Along Came Polly (2004)

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343135/?ref_=nv_sr_2

Official Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTXS-5D_U8k

BEFORE THE VIEWING

Unlike the romantic comedy I just reviewed, "Along Came Polly" is a pretty standard rom com - one straight-laced person, one wild child, somehow making love work odd-couple style.

I don't remember much about this movie, other than Jennifer Aniston being a bit of a mess (but totally pulling it off), and Ben Stiller being a non-ironic, non-caricature of a person (but only kinda pulling it off).

The one thing that does get me excited about is the supporting role of Philip Seymour-Hoffman (RIP) who plays the chunky-but-lovable best friend in this movie. I remember him from so many grittier, dramatic roles, so it should be fun to see him in something different.

AFTER THE VIEWING

Okay, so this is gonna be super harsh...but this movie is sorta everything I detest about romances portrayed in film. Maybe my perspective is skewed, because I'm the child of a divorced home, but I have a pretty low tolerance for incompatibility, and the compromises that people end up making to try and salvage something that just...doesn't...work. The main characters of this film are just not going to fit, long term, but instead of having any honest dialogue about it, when the topic of being too different comes up, Polly just jumps Reuben's bones. Ugh.

Reuben (Stiller) also feels like a super hollow character to me, and not the type of dude I've ever encountered - someone who defines a first date as a "defining moment" in his life, and goes from thinking it could never work out one night, to considering marriage with the same person the next morning. What the hell? How about you have a life of your own, Reuben, instead of letting women define your every thought and emotion?

I had hoped that Philip Seymour-Hoffman would be a fun distraction from this trainwreck of a romance, but no; he ended up being a disgusting, washed-up has-been with on over-inflated ego who offered misguided advice to his dumbass friend, Reuben. The "sharted" joke was a particularly brutal scene to watch, because even though it was funny, it belittled the talents of an actor we all know was capable of roles with far more depth and humor.

The cameos I ended up enjoying most added up to about 15 minutes of airtime. First, there was the immensely-talented Hank Azaria, who played a SCUBA lothario at the beginning and end of the film. We also caught brief glimpses of Kevin Hart and Judah Friedlander, who scarcely had three lines between them as a pair of cameramen following Philip Seymour-Hoffman's character around for a documentary.

Will I ever watch "Along Came Polly" again? Honestly...probably not. As an adult, I find this film kind of fluffy and extremely implausible, not to mention a little gross when trying to be funny. If you haven't seen this one, you're probably better off.

Overall rating: 2.5 out of 5

8 down. 290 to go.

Alex & Emma (2003)

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318283/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Official Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1iOnLJlKns

BEFORE THE VIEWING

"Alex & Emma" is one of my favorite romantic comedies. I'm not ashamed to admit I've seen this movie plenty of times since I purchased it, probably very shortly after its release.

Luke Wilson and Kate Hudson are really interesting choices for this kind of film. In 2003, Wilson had played a lot of supporting roles in comedies or dramas; moving into a leading man position was new, and ultimately a very satisfying choice (sorta the same way I feel about Bill Hader in "Trainwreck"). Hudson had been more involved in dramas like "Almost Famous" and got a lot more traction for "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days", which released around the same time.

But what I have always loved about these two is the cute, not-too-intense chemistry between them. Things don't really spark between them, or start off heavily contentious or sexual. The story plays out in what always felt like a more natural way; two people meet, and as they spend time together and get to know one another, a bond begins to form. Lovely.

Another thing I love about this movie is that it's really two separate stories - the present world in which Adam is dictating a book and Emma is transcribing it, and the fictional world of the book itself, which is peopled with the same actors in a very different setting. When actors can manage to play multiple characters in the same movie that are separate and distinct, I will always sit up and take notice; to me, that's a sign of genuine talent.

And the talent extends to the writing and directing, too. Maybe I should save this observation for after the film, but one reason I come back to this movie again and again is the concise and delightful storytelling. Minimal sappiness, witty dialogue, realistic characters, reasonable pace. It'll be a genuine pleasure to watch.

AFTER THE VIEWING

Yep, definitely a pleasure to watch, and indeed, a genuine one. I definitely respond to the grounded nature of this story - there's no excess of wealth between Alex and Emma, they're not letting loose in Vegas or turning a one-night stand into a love affair. Although they don't actually show the two characters doing their laundry together (a reality that Emma sees lacking in most sweeping romances), there's a palpable suggestion that Alex and Emma are for real in their affections, and have genuine and distinct misgivings about the possibility of things working out in their favor.

I always forget how much this movie makes me grin. There are a lot of clever lines and exchanges, like:
(Alex dictating a line for Emma to write down, after the character Elsa has accidentally poured hot water on Adam's crotch) "Adam left a disappointed, but resilient, Elsa like a man on a mission - a man on a mission with hot, wet, balls."
"Alex."
"Okay, lose the balls."

There's not much more I can add to this post; "Alex & Emma" is just a small, self-contained, and sweet bit of filmmaking. It's a film I turn to when I want to smile, engage with likable characters, and generally feel like love doesn't have to be grandiose to be worth my time.

Overall rating: 4 out of 5

7 down. 291 to go.