dan_delago

Suspension of disbelief is a wonderful phenomenon. It's used in many genres effectively and why not in romantic film? Although the Lakehouse mailbox took on some magical qualities, the plot still worked for me on a deeper level. It's about connecting with your true soulmate when you feel isolated. Who hasn't felt alone at a crowded party? Or who hasn't feared if they wait too long that they may never find that special someone? It's a part of the human condition this film examines. I mean, look at the architecture of the Lake House itself. It's isolated yet beautiful in a Frank Lloyd Wright kind of way.

This is a character-driven story. It was fueled by the solid performances of Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. They are so natural and comfortable together on screen. It's more than just physical attraction between two people and that's why the love story works. It's real chemistry between them. I believed these two could be walking along Lakeshore Drive holding hands together.

I was rooting for these two characters to get together. They are likable. They have angst in their lives. They show vulnerability. Real human feelings. They are successful in their careers but there is still that void. In my opinion, they are the right fit for each other. It's the underlying themes of this movie that give it substance not the fact that some of the plot is a bit far-fetched. Love is illogical in many ways but when you find that certain someone, it's magical.

David Auburn's screenplay is first-rate. It creates the right mood. It has emotion in each scene. He makes the story palpable. This kept me interested. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. What more can you ask for in a touching love story? I enjoyed it.

If you're looking for a warm and fuzzy romantic comedy, rent Vince Vaughn in "Wedding Crashers." It's a brilliant romantic comedy. The movie company is marketing the "Breakup" as a romantic comedy but it's more of an anti-romantic comedy. I respect Vaughn for not wanting to be typecast but the marketing of this film is misleading.

Why doesn't the film work? It's simple. The script is amateurish. Congratulations to these neophytes but let the audience beware. The characters are superficial. The gags are stereotypical. Since we don't really get to know who Vaughn and Aniston's characters really are. I mean, why did they get together in the first place? They are complete opposites. Vaughn is a video-gaming slob and Aniston is a sophisticated art dealer. Where's the connection? When they fight, which happens right after the opening credits. By the way, the opening credits are a montage of them having fun, I guess to make us feel like they have a solid relationship. Seeing them in Halloween costume pictures doesn't convince me that these two were meant for each other. Anyway, once they begin their verbal insults, it gets UGLY. I felt uncomfortable listening to their arguments.

You get the feeling through the movie that they are more worried about their real estate investment than trying to salvage their sinking relationship. You just DON'T care if these two ever kiss and make up. There is simply no chemistry between them.

Rule number one in romantic comedy writing 101. Make your characters interesting so the audience will care about them. This is no fault to Vaughn and Aniston who are two of the most talented actors in film today. I place the blame on the screenplay. It just didn't work for me. Romantic comedies depend on a good script because they are character-driven stories. This film runs out of gas right after the opening credits.

First of all, I love Cameron Crowe movies. Three of my favorites are Almost Famous, Jerry McGuire, and Vanilla Sky. By the way, Vanilla Sky is undisputably Tom Cruise's best performance ever, hands down! Now back to Elizabethtown, maybe it's too ambitious, maybe it's Cameron Crowe's idea of the perfect boy meets girl romance, maybe just maybe, Crowe just wanted to say the heck with you guys (the audience) and decided to make the kind of film he wanted. That's okay, he is not only a great writer/director but an movie artiste of our generation.

I had trouble buying the whole love affair with Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst. No girl, as good-looking and smart as Kirsten, would try so hard to win the affections of this guy. It just was hard to believe that she would go thru so much trouble. I like the last scene. I won't give it away but it's a journey that Orlando takes with his father (in an urn). It's very carthartic but it's too unbelievable as it progresses.

I would have like to have seen more of Susan Sarandon's character. The scene in which she dances on stage to "Moon River" is beautiful. Who ever says women over 40 are not sexy, should be shot. Her character needed more time to grow, oh well, too bad.

This film has some good moments but it fails. Maybe that is what Crowe wanted, a Spasmodica shoe that is flawed but has good intentions.