Jamie (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a golden boy who can sell igloos to Eskimos - mostly by charming the pants off willing females. He gets into the pharmaceutical game and is an on-the-rise young sales genius. Through one of his doctor clients, he meets - more specifically gets a peek at - Maggie (Anne Hathaway), a free spirit who has early-onset Parkinson's. They enter into a no holds barred relationship on the initially mutual assumption that no commitment is or will be required.
That assumption, of course, doesn't hold and its is Jamie in fact who first blurts out the "L" word. This happens after several sessions of copious sex.
Later her health does become a factor, and also his commitment to the sales game. But in the meanwhile they have a rip roaring great time physically with each other, which we see in detail. There is much nudity involving buttocks and breasts, but it is strangely non-stimulating (possibly an intended reaction on the part of the director). It really seems just short of gratuitous.
For the two leads, much has changed in their career trajectories since they were paired, as husband and wife, in Brokeback Mountain. Both have enjoyed mainstream success to a reasonable extent while still taking on edgier fare. The chemistry is undeniably there between them, but the fact is, the audience cares more for them during the presumed "no-commitment" phase even if the true depth of feeling is patently obvious on both sides.
Gyllenhall is more endearing as the scheming cad than the caring suitor (Its especially fun to watch him manipulate the doctor's all-too-willing receptionist) and Hathway's pithy rejection-come on has far more charm and sensuality than the numerous nude afterglow scenes. Oliver Platt is largely filler, but Josh Gad, as Jamie's younger brother, convincingly grabs our attention. lascivious, materialistic and yet cowardly, he's a great slacker. Maybe it should have been his character that got caught up with Hathway's. We might have seen some more sparks.
As it is "Love and Other Drugs" is a movie that's enjoyable for about half an hour and thereafter, only in very brief spurts.
Later her health does become a factor, and also his commitment to the sales game. But in the meanwhile they have a rip roaring great time physically with each other, which we see in detail. There is much nudity involving buttocks and breasts, but it is strangely non-stimulating (possibly an intended reaction on the part of the director). It really seems just short of gratuitous.
For the two leads, much has changed in their career trajectories since they were paired, as husband and wife, in Brokeback Mountain. Both have enjoyed mainstream success to a reasonable extent while still taking on edgier fare. The chemistry is undeniably there between them, but the fact is, the audience cares more for them during the presumed "no-commitment" phase even if the true depth of feeling is patently obvious on both sides.
Gyllenhall is more endearing as the scheming cad than the caring suitor (Its especially fun to watch him manipulate the doctor's all-too-willing receptionist) and Hathway's pithy rejection-come on has far more charm and sensuality than the numerous nude afterglow scenes. Oliver Platt is largely filler, but Josh Gad, as Jamie's younger brother, convincingly grabs our attention. lascivious, materialistic and yet cowardly, he's a great slacker. Maybe it should have been his character that got caught up with Hathway's. We might have seen some more sparks.
As it is "Love and Other Drugs" is a movie that's enjoyable for about half an hour and thereafter, only in very brief spurts.
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