Terrible Idea for Romantic Comedy Gets Worse

You know what the romantic comedy Valentine's Day really needed? More damn cast members. Jesus Freewheelin' Christ, what are there, over a dozen major roles in this thing? The Hollywood Reporter says that Queen Latifah and Jamie Foxx are new signees, as is Carter Jenkins of the new Aliens in the Attic. Now, if you're new here, I hate the very notion of this movie. It's a romantic comedy opening on Valentine's Day and it's called Valentine's Day. It's directed by Garry Marshall, who despite the familiarity of his name, is a absolutely mediocre director. On his best day. And then, to make matters worse, the film won't possibly develop any kind of meaningful story because it has way too many characters. I mean, unless this is four hours long, there's no way to wade through all the storylines. Think He's Just Not That Into You on steroids, if that makes sense. Here's the rest of the cast, and I'm not exaggerating. Jennifer Garner, Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Shirley MacLaine, Bradley Cooper, Ashton Kutcher, Topher Grace, Emma Roberts, Hector Elizondo, and from Grey's Anatomy, Patrick Dempsey and Eric Dane. So with the new additions, that's sixteen roles, and from what I can gather, there are at least six relationships that reach some sort of culmination in two hours. That's just too much. There's no other way to say it. It's a 120-minute run-on sentence. So why is it going forward this way? Because the studio believes the names and the title and the opening weekend will be enough to make it successful. They don't care about the story. Clearly.

Comments

[anybody]

Not that I'm in anyway in favour of the movie but if you look at Love Actually (which I do think is a pretty decent rom-com) it had as almost as many big names/roles... Neeson, Thompson, Rickman, Grant, Knightly, Freeman, Firth, NIghy, Ejiofor, Linney, Thornton, Santoro, McCutchin, Atkinson, Cuthbert, Jones, Melicevic, Richards, Elizabeth, Moniz, Sangster, Marshall, Page, Lincoln, etc... Not saying it will work, just saying it has worked.

[Vince]

Yes, it did work anybody ("Love Actually" is honestly my favorite straight-up romantic comedy of all time- it's excellent). But the names are known for...you know, acting! Liam Neeson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightly, Emma Thompson- they're all fantastic actors. Not to mention the script was remarkably smart, witty and sweet.

This movie, we have Jennifer Garner ('nuff said), Queen Latifah (who will be playing the Queen Latifah role again), Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel (who are AMAZING actresses obviously) and the two douches from Grey's Anatomy. You know that they don't care about the story. It'll honestly be a remake of "He's Just Not That Into You", with the same vaguely-contemporary/ironic dialogue and all, except it'll probably suck even more. And it'll probably make even more money at the box office.

...ugh.

[Get The Big Picture]

Well, this cast does have a few heavy hitters, too, but I haven't seen Love Actually in a long time, so I can't point out specifics. I do recall thinking it had a few too many loose ends to wrap up but while it was advancing the stories it was really good. The Tom Sangster moment sticks with me, that's for sure.

But more than the acting, I think it's going to be the writing that ruins this. Richard Curtis is a fantastic screenwriter who knows how to make the genre work for him. Christ, Notting Hill is a good movie. The three writers on Valentine's Day are individually or collectively responsible for Not That Into You, Army Wives, and Never Been Kissed.

[SEAN]

I dunno, but these seems like a bomb to me, big time...

I mean how will this work? The first thing I thought was the film Love Actually too!!

That was a great film with great A list superb actors but this, this is anther story and yes Garry Marshall isnt the greatest director ... hate to break it to ya

I had this "worry" about INCEPTION by the great Christopher Nolan, I mean that has quite a few big name actors in it as well but THEY ARE BIG NAME ACTORS and GOOD ONES AT THAT so I'm not too worried but these kinda films with superstar casts might get a bit congested..

[anybody]

I hear you all and for the most part I completely agree. I don't think it will work, I won't be rushing out to see it in theaters BUT I was merely pointing out that a film with so many story threads and roles/characters has worked and doesn't simply spell disaster every time. You were right to point out though that not only did Love Actually have a great cast but it also had a great, tried and tested, writer-director in Richard Curtis.