Rating of
3/4
A great flick for those who can appreciate it!
MovieAddict - wrote on 02/11/12
Set in the 1960s, `Down with Love' follows the story of Barbara Novak (Rene Zellweger), a lady with a female ax to grind who moves to New York City to promote her new book which illustrates to women how to get along in a man's world on men's terms, downplaying love and marriage in favor of the male-oriented pattern of free, uncomplicated sex. As such, she is set to be interviewed by Know Magazine's star reporter, Catcher Block (Ewan McGregor), who is known as a lady's man, and whose typical revolving-door treatment of women is a fine illustration of why the book was written.
When Block continually misses meetings with Novak to discuss her book because his sexual escapades with stewardesses, she refuses to meet him. What's more, she lashes out at Block while on a television show discussing her book. Block then plans to write an expose on Novak, while he pretends to be someone else, and get her fall in love with him by abstaining from sex with her, the very opposite of what Novak writes that women should do in her book-forget the love and go straight for the sex.
Pierce (TVs `Frasier') is hilarious as Peter MacMannus, Block's boss and best friend who is a fastidious neurotic guy who simply wants to fall in love and get married. Special mention should also go to Jeri Ryan as Gwendolyn, the stewardess. Her character evokes a period when the job of stewardess was (or was at least thought to be) filled with glamour, excitement and some naughty fun during what seems to be a never-ending layover (pun intended). Though the dialogue is occasionally corny and very period based, there is a nice twist, well played word puns, and shocking tongue twisters that'll keep you giggling throughout. I also loved that priceless "split-screen" telephone conversation between the Zellweger and McGregor, showing the two in every possible compromising position known to man.
It's a great movie for a rainy afternoon when you are in need of some innocent girl power.
