Love Actually is one of my favorite movies. I love the web of separate yet interlaced stories of people on Christmas, sharing joys, heartache and laughs with them. I still love that movie and watch it every holiday season.
But it’s not Christmas, it’s Valentine’s Day, and the movie with the same title is tempting me to be my Love Actually post-Christmas season movie so I sucked it up and went to see it (along with every other couple in Chicago) and here’s my review.
Movie: Valentine’s Day
Rating: PG-13
Release date: February 12, 2010
Everyday Adventures’ grade: B+
Summary: It’s Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles and we’re following around a group of separate yet intertwined people celebrating the day of candy, depression and flowers. I won’t even bother naming the cast because pretty much everyone famous is in it. Seriously, throw a name out and I’m sure he/she is in it. Try me.
My thoughts: I didn’t love it as much as Love Actually, but this wasn’t awful. The stories are funny and run the gamete of people “happily” in love, people getting engaged, people tested by long-term love and people just entering into a relationship and wondering how to celebrate Valentine’s Day when they aren’t even sure if they’re in a relationship. I loved Topher Grace in “That 70s Show” and it was great seeing him in a non-Stephen Soderbergh or Oceans movie, but he continues to play the same neurotic, jabbery guy he has in just about every movie or show I’ve seen him in.
Even Ashton Kutcher, who I find interesting yet annoying, wasn’t awful. Sure, he grates on you after awhile and the hammiest lines appear in his scenes, but he was fun to watch. I actually like all of the characters in the movie, with minor exception to Taylor Swift (don’t quit your day job), Queen Latifah (wasn’t on screen enough for me to connect with her) and Eric Dane (hot but again, not a necessary character). I will say, there were a few big twists in the movie that surprised me, but I’m glad they were there because it kept the movie from being 100 percent predictable.
And there was a great scene with Taylor Swift that wistfully reminded me of young love and that silly, giggly, OMG-I-love-him emotion.
My only other complaint, Taylor Lautner was almost fully shirtless that entire movie. And he didn’t take his shirt off when asked to do so. WTF? I’m paying $11 to see this movie. TAKE THAT SHIRT OFF!
Did you go see Valentine’s Day this weekend? Did you like it or are you a Love Actually loyalist?
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I’m with you on the unnecessary characters, and I think I’d include the same ones you did in the category.
I’d give the movie a C. I wasn’t expecting much, and it definitely met my expectations. Love Actually is an excellent example of an ensemble cast being successful, but I haven’t seen one compare. (Can you tell I also wasn’t a fan of He’s Just Not That Into You)
I think I’m becoming a chick flick grinch in my old age :-)
I really liked Valentine’s Day. It was cute. I liked how everyone’s stories intertwined. I’m not a T.Swift fan at all, but she was ridiculous. I had a good time!
We saw this movie last night, and I felt similar to the way you did. I was worried it would be super lame, but actually enjoyed most of it. I’m not a huge Taylor Swift fan, but I did enjoy that little “swoon” moment at the end :)
I’ve seen pieces and parts of Love Actually, but never the whole movie. I keep saying I need to see it, since it seems like everyone on earth loves it!
saw it and basically agree with your review…Taylor was terrible but I expected that so it didn’t bother me. I too love Love Actually but thought this was a good “version” of it, if you will. I smiled and laughed throughout so I guess that’s a good sign!
Love Actually is also my favorite movie, so while I was excited to see this, I was just hoping it wouldn’t be a bad. And I thought it was cute. There were a few surprises, and when it looked like Lautner was about to take off his shirt, a women yelled out YESSS! And I thought the T.Swift story was hilarious. Overall I enjoyed it and it was fun, but no Love Actually.
Love Actually is one of my favorite movies ever. When you have a cast of this many huge stars, I feel like it can either be really good or blow up in your face.
I’m not a fan of He’s Just Not That Into You because I didn’t really connect with any of the characters. I’ll wait for DVD.