Life As We Know It (Greg Berlanti, 2010)

Cast: Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, Josh Lucas, Hayes MacArthur, Christina Hendricks

Summary: Two single adults become caregivers to an orphaned girl when their mutual best friends die in an accident.

Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy

I thought this film was okay. It's a typical rom-com (which we all know I don't like) but I thought it was enjoyable at times. I think the baby for me was the main reason I liked this film, she was just too cute.

I was reading Empire magazine (I think it was Empire) the other day where they've given a short DVD review that says, For all it’s lack of originality, the film had just enough cuteness to sustain interest, but cannot be forgiven for ending with an airport sprint.’
I totally agree with this. I definitely think I would have liked the film better had it maybe drifted a little from the conventional rom-com storyline, and maybe had Katherine Heigl's character end up with Josh Lucas' character.

My Rating: 4/10
Perfect for: Rom-Com Lovers
One Final Word: Okay

Atonement (Joe Wright, 2007)

Cast: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, Benedict Cumberbatch, Vanessa Redgrave, Brenda Blethyn

Summary: Through a series of catastrophic misunderstandings Robbie Turner is accused of a crime he did not commit. This accusation destroys Robbie and Cecilia's newfound love and dramatically alters the course of their lives.

Genre: Drama, Romance

I truly had no idea what to expect when I started watching this film, most probably because I hadn't read the book (not that I knew there was one at the time). In this case I think that not having read the book was an extremely good thing as it would have ruined absolutely everything.

The films opens showing us peaceful scenes at the country home of the Tallis family but it is somewhat overshadowed by a sense of dread that appears and continues to build. If you thought the feeling of unease was uncomfortable the first event in a series of misunderstandings changes everything, but that's not the only one. There are plenty of twists and turns in this film and it's the final one for me that hurts the most.

I'm not a big fan of Kiera Knightley but I actually quite liked her in this role and as usual James McAvoy does an incredible job, but for me the stand-out is Saoirse Ronan clearly outshining everyone as she plays the young Briony Tallis. After first seeing her in The Lovely Bones and then Hanna she has quickly become one of my favourite actresses.

I think that the story is brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I was reading an Empire magazine (I can't remember the issue or who said it) and saw this quote which I completely agree with,

"Atonement reaches an extraordinary conclusion. An ending that will perplex, agonize, and break hearts, all as it is meant to"

My Rating: 8/10

17 Again (Burr Steers, 2009)

Cast: Zac Efron, Matthew Perry, Leslie Mann, Michelle Trachtenberg, Sterling Knight and Thomas Lennon

Summary: If you somehow had the chance, would you do your life over? Thirty-something Mike O’Donnell would. Then in one mysteriously magical moment, Mike gets his chance. He’s suddenly back at Hayden High where he’s the star of the basketball team, a total hottie and a classmate to his own teenage kids… which gives Mike a chance to go from not-so-good dad to really cool friend.

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

When I started watching this film I have to admit I wasn't that interested in it mainly because of Matthew Perry, although I really liked him in Friends I didn't think he was funny in this film.

I also wasn't too sure about Zac Efron. I wasn't a fan of the High School Musical films (although I did watch the first one) so I wasn't sure what to expect from him in this film.

I'm pretty pleased to say that I actually really liked the film. What really impressed me was Zac Efron's acting which I wasn't expecting to be as good as it was, and I also discovered that he is actually quite hot.

My favourite scene definitely has to be when the couple have to attend a court hearing with Mike still stuck in his high school body.

A very enjoyable movie.

My Rating: 7/10
Perfect for: Everyone
One Final Word: Very Good

Heartbreakers (David Mirkin, 2001)

Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ray Liotta, Jason Lee, Gene Hackman

Summary: A mother and daughter con team seduce and scam wealthy men

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Crime


Not much to say about this film to be honest. I'm not really one for rom-coms despite my love for romantic comedy books, but surprisingly I didn't mind this one all that much.

What I do want to talk about is how bad that poster looks, the heads look like they don't belong on the bodies and Gene Hackman just looks weird.


My Rating: 5/10
One Final Word: Okay

The Break-Up (Peyton Reed, 2006)

Cast: Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, Vincent D’onofrio, Jon Favreau, Justin Long, Jason Bateman

Summary: In a bid to keep their luxurious condo from their significant other, a couple’s break-up proceeds to get uglier and nastier by the moment

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama

Despite not being a fan of romantic comedies I thought I’d give this film a watch after my bought me the DVD. Now I’m just not a fan of the typical rom-com structure which is a strange considering that I love romance books.
I found this article that talks about the Structure of Notting Hill that talks about the 8 plot points which make up the majority if not all rom-coms.

Now before I make you think that I hated the film because I don't like romantic comedies, I will tell you that I was actually impressed when I saw this film. This film is one of the few that deviates from this 'typical' structure and although it doesn’t deviate completely it does manage to throw the structure slightly off balance.
It still has a typical introduction to the characters where Gary (Vince Vaughn) and Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) bump into each other at a baseball game and soon after begin a relationship, one that eventually begins to show cracks when the couple move in together. This is where traditional rom-com structure ends.

In order to keep their condo for themselves the couple resorts to coming up with ways to get the other to move out. It starts off as funny but somewhere along the lines it becomes uncomfortable to watch the two, particularly Vaughn continuously find ways to hurt Brooke.
With all this intense chemistry and emotion between these two characters/actors (actors who were reportedly dating at the time) with each upping the ante, it was easy to forget that it was also meant to be a comedy.

The ending for me is just perfect, how I wish a lot of my romance books ended but hey-ho you can't win them all.
Definitely worth a watch.

My Rating: 7/10
One Final Word: Quite Good