AT THE MOVIES WITH KASEY BUTCHER
Fourteen years ago, way way back in 1989, a man named Rob Reiner brought When Harry Met Sally to the silver screen. The movie, starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal proved to have real staying power and became one of the most beloved romantic comedies since (umm) Some Like it Hot. When I heard that Reiner was behind the recent movie Alex & Emma I was excited, but apprehensive. “Perhaps,” I thought, “he will deliver yet another classic.” I was worried however that the film would be a weak impersonation of When Harry Met Sally. It started out with all the makings to be just that, two people who can’t stand each other; they grow to be friends, and then more despite one party’s picky eating habits. In the end, however, Alex & Emma turned out to be neither a new classic nor a cheap nock off. It turned out to be a wishy washy romantic comedy that starts off splendidly but takes a turn for the worse and doesn’t turn back.
Alex & Emma centers on Alex Sheldon (Luke Wilson, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle), a writer who has a gambling problem and owes two Cuban thugs $50,000 in thirty days (or else). The only way he can get the money is to finish his next book, which consists of less than one line at the moment. Since the thugs burned his laptop, he hires Emma Dinsmore (Kate Hudson, How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days), a professional stenographer. The two get off to a rocky start, but Emma takes pity on Alex and decides to help him out. Alex’s book centers on the story of Adam Shipley (Wilson), an American tutor working for a glamorous French divorcee named Polina (Sophie Marceau, Lost and Found) who is having financial difficulty and may have to marry a man she doesn’t love.
Adam falls in love with Polina and turns to gambling to try and get enough money to help, and marry her. A love triangle is developed, however, after Adam starts to befriend Anna (Hudson), the au pair. As the story of Adam, Polina, and Anna unfolds it becomes more complicated than Alex expected, as does the relationship between Alex and Emma as life begins to imitate art.
Alex & Emma is the cute, but fluffy story of two opinionated people who can’t stand each other, falling in love…wait…that’s When Harry Met Sally. The similarities are abundant and make this film seem like a weak wannabe. The unfortunate thing is, Wilson and Hudson are both great in their assorted parts. It’s the story that makes the movie so weak. The first half is quite enjoyable, but Alex & Emma quickly turns into another case of movies not stopping when they should.
Now, for a word to the guys…I know that I’ve covered A LOT of chick flicks and comedies lately (they’ve been abundant lately). I, however, did see 2 Fast 2 Furious (twice). This movie, starring Paul Walker and Tyrese Gibson is about two racers (and criminals) working undercover for Customs to catch a smuggler. It has strong themes of friendship and loyalty and some really sweet cars. Personally, I liked Suki’s (Devon Aoki) pink car the best. Even though it isn’t exactly deep meaningful film making, 2 Fast 2 Furious is still a pretty entertaining movie anyway.
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