Movie Review: Down With Love

Story: Groan! I should simply leave this review at that audible -- but of course I won't. This film might end the short career of director Peyton Reed (Bring it On). It attempts to be a cute remake of the 60's Doris Day - Rock Hudson genre but falls miserably flat on its face. The script (what there is of it) stinks, the actors are cartoon - like and after about 20 minutes the same jokes are replayed time and again.

It is a about the battle of the sexes set in 1962's New York City. I ended up rooting for neither gender. Ugh!

Acting: Ewan McGregor is always good and interesting to watch but this film stretched even my tolerance. He is the best thing about the film other than the sets. There is absolutely no chemistry between he and Renee Zellweger, who has done far better work. Basically all she did in this film was prance around in different outfits and pout.

Predilection: I like Ewan Mcgregor a lot (in order to sit through this dreck!)

Critters: None. I do think this film cried out for something furry and cute.

Food: Booze and some uneaten meals.

Visual Art: Some awful abstract paintings and a portrait of Tony Randall's character.

Blatant Product Placement: Tang, CBS and JFK's book, Profiles in Courage.

Soundtrack: Utterly predictable, but fun. Some songs included Down With Love sung by Judy Garland and some finger snapping Frank Sinatra tunes.

Opening Titles: Pink Panther like -- all animated, explosive colors and upbeat. Catch Me If You Can did a much better job in this department.

Theater Audience: A handful of people with Doris Day fetishes. My movie buddy (who has a sappy factor of 10 built into her genetic makeup) was enjoying the film a lot more than me. It was enjoyable for me to see her laughing at the jokes. If she wasn't with me I might have walked out.

Sappy Factor: 8

Squirm Scale: Eye-rolling would be a more appropriately named category for this one.

Predictability Level: Beyond predictable.

Tissue Usage: I cried for joy when it was over.

Oscar Worthy: Ha.

Nit Picking: Oh my, where to start. I laughed at the relocation of places in NYC for convenience sake. In scene one, our female lead emerges from Grand Central Station and hails a cab across the street in front of the United Nations which conveniently has been relocated for the shoot. After a while I got a kick out of the relocation factor. My favorite was the Statue of Liberty's relocation to just west of the Empire State Building.

Big Screen or Rental: Neither. But if you want to see some excellent Ewan McGregor films how about: Moulin Rouge, Little Voice, Velvet Goldmine, Nightwatch, A Life Less Ordinary, Brassed Off, Emma and Trainspotting. You can also rent the much better Far From Heaven or Catch Me if You Can, if you are interested in this time period, instead.

Length: Too long at 90 minutes.

LOBO HOWLS: 3 (one for NYC, one for Ewan McGregor and one for the few laughs I did have).