Love and Other Drugs (2010) - the invention of love, and Viagra

directed by Edward Zwick / starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria

Jamie is a pharmaseutical sales representative, quite successful at what he does because of his charm (and looking like Jake Gyllenhaal doesn't hurt, either). He's what you call a player. Maggie is a painter-turned-photographer, an independent and outspoken woman suffering from Parkinson's, and avoiding commitment and relationship, but still very hungry for sex. The two reach a nice little agreement, which ensures loads of steamy, passing moments for both of them, no strings attached, just pure, guilt-free indulgence. Then, what do you know, some feelings begin to appear. And nothing good ever comes out of that, as we know, right? Oh, and somewhere along the way, Viagra is invented. Not that it really has anything to do with anything.

As the end credits scrolled to the screen and the lights went back on in the auditorium and I began to look for my shoes, I was thinking: "Did this film really need to be made? What did this film give to the world that it didn't already have? Couldn't they have spent the money to save the children of Africa or clone a turtle or something, and do something better with their time, like mow the lawn or hire someone to mow the lawn or read Anna Karenina? Why do they keep making films like this?" And, oh well, to answer my own question, because people not unlike me keep paying money to see films like this. Did it really need to be made? Nah. Would there have been better uses for that time and money? I bet. What did it give to the world? ... Well, if nothing else, then at least some images of semi-nude Jake Gyllenhaal. That might not make the world a better place, but definitely not worse, either.

Let's get the obvious over and done with: Jake Gyllenhaal is super hot and I could look at that body (and that face (and those eyelashes)) for hours and happily drown in my drool. They actually could've saved a lot of money by making this a silent film. Who needs to hear anything when there's an enormous Jake Gyllenhaal on the screen before you, right? Actually, at times, like during that final Kiss And Make Up Scene I noticed my attention drifting away as I started to think about what's in my fridge and when I'll have to do laundry again - WHILE still looking at the AH!-dorable puppyeyes, glistening with tears and begging for forgiveness. (The situation was a bit unfair, really. Puppyeyes like that should be illegal.)

I very much enjoyed Anne Hathaway, too. She's just a sweetheart, isn't she, who could dislike her? And I loved that hair of hers, where could I buy natural curls like that... It was really only the two leads that made Love and Other Drugs as an enjoyable movie experience as it was. Because even though the story was a bit blah and unoriginal, it was still nice to watch those two people together. Some moments were genuinely sweet and touching. My favourite gag was that homeless man, who kept collecting the Prozac Jamie got rid of and finally said he was going to a job interview. I kept expecting him to return as a bank manager or the new owner of Microsoft...

P.S. Anne and Jake were doing much better now than in their previous on-screen relationship, weren't they? I'm pretty sure none of them was a closeted gay this time, so yay, that's progress for you. Watch and learn, Kate and Leo!

"This isn't about connection for you. This isn't even about sex for you. This is about finding an hour or two of relief from the pain of being you. And that's fine with me, see, because all I want is the exact same thing."