Let it be known, I am a sucker for a good love story. Let it also be know, Jake Gylenhaal and Anne Hathaway are two of my favorite "new" actors. He should have been SpiderMan, can't wait for her CatWoman. Thus, this DVD rental should have been a slam dunk. On paper, everything looks good. The preview trailer looked good. It's got a nice group of supporting actors, including Hank Azaria and one of my favorites - Oliver Platt.
It starts off as a simple story of two shallow, heartbroken people who find each other, find each other scared at the level of attraction to one another and agree to maintain a no-strings attached affair that predictably escalates to love thus causing one or both of them to flee. Somewhere in the third act, after a montage choreographed to a Bryan Adams tune, one or both of them realizes love isn't such a bad thing and the lustful young couple re-unite, much to the happiness of a teary-eyed audience.
It's a simple formula - we've all seen it done poorly a million times, and occasionally seen it done very well. Had this film stuck to the formula, this would probably be right up there as one of the best love stories of all time. The chemistry between Gylenhaal and Hathaway is definitely there. The moments of brevity are well - timed and properly handled by Azaria and Platt. This film goes wrong when it decides to bite off more than it can chew by introducing the idea that Hathaway's character (Maggie) has early onset of Parkinson's Disease. Her fear of commitment is twofold: 1) that she will give her heart to someone who will ultimately reject her because of the disease (which we learn has already happened) and 2) she is selfless in love by thinking it is unfair that any partner should be "trapped" in a relationship with someone who is headed down the path she is on.
This film ends up being a long, drawn out affair NOT to remember - and quickly to forget. If you are in the mood for a great love story about a couple truly in love and fighting to overcome sickness and make the most of their time together --- then I recommend the one and ONLY film that gets it right ... 1970's ultimate tearjerker, "Love Story" - starring Ryan O'Neill and Ali MacGraw. In a lot of ways the creators of "Love & Other Drugs" were aiming for the kind of connection and raw emotion of that masterpiece - but fall miserably short.
** 2 stars --- and the only reason it gets those two is the great chemistry between Gylenhaal and Hathaway (which is sadly wasted here) and the saving grace of the film --- Oliver Platt.
Spend your DVD rental money wisely - pass on this one, get "Love Story".
John M. Dunlap
The Hollywood Outsiders
