Is Natalie Portman a movie star? Pretty? Absolutely. A good actor? Yes. Likeable? Definitely. But can she carry a not-much part on the basis of her personality – like a say, Sandra Bullock or Julia Roberts? Well, she’s not quite there but she does well enough and teams amiably with Ashton Kutcher, who feels more at home (playing a role not unfamiliar to him - to wit, a dopey, big-hearted dufus). Ivan Reitman’s direction is erratic – sometimes the piece struggles, especially with the handling of the supporting characters (why is that blonde doctor [Cary Elwes] even in the film? Or the black guy who runs the coffee shop?).
But then sometimes it all kicks in and really works – Los Angeles actually looks pretty, I really liked the use of Temper Trap at the end, the leads seem to like each other, there are some terrific support performances (Lake Bell especially - a totally recognisable TV type, hilarious -; also Kevin Kline and the blonde friend of Portman). Amiable, romantic fun.
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