Text Size:
A|
A|
A
Email
Print
In what world would Jessica Biel be a Ms. Lonelyhearts, a woman who throws an annual "I Hate Valentine's Day" party for her pals?
In Garry Marshall's artificially sweetened universe of "Valentine's Day," a mixed bag of a movie that is part Hallmark card, part "Love, American Style" and part staccato romcom with a cast that spans the ages.
- Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Garner, Julia Roberts.
- Rating: PG-13 for some sexual material and brief partial nudity.
- Web site: www.valentinesdaymovie.com
Mr. Marshall, whose ensemble is large enough for its own televised awards show, uses modern-day Los Angeles as the backdrop to tell the story of longtime love, burgeoning love, innocent love, cheating hearts, broken hearts and newfound or strengthened bonds.
For the teens and tweens, he cast Taylor Lautner and Taylor Swift as high school sweeties; fans of "Grey's Anatomy" get a double dose of docs with Patrick Dempsey as a cardiologist and Eric Dane as a quarterback; "Pretty Woman" fans will find Julia Roberts as an Army captain and Hector Elizondo as the longtime husband of Shirley MacLaine.
Those who keep Oscar scorecards (winners and nominees) will spot Jamie Foxx as a TV reporter, Kathy Bates as his boss, Anne Hathaway as a receptionist with a racy moonlighting job and Queen Latifah as a sports agent.
Jennifer Garner plays a fifth-grade teacher, and Ashton Kutcher is a florist whose employees include George Lopez, while Topher Grace is a Muncie, Ind., transplant toiling in an office mailroom and Jessica Alba a workaholic.
Toss in "Hangover" hunk Bradley Cooper and Emma Roberts for good measure and that still leaves out a few cast members.
My favorite line of the movie came from Mr. Lautner, best known as a werewolf in the "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" blockbuster. "I'm a little uncomfortable taking my shirt off in public," confesses the teen whose character of Jacob is bare-chested more often than not in "New Moon."
Mr. Marshall, whose directing credits include "Pretty Woman" along with "Runaway Bride," "The Princess Diaries" and "Beaches," has made an acknowledged love letter to Los Angeles.
This is a world where a breakup leads to the front desk of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, the Los Angeles Flower Mart bursts with beautiful blooms and -- get this -- a man can abandon his shoes at an airport security checkpoint and, when apprehended, be scolded about the dirt on the floor.
In other words, it's another fairy tale from the director who turned a prostitute into Cinderella with "Pretty Woman." Here, Mr. Marshall works from a screenplay by Katherine Fugate, who created the Lifetime ensemble series "Army Wives."
"Valentine's Day" gives Mr. Kutcher a role that plays to his strengths, allows Ms. Roberts to shine in a small but unconventional part, lets Ms. Hathaway cut loose, leaves you wanting much more of Mr. Foxx and manages to deliver one genuine surprise -- and some twists you could spot from the East Coast.
This is strictly featherweight entertainment with old-fashioned, cornball sitcom situations and a couple of naughty but PG-13-rated sidebars. As far as romcoms go, it's closer to pink carnations than long-stemmed beauties.
Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.
