ROMANTIC

I have placed "sizzler ratings" next to movies to give you an idea of how good they are

BEDAZZLED (1999)

Starring: Brendan Fraser, Liz Hurley, Frances O'Connor
The plot: Elliot is a pathetic looser living in San Francisco. He would give anything if Alison Gardner would go out with him.. Enter the Devil. For signing his soul away on a 3 inch thick contract, Elliot can have a life with Alison. However, the Devil has a tendency to give Elliot his dreams a little too literally or with a catch, and Elliot finds himself constantly to ask for the next wish...
Comment: Light natured fluff somewhat ruined by Liz Hurley... Brendan Fraser is fine as the pathetic geek trying to obtain his dream girl - and thrust into all sorts of bizarre situations with his wishes. Hurley is dreadful as the 'seductive' devil who just over-enunciated every vowel in the British vocab to the point of irritating distraction. Mindless entertainment better suited for the Saturday night home in front of the DVD or video player...
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BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY (2001)

Starring: Renee Zellwelger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant
The plot: Bridget Jones is a 30-something woman working in a dead-end job in a publishing company in London. With the new year, she vows to make some changes - loose weight, stop smoking, get her boss... At the same time as she struggles to get her life into order, she is torn between defending her 'singleton' lifestyle and despising the 'smug marrieds' and at the same time, secretly wishing for some man to come into her life.
Comment: I'll be the first to admit I was one of the many who threw their hands up in horror at the softly-spoken texan being placed in the role of the quintessentially british Bridget, but to give credit where credit is due, Zellwelger truly carries it off. However, more than that, the film is as hilarious - if not better - than the book that inspired it. Although the atmosphere was highly charged with estrogen in the screening I saw, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if many men being dragged along to this decidedly 'chick-click' find themselves laughing as much as the females in the audience. The only flaw in the film was it really accentuated the difference between Bridget and Mark Darcy, and although Colin Firth's performance is almost an effortless copy of Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, no lawyer I know would want to end up with someone as artless as Bridget Jones - something that doesn't come across in the book!
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FORCES OF NATURE (1999)

Starring: Ben Affleck, Sandra Bullock
The plot: Ben Affleck is on his way to Georgia to marry his sweetheart when his plan nearly crashes on take-off. Total chaos ensues as he tries to hire a car to go to Georgia. He ends up with the free-spirited Sandra Bullock as an unlikely travel companion. On the way down, they encounter just about every cliché you can think of to delay them arriving on time for his wedding.
Comment: Bleh! Ben Affleck is lousy as the 'deeply brooding soon-to-be-married good guy' and Sandra Bullock is so-so as the free-spirited sprite who tried to live life to the max despite her own personal burden. But its the clichés that will most likely cause you to dissolve into a pile of puke of disgust as Affleck is forced to not only endure delays not thought possible in this modern day and age, but also tales from strangers of the perils of marriage... Slow and lacking in chemistry, this movie is one to miss!
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NOTTING HILL (1999)

Starring: Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts
The plot: William Thacker runs a not very profitable travel book store in the London suburb of Notting Hill. On an average day, he is suddenly confronted with super Hollywood star, Anna Scott. Once incidence leads to another and the two find themselves becoming friends. However, a superstar dating a normal bloke is not liable to be a smooth road to travel...
Comment: An absolutely charming script which is much more 'together' than the writer/producer previous famous effort, "Four Weddings and a Funeral". Amusing from start to finish, Hugh Grant bumbles his way through and Julia Roberts turns on her 1000W smile at all opportunities. As far as 'chick flicks' go, this one should be appeal to both sides if nothing else but because of the cleverly crafted script delivered deadpan by a stereotypical, dominantly British cast.
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RETURN TO ME (2000)

Starring: David Duchovny, Minnie Driver, Bonnie Hunt
The plot: Bob Rueland is devastated when the love of his life, Elizabeth, is killed in a car accident. At the same time, Grace is knocking on death's door, waiting for a heart donor. A year later, both are on the path to recovery, when a chance blind date that has gone bad for Bob introduces them to eachother. Soon, Bob realizes, that although he misses Elizabeth desperately, he also wants to be with Grace and love blossoms. But, alas, this is a romantic comedy, and something tragic is bound to happen...
Comment: This movie is going to be a video sleeper... Anyone who blew this one off because 'David Duchovny is in it...' and can't conceive of him in any role other than as a droll FBI agent, well, he's come a long way! Duchovny was absolutely marvelous in this film and positively lights up the screen. If it helps you to appreciate this film even more, imagine George Clooney in the role as Bob - he fortunately told Duchovny to get in touch with Hunt, and we were spared that dreadful possibility! However, I reckon this film is probably the best in the romantic comedy genre to have come out since 'When Harry Met Sally" and is well worth the price of admission OR video/DVD rental. Have lotsa tissues on standby - there is more than one opportunity to cry from grief or laughter in this movie! Absolutely first rate!
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RUNAWAY BRIDE (1999)

Starring: Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Joan Cusack
The plot: Ike Graham is a journalist who writes a column for the USATODAY newspaper. Usually he writes an endless diatribe against women until one day he hears the tale of a small town girl, Maggie Carpenter, who always runs from the alter before saying the wedding vows. However, this time, Ike has met his match and Maggie sues the newspaper and he looses his job. Ike ends up landing a journalist job on spec to go to Hale and see if Maggie runs from the alter in her next upcoming wedding
Comment: A pale, washed out romantic comedy from the two who sizzled in Pretty Women. Although nothing really jumps out as wrong with this movie, it doesn't really ever get moving in apart from the obligatory mild humour moments. A pleasant chick flick for a night out at home.
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SIX DAYS, SEVEN NIGHTS (1998)

Starring: Harrison Ford, Anne Heche, David Schwimmer
The plot: A craggy cargo plane pilot and a smart magazine editor get stranded after a storm on a deserted island near Fiji. The plot loosely revolves around getting off the island before some drug runners ('pirates') kill them.
Comment: This movie has everything you would expect for a cheesy romantic comedy romp but it's not quite as bad as you would expect. Ford and Heche deliver strong performances, presumably trying to overcome the desperately thin plot (it worked better in the '80's with "Romancing the Stone"). However, my faith in Ford's ability to act (severely knocked after seeing him in "Sabrina" - ever notice he doesn't say much in his action movies?) was revitalised after a passable scene as a drunk.
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THE WHOLE NINE YARDS (2000)

Starring: Matthew Perry, Bruce Willis, Michael Clarke Duncan
The plot: Oz is an emotionally drained dentist trapped in a loveless marriage because it just happens his wife is also the daughter of the dead partner who embezzled and left him to pay the bill. When Oz goes to welcome his new neighbour, Jimmy Jones, a sudden glimpse of a tulip tattoed on his arm makes Jimmy realise Jimmy 'The Tulip' Tudeski, a notorious contract killer, is his new neighbour. Oz's wife, far from being alarmed about this, see's dobbing Jimmy to his gangster bosses as the perfect way for Oz to get a finders fee, pay off the debt and divorce eachother...
Comment: Not a bad movie, but a little disconnected, drifting from one theme to another with only fluffy bits of humour holding the whole thing together. Matthew Perry fails to escape his 'Chandler' character of the hit TV show, Friends and Bruce WIllis, as pers usual, does not acting and just smirks like he knows everything the whole way through. The only shining light in the whole film - for some bizarre reason - was he huge presence of Michael Clark Duncan. I can't explain it, but every time he was present, he added a gentle, light humurous touch to the entire affairs and positively lit up the screen. Go figure!
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THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY (1998)

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, Lee Evans, Chris Elliot
The plot: Mary is a successful doctor in Miami. Ted is her high-school prom date who at 30, wonders if it hadn't all gone wrong, would he have been with her now. Healy is the sleazy detective who Ted hires to find Mary. Then there are the other men in Mary's life...
Comment: Criticised heavily by the critics as the Farrelly Brothers (Directors of "Dumb and Dumber" fame) for being terribly unPC, this movie is still bound to raise a giggle or two. Although no stone is left unturned in finding politically incorrect things to exploit, everything is done under the guise of honesty in the best interests of the characters involved. And watch out for the hilarious highlight when Lee Evans tries to pick up his carkeys...
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THREE TO TANGO (1999)

Starring: Dylan McDermott, Matthew Perry, Neve Campbell
The plot: Rich Businessman, Charles Newman, wants to secretly keep an eye on his mistress, Amy. Enter: Oscar Novak, unsuspecting architect who is made out to be gay by rival architect company. Because the employment stakes are so high, Oscar ends up pretending to be gay, but falls in love all the same.
Comment: Typical schmaltzy Hollywood romantic comedy with just the vaguest, merest hint of rising above the miasma because (as far as I could tell) it had a good soundtrack creating a slightly different atmosphere. Dylan McDermott tries to be but lighter than his serious role in the hit TV show, The Practice, and doesn't really succeed. Ditto for Matthew Perry - barely manages to rise above his role in the equally popular TV show, Friends. However, Neve Campbell does rather shine as the ever bubbly, never depressed, optimistic mistress. However, you know how this film is going to end before it even begins...
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WHAT WOMEN WANT (1999)

Starring: Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt, Marisa Tomei, Lauren Holly
The plot: Nick Marshall is a Lady's man, a chauvanistic pig and a successful advertising guru who has had it lucky to date. Then, all of a sudden, his Chicago advertising agency decides they need to cash in on the market for that other half of the population - woman. To this end, Nick is passed over for a promotion and a woman, Darcy Maguire, is hired to be Creative Director. As Nick mutters his way through preparing to to sell some woman's products that evening, he slips and regains consciousness with the ability to read women's minds.
Comment: A suprisingly entertaining and funny little film that seems to want to slip into the same vein as 'Sleepless in Seattle' or 'Return to Me,' but doesn't quite make it. Although there has been much praise for Gibson in his first real (not counting 'Bird on a Wire) comedy lead role, I found that he wasn't quite convincing as a man who relied on women to do everything for him. The ending was also a bit hurried and didn't quite make sense. However, that aside, the film was quite funny with plenty of 'that is so true!' moments for both sexesm and overall, does end leaving you with a smile on your face.
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YOU GOT MAIL (1998)

Starring: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan
The plot: "Shopgirl" and "NY152" are the pen names of two friends who have met over the internet. Joe and Kathleen are two business rivals in the book business. When Joe, a super bookstore owner meets Kathleen, a small bookstore owner, sparks fly. NY152 wants to meet Shopgirl, but when he does, he is in for a shock.
Comment: A movie inspired by the oldie, "The Shop around the corner", this is a delightful remake by Norma Ephron (she of "Sleepless in Seattle" fame). There's no doubt this is a 'chick flick', but its also a movie guaranteed to leave you with the warm and fuzzies. But. This movie does not have 'classic' written all over it like that original Ephron film, "When Harry met Sally" (which I imagine is not being mentioned in reviews because Meg Ryan didn't have the foresight to play opposite Tom Hanks...).
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