How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Posted by David | Filed under Arts & Entertainment, Film Reviews
My first reaction upon entering the theatre was “Whoa, there’s a lot of estrogen here.” The realization, for any guy, that your audience will inevitably be crying before credits roll is quite daunting, and it took me a moment to remind myself why I was seeing this film: great referral, decent trailer, and Kate Hudson (heart-catching smiles aside, she is one of the more talented actresses of our time). With that firmly in my mind, I took a seat and waited for the lights to dim.
One hour and fifty-six minutes later, I had to pry myself out of the chair and head out the door, wishing for a girl. What exactly that has to say about the quality and excellence of the film, I don’t really know–but I’ll try to figure it out.
The first right decision in the film’s production was the enlistment of director Donald Petrie, whose previous work on Grumpy Old Men and more appropriately, Miss Congeniality, is a testament to his newfound success. In the hands of another director, the film could have easily lost its audience in the first ten minutes. Instead, Petrie builds upon the genious of the book with layered character moments and heartfelt scenes; although still fantastical, the story becomes more believable than, say, two people meeting for the first time atop the Empire State Building. The fantasy is emphasized by light colors and soft cinematography, while the reality is upheld by solid performances and careful scripting.
Kate Hudson was entertaining as always, but Matthew McConaughey was surprisingly fun to watch. Although similar to Mel Gibson’s advertising character in What Women Want, Matthew’s role has a deeper humanity and spirit that creates within the audience a desire to see him succeed. In a twist, Hudson is almost harder to support because of her character’s strict adherence to her goal — but, inevitably, she wins back your heart in the finale (honestly, she’s kept it hostage the entire time).
I can’t say How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is a wonderful achievement in filmmaking history, because it isn’t, nor was it meant to be. The film’s goal is to rekindle the spark of romance in its viewers, and judging by my own response, I consider it a success.
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