A Lot Like Love

Year: 2005

Grade: C

Country: USA

Director: Cole

Review

i don’t like ashton kutcher – i think he’s a tool. that said, i’ve liked his work in the last two romantic comedies of his that i’ve seen – this and guess who. he’s able to be cheesy, boisterous, and deadpan with a sufficient level of humor. i don’t like saying it, but i have to acknowledge it. amanda peet, who is hot, but too skinny, is also pretty good here. unfortunately the film is poorly written. there is some good back and forth between the two characters, but mostly it’s cliché and doesn’t give the audience, or the characters, much credit. it sticks too much to the formula. it’s written by first time writer colin patrick lynch, who probably wrote his own bio on imdb.com. the narrative choice of beginning seven years in the past and having titles which separate the film in five acts (seven years ago. 3 years later. 2 years later. 1 year later. 6 months later.) was an odd one. why not just start the film with a title that said 1998? it’s not a film noir, it doesn’t have a narrator (as fever pitch does), the choice didn’t seem to reinforce any themes of the film, so why do it that way? i don’t know. it’s a minor point anyway. telling the story over that period of time did allow the filmmakers to have some fun making fun of recent history. the dotcom bust and 90s style are used to keep time and add some humor. it also makes for a fun challenge for the production/costume designers.

Watched in theater