50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

In what proves to be a most enjoyable viewing experience, this new filmmaker (Jordan Hawley) does more than provide diverting fodder. He cleverly documents the struggle between one's expectations and one's reality, the desire to achieve dreams imagined in youth - idyllic family life in New England - and the need to appreciate what you have - a charming existence in Los Angeles.

Paul Schneider's performance is remarkable, while not necessarily surprising (see his brief turn in "The Family Stone.") His embodiment of Owen, the clever and reflective protagonist, gives us plenty to appreciate and even more to laugh about.

Los Angeles is rarely portrayed in this positive a light so effectively. Without becoming too sentimental, the filmmaker shows the people of Los Angeles what they could be seeing everyday, if they would open their eyes and quit bitching.

Jordan Hawley wrote and directed this dark 'comedy' about the current state of love/hate relationships in Los Angeles (or inability to create same) with about as much panache as yesterday's onion rings. The storyline has been used so many times that the tread is off the tires.

LA ghostwriter Owen (Paul Schneider) is a 'nice guy' who sustains an inability to form a satisfactory love relationship. Exasperated with his life style he decides to become a cad: that must be what women (and men) want. He reverses his nice guy tactic and begins telling everyone he encounters just how he feels - and that is usually negative! The only person who doesn't but into his change is his roommate Allison (Poppy Montgomery) who is bisexual and therefore not wholly available. He decides to leave Los Angeles and move to the East Coast where a lucrative deal awaits him to write the memoirs of a famous man. At the last moment he meets one Val (Jennifer Westfeldt), an animal activist: the chemistry is there but each has a conflicting program. Owen is honest with her, a factor that does not chase her away, but both part ways to other parts of the world. Upon return to LA after a disappointing experience on the East Coast, tables turn and surprises arise. And the ending is a mixture of silly and unsatisfying.

Movies like this are meant to entertain and some of the dialogue is clever albeit acerbic. It just that the idea of relationship examination under these terms is so worn out that the movie just doesn't spark any innovative thoughts. After about thirty minutes into the film this 'audience' lost interest.

I loved the movie! My wife, a friend and I watched it together and found ourselves laughing really hard. We particularly liked the scenes where the main character did his best to alienate all of his "friends". I'm sure all of us have had similar urges with people we have met either socially or at work, but would never act on them the way he does. The dialogue and reactions really are brilliantly written and cast.

We also loved the relationships and character development throughout the move, as well as the ending twist.

A definite must for anyone who loves a good movie and loves to laugh!

I thought this was a very well-written, funny and interesting comedy about how people can both love and hate LA, while also finding love for themselves. It's true the movie does look low budget at times. But, the cast does such a fine job (Tori Spelling was even a pleasant surprise), and there is an honesty about Paul Schnedier's character. He starts off as a cynical, "I don't care about this town, or anyone in it" type of guy. But, he gradually grows to recognize what's important about LA is not his perception and bias, but the friends in his life, people he took for granted for far too long. The audience I saw it with at Tribeca really loved it. This film is worth checking out.

Jordan Hawley's 'How to Lose Your Lover' is my kind of movie – all about brainy self-examination, funny, and full of twists.

For me it's genuinely original – goodbyes are always about fake warm feelings, not burning bridges.

Enjoy the psychosis, the antics, the irreverence and the decadence - but when it counts there is real heart in here, too.

Setting this sort of thing in LA is something I've never seen.

I want to call Hawley 'West Coast Woody'.

Has any movie celebrated the buildings and landmarks of LA in the same way?