Jack and Jill vs. the World

In Manhattan, the successful executive Jack (Freddie Prinze Jr.) is a methodical and controlled man with simple habits that works in an advertisement agency with his coworker George (Peter Stebbings). While smoking a cigarette on the roof of the building of the agency, Jack meets the aspirant actress Jill (Taryn Manning) that has just arrived in New York and is seeking a job. He sympathizes with her situation and gives her name to a Klubendorf commercial in the campaign promoted by his agency. When he takes Jill home, he finds that she lives in a very low-budget hotel and out of the blue, he invites her to stay in the guest room of his fancy apartment for a while. Jill changes the behavior of Jack that becomes happier, and proposes Jack to write together a manifesto where the first rule is "be honest". However, she omits to Jack that she is sick with cystic fibrosis and she would have only a couple of years more. When Jack discovers that Jill is ill, he feels betrayed with her violation of their first rules, and they split. But Jack is changed and sooner he decides to seek out Jill.

I was looking forward for the next work of Vanessa Parise since the lovely "Kiss the Bride", where this director and actress develops the themes family, relationship, feelings and love in a nice low-budget movie. "Jack and Jill vs. the World" is a sweet little movie about happiness, sympathy, love, illness and commitment with two lead characters that have opposite behaviors and backgrounds, but feel attracted for each other. The story has potential and seems to be slightly inspired in "Storie di Ordinaria Follia", but is predictable and entertaining. However the screenplay could be improved with a better development of Jack and Jill characters in the very beginning; the health situation of Jill could be deeper and more dramatic; the relationship of Jack and his father Norman could be also better explored since it is one of the best moments of the movie: and last but not the least, the conclusion is not well-resolved and needed some improvements. But in my opinion, there are unfair reviews in IMDb. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Regras do Amor" ("Rules of the Love")

This movies predictability was predictable, nothing fresh or new in anyway. I do think Freddie Prinze Jr. is actually a good actor but either his choices in movies or the movies that come his way all suck, pretty much. Taryn Manning did some good supporting work in Hustle & Flow but a full movie with her as the female lead is just to much of her and that voice for anyone to take. The movie jumps into it's story way to fast almost as fast as the two characters jump into bed. I assume the narration is suppose to do all the introductions of these characters, but at a whole three minutes worth, that's not enough to make me give a crap. The only remotely positive thing about this film was Prinze's character's job and the characters there, if only the movie would have been based around that and dropped the girl they may have had something. The typical romantic comedy best friend character on the guy side of things was in fact funny a couple times, so I guess not a complete waste. I'm sure are a few girls out there that think calling a bomb threat into their boyfriends place of business so you can reconcile things with him is romantic, I see it as illegal. Just like making a totally unoriginal movie should be.

This is a sweet movie that i enjoyed watching! When the movie finished I was left smiling and said to myself that I would see it again. It was cute, sweet, smart, funny, and well-filmed. It even made me cry. It is a witty alternative romantic comedy with some added education on cystic fibrosis and helped raise my awareness of this health issue and added depth to the story line. I liked the characters and the cast of characters fit well together - the advertising agency buddies and their banter, the free spirited friend of Jill's, and the rooftop pigeon! The movie is well-acted, well-written and I enjoyed the way it was creatively filmed. The film had a great message about living life to its fullest!

I saw this movie at a fund raising event in Providence, Rhode Island for Cystic Fibrosis. It was an amazing event and there was a huge audience response. I loved the movie - not only was it fun, but it had a wonderful message. I found myself questioning my own life according to the rules listed in Jill's manifesto. It made me wonder if I was truly making each day count. But the movie was also fun. The array of whimsicial characters compensated for the more serious underlying theme. A high point is the outrageous robot song by Lucy, played to the hilt by the director/writer. Finally a film that entertains while teaching a lesson!!

I thought this movie had a fantastic story, but ended up being a bit bland. I think casting could have been a lot better. The girl who played Jill played a good role, but i don't think it was Jills 'character'. Also i think editing could have stopped it feeling so raw. some scenes seemed pointless. Last thing- I'm not a fan of the title. i don't know if its meant to be 'arthouse' or what, but i think here concise would have been better. maybe just manifesto or something. although i get what the director was getting at. The whole 'dont conform to the world' thing was consistent through the whole movie, with the manifesto, some of the dialogue, and the robot song scene

But overall i still found it enjoyable, and thought it was a great story.