Monday, September 28, 2009

Movie Review- Ghosts of Girlfriends Past


I came into this film thinking automatically that this is yet another cheesy, romantic movie starring Matthew McConaughey. Now it is a romantic comedy and it does have a little cheese sprinkled on it. But i gotta say that overall this movie is way better than the predictable sap McConaughey has pissed out over the last few years.

PLOT:
Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) is a top Hollyood photographer is has no problem getting women and is not shy about his lack of respect for love and marriage. Mead shows his disrespect early decided to break up with 3 women at once via computer chat and then immediately rolling around in the sheets with a young singer (Christina Millian). Connor leaves to travel to his late uncle's estate to be the best man at his brother Paul's (Brekin Meyer) wedding. To his surprise old flame Jenny (Jennifer Garner), is there as a bridesmaid, conjuring up old feelings. At night, the spirit of Connor's dead uncle Wayne (Michael Douglas) returns to send him 3 ghosts that try to help him see the error his ways and change his life forever before he loses everything.

Pros:
McConaughey isn't doing anything different then we've seen before, but the writing in this one is much more complimentary to his charm. I must say he is so charming i almost wanted to sleep with him. Also, the movie is cheesy, but it knows it. It charmingly dodges some predictability by displaying Connor's true feelings for Jenny early in the story. Some movies have a habit of not explaining why the lead is a pig, but this one was out there and open. Also, romantic comedies, are sometimes high on romance and low on comedy, but there was alot of genuine laughs in this one, believe it or not.

Cons:
All the elements are there. A romantic banter between the main guy and girl, a resistant love interest, a convincing 3 minute speech that makes you forget all wrongdoing, and the guy getting the girl. You can't avoid it, but that may be the turn off. We've seen this before, and even worse, from the same people before. No matter how charming McConaughey is, he can't escape this movie inevitably being compared to his other films. Jennifer Garner at times looks like she is struggling to keep her character likable. She is often overshadowed by McConaughey's likableness, the opposite of what it should be to a certain extent. If it wasn't for the slow motion close-ups on Garner's face showing how she really feels, I would quickly forget she has a soul. Much like her performance in "Juno". I really just don't think Garner is very talented anyway.

Recommendation:
Watch it on HBO.

Written by:
Jon Lucas
Scott Moore

Directed by:
Mark Walters

MAIN CAST:
Matthew McConaughey ("A Time to Kill", "Edtv")
Jennifer Garner ("Juno", "Elektra")
Michael Douglas ("Wall Street", "The War of the Roses")
Breckin Meyer ("Road Trip", "Rat Race")
Lacey Chabert (TVs "Party of Five", "Mean Girls")
Robert Forster ("Jackie Brown", "Like Mike")
Anne Archer ("Patriot Games", "Clear and Present Danger")
Daniel Sunjata (TVs "Rescue Me", "The Devil Wears Prada")
Noureen DeWulf ("The Comebacks", "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard")
Christina Millian ("Be Cool", "Bring it On: Fight to the Finish")

Similar Titles:
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Failure to Launch, Click

Next Review:
Monsters vs. Aliens-Trailer

1 comment:

  1. I agree in everything except for the thing about Garner. She has talent, but not for this kind of movies. On the TV Series "Alias" she was vwey good, but on "Juno"...
    They keep giving her this roles only because she is beautiful.

    Love your blog... Keep going, i am loving it...

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