fan review by laura, sept. 27, 2009

This is definitely a movie that left me with more questions than answers, a hollow, shallow film that makes me wonder who greenlights this crap!

In pre-9/11 times, a shaggy haired dude named Ollie(Ashton Kutcher) sees a punk chick named Em (Amanda Peet, in a bad wig and with noticable crows feet!)at an L.A. airport. They board the same plane and end up having sex there. Thus begins a very irritating and tedious movie about "bad timing" and "true love". It's a shock to me that this film was directed by a Briton, as they usually produce films that are much deeper and intelligent. Hate to sound generalizing, but this is mostly true. However, no matter what critics called it "a wonderful romantic comedy", I could not find anything truly wonderful about it. Joel Siegel of GMA even gushed, "More special than most romantic comedies," or something like that!

I found myself going to sleep several times during this film, even when poor Jeremy Sisto, slighted with a very small role, was on screen. Well, if you're given nothing to do, that's that! I find myself shoulder-to-shoulder with Mari on this point: supporting characters who are not developed, not in the least bit! What little you see of him, Gabriel Mann, playing one of Emily's loves, has all the charm of a deep sea squid. For some reason, he seems to despise her, and soon leaves her...with no explanation. Ali Larter, one of the bigger names in this film, has a weak role as one of Em's friends, as well as Kal Penn, who serves as nothing more than an excrutiatingly annoying business partner to Kutcher. Moon Bloodgood plays one of Ollie's love interests. The woman is unhappy because Oliver is always gone, building his internet ventures. No development, and she's nothing more than an asshole.

Endless opportunities for depth and development came up, but were never taken advantage of. For some reason, Emily seems to dislike her stepmother and still grieves over her real mother's death. She sends Ollie to the cemetary to look at the grave. Amanda Peet cries quite skillfully, but you don't get much to ruminate on.

Oliver's endless rationalization that he can't be with Emily because he needs to get his shit together first grates on your nerves fairly quickly, and unfortunately does not end until nearly the movie's end! When Oliver's business fails miserably (no story, as usual), he finally realizes that "life doesn't wait." And goes after Emily with a passion. Even then, I was wondering what made this particular cinematic coupling so special. They seem to have nothing more than a very potent sexual chemistry. Certainly nothing like the vastly superior When Harry Meets Sally.

This film is just a waste of time, but sadder, a waste of talent, of the entire cast. Again, there were countless chances for depth and real storytelling, but too much time is wasted on longing looks and goofy music montages. Kutcher and Peet are both appealing and good looking, (Emily is much prettier later in the film than in that crappy black wig) and do their best. But the story was just empty and fell flat on its face.

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