Le courtier du coeur

I bought the DVD at the local video store and nearly passed it up: after all, there are never any good movies in the sales section, are there? Well, this one definitely is good.

The Story: Ryan is a Wall Street Broker and a real big asshole (as his friend states: "huge would be an understatement"). But after losing his job and his girlfriend leaving him for a richer guy, he has to pay the rent somehow. And the only job he can lay his hands on is writing his girlfriend's "Ask Cindy"-column. And after dropping all his machismo the column even turns out successful.... (But before the end of course he still has to get his revenge for losing his job and also to get a new girlfriend. Wouldn't be a comedy otherwise, would it?)

While not the very best of movies, it is very and funny and also has a few memorable quotes. I personally liked the way the camera followed Ryan's butt several times which was quite refreshing to all the times a camera drops down a woman's neckline (even though my husband pointed out the camera did follow Page every time she leaned forward to get up from her chair).

For me, the movie was actually rather hurtful: I like to clap my hands or slap my knees at scenes which I really like. And after the movie, my hands hurt!

It takes a lot for me to enjoy a romantic comedy I usually don't. But "Good Advice" is one of the few that I would recommend. It is funny! The whole movie too. This is so well written and directed that there is not a dull moment anywhere in it. The actors are ALL perfectly cast with Charlie Sheen, Denise Richards and Barry Newman especially so. What is really good about this film is that the writers concentrated on the humorous storyline about the lovelorn column deception and not pad it out with unneeded romantic scenes between the two main characters. The film reminds me of those type of "frothy" comedies they made in the 1960's (without the heavy sexual humor that this film has of course) and because of it's unique blend of comedy, light romance and pathos the makers ended up with a witty highly entertaining movie.

Sometimes you just want to sit back and laugh, and who better to give you those laughs than Charlie Sheen. He is a ladies man just like "Two and a Half Men", but this time he screwed the wrong woman and lost it all.

After future wife Denise Richards leaves him, he has to find gainful employment. He sneaks his way into writing an advice column.

Estelle Harris was hilarious as the editor's (Angie Harmon) secretary. Harmon was funny, too.

Jon Lovitz gives plenty of laughs as his best bud, and who knew Rosanna Arquette could be so funny? Paybacks are fun and funny.

I'm happy that I hadn't read the negative review on this site before I saw the DVD on the video store shelf -- otherwise, I would have passed over a good movie. I knew nothing about it before seeing it on the shelf, so perhaps my expectations were low. True, it was not Academy Award material, but it was a good romantic comedy -- cute and funny. And that was the unanimous consensus of the 2 females and 1 male who watched it together. Give it a try!

Charlie Sheen is so lovable as Ryan in this movie! This is one of his best movies, of course after the epic Major League and Hot Shots. He's plays well with Denise Richards, although she was painfully wrongfully cast as Cindy. His subsequent relationship with Page is much more entertaining. I enjoyed Page's secretary and all her one-liners and blatant innuendos directed at Ryan. Charlie played the fallen business man very well. I adored Rosanna Arquette and still maintain that she is the only talented one in that family. Her relationship with her plastic surgeon husband was so funny... perhaps even more funny than Charlie's desperation. This film is a must-rent!