so I'm hearing mixed reviews about this movie. my sister, Ben Lyons( daily 10 on e!) and this articles are all saying that Valentine's day the movie is super overrated and the movie isn't even good!. but then other sources say its a cute movie.. i agree with the movies being a complete disappointment because i called it out from the beginning when i head it was coming out.. it just reminded me too much of " Hes just not that into you" i don't know I'm just going to have to see for myself. If you have seen it please gives us some feed back on what you thought about the film?
In a movie full of forced gags, it's hard to pick the worst one. The kid who constantly pulls his shirt over his head is a good choice. The cheating husband who literally juggles (Get it? Juggles?) isn't bad, either. But top prize for "Valentine's Day" goes to frazzled publicist Kara (Jessica Biel) and aspiring sports reporter Kelvin (Jamie Foxx). As Kara complains about how the day of love drives her to gorge on chocolate, she munches greedily on the contents of a heart-shaped box. Kelvin tries to pry the box away, and the two collapse awkwardly on the couch. Their eyes lock and, well, you know the rest.
That moment sums up the film, which is stuffed with anonymous Angelinos engaging in ridiculous behavior. In no particular order: A florist (Ashton Kutcher) deals with a flaky fiancée (Jessica Alba), a teacher (Jennifer Garner) falls in love with that snake of a married man (Patrick Dempsey), an old married couple (Shirley MacClaine and Hector Elizondo) tackles a long-kept secret, a fifth-grader (Bryce Robinson) orders flowers for a mystery valentine, an aging quarterback (Eric Dane) considers retirement, high school lovebirds (Emma Roberts and Carter Jenkins) plan their "first time" and an army captain (Julia Roberts) flies home for one special night.
So basically, it's about a bunch of pretty people falling in and out of love with each other. Every "twist" is visible from a mile away. The only surprise: two of the characters are gay! It's a direct rip-off of "Love Actually," a curl-up-on-the-couch DVD favorite that relies on nuanced emotions rather than recycled sitcom punch lines.
The names on the poster are sure to pull in a sizable audience, but they may find the two-hour running time a drag. The storylines make other ensemble films, even Robert Altman's epic "Short Cuts," feel concise. Director Garry Marshall is no Altman, so he must be a really nice guy with a heck of a phone tree. Somehow, he convinced three generations of talented actors to commit to a pointless exercise in cuteness. Every tired romantic comedy trick gets a moment. There is even an airport chase scene, as Kutcher's florist chases down Garner's teacher to tell her that the guy she's flying to see is married.
Then again, the roles didn't require much of a commitment. Julia Roberts, for example, spends the majority of her scenes in an airplane seat tossing back short answers to businessman Holden's (Bradley Cooper) prying questions. Despite the limited screen time, the actors appear to be game. With all the colorful personalities on set, filming must have been a blast. Too bad they didn't consider the feelings of the audience.
The younger actors use the film as an opportunity to break free of typecasting. Kutcher seems determined to prove he can make it as a legitimate leading man. The goofball persona he adopted several years ago is slowly melting away. Dempsey, the ideal hunk in the eyes of women across America, embraces the chance to play a slimeball.
The good sport award goes to Hathaway. Not only does she give her all to a few emotional scenes with Grace, but she dives head first into her phone sex characters. The Russian dominatrix and Southern belle are highly entertaining. Grace matches her enthusiasm. Like Kutcher, he appears set on shedding his dweeby "That 70s Show" past.
Perhaps the one storyline that shines through involves Taylor Swift. The country music star, who hinted at her potential on a recent episode of "Saturday Night Live," is genuinely funny, although her acting still needs work. The surprise performance is bittersweet. Pointing out Swift's comic stylings is sort of like complimenting the stitching on an ugly prom dress.
Some might scorn the cynics who trash "Valentine's Day." But it's more than just a bad movie; it's a symbol of how far the romantic comedy genre has fallen. Not that long ago, Hollywood churned out classics like "Moonstruck" and "When Harry Met Sally" on a regular basis. Now, "Valentine's Day" is the norm. The film is like a bag of candy conversation hearts still on the shelf in April -- stale, unwanted and not as satisfying as it should be.
original article.
category: DVD Miscellaneous
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