In Love

Al and Imogen have both finished college and now live separately despite seeing each other throughout their college years. However it is clear that both have some degree of unresolved feelings for each other. In to-camera interviews they discuss their relationship and trace it's path from the first time they met in Imogen's freshman year.

It is a device that I have grown accustom to because I have seen it done well quite often, but the direct-to-camera style is clearly difficult to do. First of all you need strong or likeable characters as the style is basically requiring some degree of interest of empathy from the first second. Without this it is pretty weak. This film stumbles at this point because even halfway through the film, I was still struggling to care less about the characters. Past this problem the plot is not the strongest – it has been done before regardless of superficial changes. It has little genuine humour and mostly is just the cinematic version of puppy love. When the problems come they are so poorly handled by the script that they fail to convince.

Sadly the blame must be shared between script and actors for most of this. The script fails to create characters that convince. The dialogue rarely rings true and sounds like a weak teen drama at worst. However this doesn't totally excuse the actors as they don't bring much to the roles. Prinze Jr is so wishy-washy and lifeless that he is not someone I ever got behind as real. He is too idealistic and, as a result, any scenes where he has to show hurt or anger, are unbelievable. Stiles is OK but suffers from a poor script. The support cast are basically monkeys who are simply comedy characters. I know that sounds cruel but none have any effort put into them – the porn star (no type of porn I've ever seen), the geek etc. Henry Winkler gets the odd smile but is just a famous face to add colour. Selma Blair is the least convincing porn actress I've ever seen but the Biggest waste to me was Rosario Dawson, not only gorgeous but a real talent given the chance, her character was so pointless that I wondered why they even bothered creating it.

It's not an awful film – it is simply mediocre and unremarkable to the point of monotony. Every part of it feels like you've seen it better somewhere else. The script is lazy – things are poorly thought out and the characters are thin and poorly developed. None of the cast really put their heart into it and the end result is a film that doesn't really do anything but still seems to take forever to finish!

Although it will be remembered for things like Trainspotting and My Beautiful Laundrette, FilmFour folded partly because it produced things like this that were without spark, wit or invention.

"Down to You" is one of the brightest and refreshing romances I've seen. With two of Hollywood young and hottest stars, "Down To You" has become one of my favorite romantic films. I enjoyed this film for several reasons from the presentation to the performances.

I will argue with anyone who says "Down To You" is one of the worst films ever made. The material is new, the dialogue is fresh and the performances are superb. I concede their are cliche's in this film; however, it should not detract from the other assets of "Down to You." In order to accomplish the mission of convincing the audience the script works, the casting director must find just the right chemistry in two highly skilled and talented stars.

In this case, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Julia Stiles have the best chemistry anybody could ask for. It was such an awesome sight to witness a the director bring two of the hottest stars together to produce one of the year's best romantic comedies in "Down To You."

I knew Julia Stiles could act but what I didn't realize is that Stiles beauty radiated off the screen. I was very impressed with her ability to capture the audience's attention with her smile. Stiles is a rising star and she has nowhere to go but up in Hollywood; I can't wait see her next film.

For those who don't like this film, I ask you: How could you not appreciate this romantic comedy? It deals with so many different things and is done to perfection. I have always enjoyed a script that has depth to it as this one does because it tells the story of two people and their struggles to hold their relationship together and keep their romance alive.

The best aspect of "Down To You" is it allows everyone the opportunity to see the ups and downs in a relationship. I feel this film would make for a great example in studying films revolving around relationships.

"Down To You" was very enjoyable to watch and I wish everyone could feel the same enjoyment I felt watching this film.

"Down To You" is yet another formulaic teen romance movie....boy meets girl, boy and girl date, break up and get back together. Very uninteresting,the cast (mostly) is forgettable and frankly, we've seen this movie before......

However, what sets "Down" apart is 3 wonderful performances, and 1 so bad it's gonna get special attention in this review...

We'll start with the good....Julia Stiles is Imogen, a new freshman at an unnamed NYC college. She is a stellar artist, and wishes to persue that in some manner. Ms. Stiles delivers a performance above the drivel she has to work with, making Imogen a teen character with heart and feeling. She once again (as in "10 Things") dances in this one..and I personally think she needs a dance scene in each movie.

Henry Winkler plays Ray Connelly...host of a nationwide cooking show, and father of Al, the lead male in the story. His character is well played and humorous, with grand visions for both himself and his son (he wants to do a cooking show take off of "Cops" with Al). A great performance from Mr. Winkler, and he is quickly putting the ghost of Fonzie behind him.

Now to the bad before I surprise you and give you the last good.....Selma Blair plays Cyrus, a major flirt and porn actress. I hate to have to say this, but after "Cruel Intentions" and now this, I am truly convinced that she is either "someone's" daughter or is involved in a relationship with someone. This woman cannot act. I truly believe with every fiber of my being that she could not play dead convincingly. Hopefully her performance here will kill what little career she has.

Now, for the last good review.......are you ready for this?? Freddie Prinze Jr. is Alfred..the film's lead male character. He spots Imogen across a crowded room and the two instantly hit it off. After forgetable turns in every movie he has done, he shows a never before seen maturity and makes Alfred a character that seems real and true.

"Down To You" is more formulaic drivel aimed at the easily entertained teen audience. While the story is something we've all seen before, the performances of its lead characters make this movie worth a watch, regardless of how bad it really is.

1 out of 5

Yet another Freddie Prinze Jnr-lead teen romance comedy about two college students, Alec (Prinze Jnr) and Imogen (Julia Stiles, Save The Last Dance) who fall in love, and experience the highs and lows of being in a serious relationship. The good stuff: Unique and refreshing editing, Julia Stiles. The bad stuff: Freddie Prinze Jnr... he's a very ordinary actor, the plot... 100% unoriginal and not very engaging. Overall, I wouldn't say this is a bad movie, but it's not 'good' in any sense of the term and is ultimately completely forgettable.

Down to You: Boy meets girl, they fall in love, relationship cools, couple breaks up and each is tortured by thoughts of "What if…"

I decided to see this movie because I enjoyed Julia Stiles' performance in "10 Things I Hate About You". However, after seeing the marquee poster - a knockoff of "The Very Thought of You" - I scaled down my expectations and braced for a painful two hours. My prediction was partially correct.

Unlike the typical teen oriented romantic comedy there was an attempt to infuse this movie with a bit of reality. Unfortunately, the writers apparently could not decide if they wanted to make a romantic comedy or a serious relationship movie. The result is a confused mess: a ludicrous subplot about a student's burgeoning career as a pornographer gets far more screen time than does the terrified couple trying to come to grips with a potential pregnancy.

The second problem is the chemistry between Stiles and Freddie Prinze Jr - there is none (I blame the casting director for this). Although both actors have screen presence, they don't click as a duo, consequently, their interactions- especially the fight scenes -do not ring true. Their job is made doubly difficult by having to utter stupid lines.

This movie has been targeted to a certain market, and will probably do well.

Too bad.