Released Year: 2009
Directed by Ken Kwapis
Casted by:
Ben Affleck as Neil
Jennifer Aniston as Beth Murphy
Drew Barrymore as Mary Harris
Jennifer Connelly as Janine Gunders
Kevin Connolly as Conor Barry
Bradley Cooper as Ben Gunders
Ginnifer Goodwin as Gigi Phillips
Scarlett Johansson as Anna Marks
Justin Long as Alex
Story:
Nine people in Baltimore deal with their respective romantic problems, usually thwarted by the differing ideals and desires of their chosen partner. At the center of this is Gigi Phillips, a young woman who repeatedly misinterprets the behavior of her romantic partners.
Gigi and Alex
Gigi is a single woman who repeatedly misreads mundane actions and comments from her dates as indications that they are romantically interested in her. She then frets when the guy does not call.
In attempting to meet Conor Barry at a bar, she befriends the bar owner Alex who reveals the strategies men use to avoid a woman. He explains that if a man is interested in a woman, he will overcome any obstacles to ensure they date again, and that Gigi has been misinterpreting and obsessing over imagined "signs" that she receives from men. This friendship continues, and Gigi interprets his eagerness to always assist, such as taking Gigi's call while he is on a date, as a sign that he is interested in her. She eventually makes a move but Alex claims that he is not interested in her romantically and chastises her for ignoring his advice. She angrily replies that at least she has not let herself become cynical and bitter like him.
Gigi has moved on from Alex, no longer desperately trying to construct evidence that he is interested in her. However, in a role reversal, Alex began mooning over Gigi. After leaving several unanswered messages Alex arrives at Gigi's apartment to declare his love. Alex reveals that he cannot stop thinking about her and that he is turning into her. Gigi thinks that she is the rule but after Alex suddenly kisses her passionately, he says that she is his exception.
Janine, Ben, and Anna
Gigi's friend and co-worker Janine Gunders is having difficulties in her marriage to Ben. As Janine obsesses on their home renovations, Ben becomes attracted to Anna Marks, a yoga instructor and aspiring singer, and the feeling is mutual. Ben and Anna pursue a flirtatious friendship under the pretense of him helping her establish a singing career. Ben reveals to Anna that Janine gave him an ultimatum by threatening to leave if he did not propose. Ben then agrees to be friends with Anna and in order to flirt with him she strips off and jumps naked into a swimming pool and goes skinny dipping. She invites him to join her but he refuses to which she says, "That's ok you can just watch," and Ben replies, "You may be the best friend I ever had."
Fervently anti-smoking (due to her father's death from lung cancer), Janine pointedly asks Ben if he has been smoking and later is perturbed to find cigarette butts hidden in the back yard of the house. Ben insists that they are not his. Their contractor Javier, aggressively interrogated by Janine, says none of his workers smoke at the house. During a tense shopping trip to select flooring, Ben reveals to Janine that he has cheated on her. Janine is devastated but rationalizes Ben's behavior, blaming herself for being too cold in the relationship, and declares that she wants to save their marriage.
After a positive meeting about her singing career, Anna begins to have sex with Ben in his office. They are interrupted by Janine who, hoping to spice up their marriage, has arrived unexpectedly. Anna hides in a closet, and Ben attempts to send Janine away who then makes a heartfelt plea to save their marriage, and there are indications she succeeds in seducing him. After Janine leaves, Anna angrily departs vowing to cut ties with Ben. As Janine tidies up Ben's clothes back at their newly completed house, fully satisfied to make it a home, she discovers a fresh pack of cigarettes in a pocket. She explodes in anger. When Ben arrives home he finds his clothes neatly folded with a whole carton of cigarettes and a note attached from Janine asking for a divorce. Janine moves into a new apartment by herself to start a new life. Anna is later seen performing at an upscale nightclub. Ben is alone, purchasing the same beer at the same supermarket where he met Anna.
Conor, Anna, and Mary
Anna enjoys a close friendship with Alex's friend, real estate agent, Conor. He is romantically interested in her, while Anna is only interested in a casual relationship with Conor. Conor misinterprets her hugs and cute nicknames for potential romantic interest.
Anna's friend, Mary Harris, is in ad sales for a local newspaper. She helps Conor promote his real estate business in a series of print ads. Like Gigi, she meets many men (mostly online), but despite constantly monitoring emails, pager, phone, and Myspace messages, the "meetings" go nowhere.
While Conor attempts to cultivate a gay clientele, two gay men tell him how he is going wrong with Anna. Taking their advice, Conor decides to declare his love to Anna. Vulnerable after falling out with Ben, Anna agrees to start a serious relationship with him. When Conor proposes buying a house and moving in together, Anna admits that she does not want to, and they break up.
Mary later runs into Conor, recognizing him from his ad photo, and introduces herself, since they have only spoken over the phone. They hit it off, and start dating.
Beth and Neil
Gigi's other co-worker, Beth Murphy, is living with her boyfriend, Neil, who is also friends with Ben. After seven years together, Beth wants to get married, but Neil does not believe in marriage. With Gigi's newfound pragmatic stance on relationships after advice from Alex, she announces that she will no longer misinterpret vague gestures from men as more than they really are. This spurs Beth to confront Neil about their relationship. When he still does not want to get married, she breaks up with him.
Later, the fraught preparations for her younger sister Paige's wedding bring the issue into sharper focus to Beth after hearing many back-handed comments from various family members. During the reception, her father Rod suffers a heart attack. Beth looks after him as he recuperates while her sisters wallow, and their husbands remain glued to the television playing video games and watching football with constant takeout while the household falls into chaos. As Beth reaches the end of her patience looking after her siblings and in-laws as well as her recuperating father, Neil arrives with groceries and helps with cleaning the house and laundry. The two reconcile, with Beth saying that Neil is more of a husband to her than her sisters' spouses are to them, and she will not insist that they be married. Neil later proposes to her, and they marry in an intimate ceremony aboard his sailboat.
L² Scored: 10/10
L² Comment:
Well well well, how do u not score this movie a 10/10 when the storyline is good, the crossover between characters are perfectly planned and all the big celebrities were in it? Actually Ginnifer Goodwin & Justin Long's part is the one i love the most in the movie, she's not the fav popular girl that everyone wants, but she never give up~ sweet !
No comments:
Post a Comment