I Hate Valentine's Day
Maxabout Review
Lovesick souls take the cure in this predictable summertime diversion.. .
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Movies can, of course, offer plenty of pleasure with the comfortably anticipated, and romantic comedies usually don't win audiences upending the natural order of girl gets boy. But all "I Hate Valentine's Day" adds up to
an awkward, ritualized date between moviegoer and a still-learning triple hyphenate.
For "I Hate Valentine's Day," though, Vardalos has chosen to direct. And that's a mistake that only compounds the ones in her screenplay. The story casts the actress as a never-married florist who keeps relationships at bay with a strict five-date limit. That way, she reasons, there's never a chance of getting really involved -- or really hurt. Until a cute guy opens a tapas bar down the street. Suddenly five dates aren't enough. That's the story, and Vardalos has tried to jazz it up a bit by casting John Corbett -- her hunky suitor from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" -- as the restaurateur and friend Rachel Dratch as one of her pals.
The title implies a cheeky slap at sentiment, but "I Hate Valentine's Day" comes from Nia Vardalos, the plucky writer and star of the highest-grossing romantic comedy in film history, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Nobody should be too concerned that cornball lovey-doveyness is in for a trip to the woodshed.
Their romance proceeds like clockwork until it is consummated with a two-night sleepover, which she interprets as their fourth date and he (after the second night) as their fifth. It takes the last third of the movie to resolve their disagreement, which is settled on Valentine’s Day, exactly a year after the story begins.
One likes so much
''My Big Fat Greek Wedding'', that when Nia Vardalos and John Corbett were going to do another romantic comedy together, one doesn't think twice before going to watch this incredible couple again on screen. But it is an error!
The movie is boring, Nia's character is annoying ( I hated to see her forced smile all the time!) and the jokes are lame. You might blame Nora Ephron, whose screenplay for “
When Harry Met Sally” established the formula that “I Hate Valentine’s Day” runs into the ground.
The most unfortunate casualty of the inexpert filmmaking is the peculiarly arch lead turn by Vardalos, who was last seen in theaters this spring in "My Life in Ruins."
The strength of Vardalos' movies is that she loves all of her fellow actors and allows large ensembles to flourish. The supporting players in "Valentine's Day" are delightful:
Zoe Kazan as Genevieve's dreamy young friend,
Jay O. Sanders as a weary delivery man with his own wisdom about relationships, and
Gary Wilmes as Greg's piggish pal deserve special praise. All in all, Vardalos conveys a most appealing sense of community.
Although
the movie was clearly made on the cheap, cinematography, sets and costumes belie the modest budget. No one will be thunderstruck by the insights buried in "Valentine's Day," but couples seeking romantic fluff probably will find just enough humor and heart to satisfy them.
Don't spend your money with this movie, because it isn't worth it.