LOVE HAPPENS
RYAN: Sadly, there’s not much love happening in “Love Happens,” the new Jennifer Aniston/Aaron Eckhart movie.
CAROLINE: What a lame title. I was prepared for heavy schmaltz in this movie, but I was pleasantly surprised by the first 45 minutes or so. It was well acted, the story was established very well and I even got misty a couple times. Then the second half started.
RYAN: Seriously. Even I misted up at one point. Early on, I turned to you and said, “This movie is better than I expected.” But as soon as I said that, I must have jinxed it.
CAROLINE: [laughs’ The movie took a serious downturn during the slam poetry night scene, and never recovered. It became dull and long and overwrought.
RYAN: And the title is so misleading! Jennifer Aniston basically has a supporting role; it’s totally Aaron Eckhart’s film. The movie is much more about him as a self-help guru dealing with pain and loss and leading seminars to help others do the same. Where was the romance that’s indicated in the title?!
CAROLINE: Totally! There were so many long, drawn-out scenes about death and losing loved ones. It was a weeper. So not what I expected.
RYAN: They spent way to much time on the storyline of the dude from “Fargo” dealing with his son’s death. I was like, “Can we please get back to Jenny Ani now?”
CAROLINE: There were parts I enjoyed, and some touching moments. Aaron and Jennifer had decent chemistry. But as the movie went on, it got worse and worse. And forgive me, but when I see a movie trailer with these two in it and it’s called “Love Happens,” I’m going to assume it’s a romantic comedy. This movie is neither.
RYAN: It should have been called “Closure” since it’s all about coping with death. It was shot and edited really well, but the soundtrack kind of sucked.
CAROLINE: Yeah, I didn’t love the music either. Martin Sheen has a little part, which was a nice surprise; but then his plotline just turned cheesy and lame. A lot of convenient things happen in the movie too, like someone turns up just at the right time to overhear something he should have heard years ago. It was all very forced and predictable.
RYAN: Jennifer Aniston looks great, as usual, especially for her age. Judy Greer, who we love, has great hair in a tiny role and she’s completely wasted in the this movie. She barely had any lines.
CAROLINE: She needs to put on a few lbs. She’s looking drawn. And that hair wasn’t doing her any favors either.
RYAN: Frances Conroy from “Six Feet Under” plays Jenny Ani’s mom in a strange cameo.
CAROLINE: I couldn’t tell if she was supposed to be a “slow adult” or just more of a shut-in. That was a bizarre scene.
— BOTTOM LINE —
CAROLINE: I really can’t see this movie doing big box office. Why does Jennifer Aniston consistently pick mediocre films?
RYAN: She’s had a couple of hits lately – hello, “Marley & Me.”
CAROLINE: Whatever, I’m not talking about kids’ movies. “Love Happens” was presented as a rom com and it’s totally a drama, and I don’t appreciate that.
RYAN: It’s not even a high-caliber drama. I’m confused and disappointed by this movie. I can’t recommend it.
— RATING —
