Movie Review by Susan Hodgetts
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, Eli Wallach
Director: Nancy Meyers
Writer/director Nancy Meyers (SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE) is back with her latest cheesy, heart-warming rom-com, which should delight fans of the chick-flick everywhere.
Cameron Diaz plays successful LA businesswoman Amanda Woods, who runs her own company making film trailers. But things in Amanda’s life aren’t really going that well – especially when she discovers her boyfriend Ethan (Ed Burns) has been cheating on her with his receptionist. In desperate need of a break, Amanda engages in a house swap on the Internet with Surrey based Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet), a local wedding reporter who also happens to be suffering from man trouble. Could they unwittingly be about to sort each other’s lives out as they swap continents for two weeks?
The events that follow are rather implausible but it’s all entertaining fluff. Diaz, for the most part extremely likeable, tends to over-act a little at the beginning trying to pay homage to Goldie Hawn but her character is cleverly characterised as a thoroughly modern woman, echoing to some extent some classically male sensibilities. Jude Law is as charming (read smarmy) as ever as Iris’ brother Graham, whilst Jack Black gives a nicely rounded performance as Miles, the music composer taken for granted by his stunning actress girlfriend Maggie (Shannyn Sossaman). Winslet is cast successfully a little against type as the unassertive reporter in love with Jasper Bloom, Rufus Sewell’s bad boy.
The film is not exactly a mental challenge but it’s still an entertaining, enjoyable heart-warming chick-flick, with some nice ideas.
