Hmmm For Hollywood (America's Sweethearts (DVD))

Member Name: friendsnut

Product:	America's Sweethearts (DVD)
Date:	26/08/05 (37 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good Cast

Disadvantages: Not as clever as it thinks, nothing much happens, lack of laughs

America’s Sweethearts is one those movies that ambles along for a couple of hours. You don’t feel anything for it; it’s the Hollywood equivalent of a cream cake. It looks good on the outside but the taste isn’t what you expected. Much later you feel guilty as you know you shouldn’t have touched it.

Eddie Thomas (John Cusack) and Gwen Harrison (Cath Zeta Jones) are the sweethearts of the title. The married couple have starred in many a film together and each one has been a huge success. But then Gwen left Eddie for a Spanish guy and Eddie went into exile. They have one last film coming out that both of them headline. The studio has an expensive flop on their hands unless Gwen can be seen back with Eddie. Top publicist Lee Phillips (Billy Crystal) is roped in to make it happen. Lee stages an exclusive press junket in the middle of nowhere and get’s his two stars to come along. Of course the separated couple are happy when it comes to the press but behind the scenes they’re at each other’s throats. The public want to see Gwen and Eddie together, Lee wants it to happen but Eddie is becoming attracted to Gwen’s sister Kathleen (Julia Roberts). It’s all going to get messy!

The feeling I got from this film was just ‘blah’. It’s meant to be a comedy but I can’t recall laughing once. It’s one of those films about the film business that thinks it can be clever satire. But instead it just comes off as a little showy and too wrapped up in itself. It may have worked had there been any biting moments, some sly digs at the industry but there aren’t. With a cast like this it’s difficult for the film to actually be an un-watchable film. You like the actors involved but when they’ve nothing interesting to say you feel it’s a missed opportunity.

Billy Crystal does what he can with the weak material but can only really hit a high note when a dog is sniffing his crotch. Zeta Jones is playing the bitchy actress but we’ve seen it all before. Julia Roberts is fine but it’s hard to buy her as the dowdy sister. Christopher Walken makes an appearance as the film’s director and naturally he steals the show.

The film is directed by Joe Roth, not surprisingly Roth was actually a studio executive. So I’m sure he was constantly laughing at the material, as it probably seemed funny in his inner circle of friends. The film looks nice but there’s nothing special about it. I’d like to say that this was formulaic but warm enough to appeal to the romantic in us. But sadly it wasn’t to be, it’s just all too smarmy for it’s own good.

As a comedy it’s below average, as a satire it’s terrible. American Sweethearts is one of those films that made a ton of money but will be forgotten in a few short years.

Should you wish to judge for yourself then the DVD can be picked up quite cheaply. Or if you’re reading this opinion and have sky/freeview then flick on E4 at 9pm and see for yourself.

Summary: A bland comedy about hollywood where the cast is great, the script not