Love Happens Directed by: Brandon Camp Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Jennifer Aniston, Dan Fogler, Martin Sheen Running Time: 1 hr 50 mins Rating: PG-13 Release Date: September 18, 2009
Plot: Burke (Eckhart) is a self-help guru, who's about to make it big. Unfortunately, even while he's helpin gpeople he hasn't been able to come to grips wife the death of his wife. He meets Eloise (Aniston) and things start to change.
Who’s It For? If you hear Aniston and romance, then tune out of all other things, well then you aren't even reading this. Everyone else could save this one if they're on a plane.
Expectations: I was worried the plot would not be serious enough, though I'm a big fan of Eckhart and Aniston is starting to grow on me.
SCORECARD (0-10)
Actors: Aaron Eckhart as Burke: We know Eckhart has the charisma to command a room. Case in point, Thank You For Smoking. And while Burke gets off to a good start with making lemonade (with a heavy dose of vodka) this quickly becomes an uncomfortable role of a likeable guy in an unlikeable role. Burke is making money of the grief of others, while keeping his pain, and some truths, inside. Score: 5
Jennifer Aniston as Eloise: Saying Eloise makes you think of a grandma or a little girl who gets picked on in school, right? Well, here she's a relationship train wreck, but we're only teased with that idea. She always finds the guy who will cheat on her. Suddenly, she's the one to help Burke for no real good reason. Her coworker (Judy Greer, who's hamming it up way too much) calls her out on this pointless potential long distance relationship, but Eloise keeps on trucking. Why? Because a movie needs to be longer than 20 minutes. Score: 4
Dan Fogler as Lane: He's Lane. He'll tell you that a could of times during the movie. Lane is Burke's agent/friend who is after the money and yet at the same time has a heart of gold. Yeah, I know guys like him don't exist, but at least Fogler shows a little more ability than he did in Balls of Fury. Score: 4
Martin Sheen as Burke's father-in-law: This is some of the worse melodrama I have seen in a long, long time. I don't want to talk about the former President anymore than that. I blame the character, not the actor. Score: 1
Talking: There is absolutely no rhythm between the fun, light-hearted romantic comedy and the deadly serious grief of losing family in awful ways. It's uncomfortable. Burke and Eloise click, but they don't really show why. Burke helps people with some of the most basic advice such as, "happiness in a state of mind." It's annoying to watch him connect with people who trust in his advice. Score: 3
Sights: Seattle might just be the main reason to see this film. We get a lot of the city highlights. Can someone in Seattle let me know the hours of the Space Needle? I think the film shows Burke hanging out at the top at about 1:30 a.m. Seems a little late. There's also a cockatoo, which they call a parrot. When you can use a word like "cockatoo" you have to take advantage, right? Score: 5
Sounds: Did I miss the conversation where Burke says he likes the band Rogue Wave. Eloise plans an elaborate date which could have gone really bad if Burke wasn't a fan. The soundtrack featured Badly Drawn Boy, The Eels and Postal Service. I would have given this a higher score if this was 2007. Score: 7
PLOT SPOILERS
Best Scene: The first date fails for Burke and Eloise. I liked it because it failed. It was awkward and forced and that's how the rest of the movie felt for me, but for Love Happens all the other parts were accidental.
Ending: Slow clap. Seriously.
Questions: Why does Burke take the stairs? Why does Eloise write on walls? Was this a commercial for Grey Goose (cause I could have used a glass)? How does Burke cash checks and sleep at night?
Rewatchability: I could see sitting next to my wife on a plane, this being the movie of choice, and choosing to let her watch it as I read. Then after, we simply shrug our shoulders and move on.
OVERALL
Love happens. It does. Most of us have seen this. Unfortunately, this is more like the original phrase "sh*t happens." Burke is in Seattle for a week-long seminar to help those who grieve. But the movie is too light to tap into the most important question that should have been the focus ... How does it feel to be famous for your painful loss? When you have Eckahrt and Aniston, and you're not going to go dark, diving into some serious emotion, then why even bother with this script? They should have just made Burke and cocky self-help guru, who over-analyzes Eloise and her bad dating ways. That is digestible fluff.
To top it off Love Happens actually uses a slow clap in a serious way to bring this movie home. Melodrama and family members dying just shouldn't be thrown together like this. It's not fair to people who may actually be grieving, and just to movie fans in general.
Final Score: 4/10