Love and Other Drugs (2010)
Summary
Genre: Comedy, Drama, RomanceGoodies:
+ Great acting, even from Anne Hathaway, + Characters that are easy to invest in, + Deep storyline about human experience making a realistic feel to the filmBaddies:
- Frustrating character development at certain points in the filmA woman suffering from Parkinson’s befriends a drug rep working for Pfizer against 1990s Pittsburgh backdrop.
It seems lately that romantic drama/comedies are getting better. Maybe my standards are just lowering (which I highly doubt), but I have seen some pretty good filmes in the genre lately. I find my approval of this film surprising as it features Anne Hathaway (one of my least favorite actresses). Not long ago I watched “No Strings Attached” with Ashton Kutcher in it as well, and approved (this is noted as funny because I refused to watch films with these actors previously but one night watched both “Passengers” (Anne Hathaway) and “Personal Effects” (Ashton Kutcher) in one night, and liked both). ANYWAYS, tangents aside, Love and Other Drugs had an interesting blend of drama and comedy. The movie felt like in many places as the main character tries selling Pfizer products to doctors. On the way, he has sexual conquests (what positive male role model doesn’t, right?), but things change when he meets Maggie. At first she seems like a drug-addict hooker (which was odd for Anne Hathaway), but we later realize that she has Parkinsons (although she does sleep around and has an alcohol problem). As the story progresses the movie’s tone changes into a medical/emotional drama, which may throw some for a loop, but I am always a fan of mixing it up. The story felt real, and I felt very close to the characters. They even threw in a bit of social commentary, and they set it against a 90’s backdrop, which mixed up the “same ole, same ole” trap. Overall, I think the film challenges how we view our ability to be a better person, to care for others on a deep level, and tackles some of the issues facing those suffering from major medical conditions. With that said, the film isn’t a downer, so don’t avoid it because of that. I really liked the film and think it deserves a watch!
