Down With Love Reviews

Up With Down With Love!

For some reason this film flopped in the States and seems to have been similarly overlooked over here. I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy, taking its inspiration from the Doris Day/Rock Hudson rom-coms of the 60's. It manages to score highly both on comedy and romance. McGregor and Zelwegger both excel in their roles and lead a very strong cast. Visually stunning with fantastic sets, costumes and an amusing score. Very good extras, including a "blooper reel" that had me in stitches. Highly recommended!

Underrated...

To appreciate Down With Love I think you need to have seen at least some of the movies it takes its inspiration from. It pokes fun at the Rock Hudson/Doris Day romantic comedies of the 1950s, but with a certain affection.

The script is very sharp (perhaps modern audiences don't have a sufficient grasp of the English language to appreciate the word plays) and the two leads give predictably enjoyable performances.

It's fair to say they don't make 'em like this anymore, but with the lukewarm reaction this has received, it's not surprising. It's quaint and old fashioned, but that sets it apart from the formulaic rom-coms being made elsewhere. It's nothing particularly special, but it's great fun.

Good film, better than I expected it would be. Cheesy in parts but overall good and would recommend watching it.

Down with Down With Love - go watch Pillow Talk!

I had assumed Down With Love would be a film that was made just for me.

I love the Doris Day/Rock Hudson sex comedies of the 60s - so I would 'get' the characters and the deliberately dated plot about the battle of the sexes.

But I'm also savvy enough about films to see just how clever it all is - getting two top Hollywood stars to act in such a tongue in cheek way, all sashaying around the screen in outrageous costumes and pouting expressions. How could I lose?

However, it just didn't work.

The plot retread almost exactly the same plot as Pillow Talk - OK with a nice twist at the end to keep the us 21st century gals happy. Both the leads fail to convince - particularly Ewan McGregor, who is simply not, ahem, manly enough to pull off the "ladies man, man's man, man about town" role. The whole point about Rock Hudson characters in the 60's films were that he was so dreamy that any woman would drop anything to be with him! David Hyde Pierce was excellent however as Catcher Block's editor and best friend.

Ultimately the film suffers from a crisis of identity. Is it supposed to be a straight homage of a 60's comedy? Or a film to poke fun at the old films?

The film has the feel of being destined for the theatre, where the over-acting, tired plots and admittedly wonderful costumes and back drops would be much better suited!

One for curiosity value only.

A threadbare Pillow Talk

I too had missed this at the cinema, and was looking forward to it, as I'm a huge fan of Rock and Doris, and especially Pillow Talk, which Down With Love references. However the references fall flat; Zellweger and MacGregor can't bring much to the roles beyond simpering archly. David Hyde Pierce and his co-star are much more charasmatic and sympathetic. Despite lush visuals, an overblown score and classic inspiration from the 50s, Down With Love is dry, flat, unfunny and sexless.

Frothy, frivilous and with fabulous costumes and sets, this upbeat tale is set in the swinging sixties. A highly entertaining story, Down With Love is a perfect Sunday afternoon snugglefest. Loved it!

Up with Love

For all of you who loved those old sixties Doris Day movies will welcome this good attempt at recreating that whole feel that sadly most romantic comedies lack, here we find McGregor (Moulin Rouge) and Zellweger (Bridget Jones...) at logger heads in a battle of the sexes. Her new book convinces women that they can take control and replace Love with Chocolate while he goes all out to prove her wrong. An earnest attempt with some genuinely funny moments. Contains Frequent references to sex.

Fluffy and fun

I wanted desperately to hate this film, or at least dislike it for being a camp, love-obsessed, semi-musical cheese-fest. Fortunately the film works because it is all these things and makes no attempt to be anything else.

The glorious colours, OTT performances, silly storyline and happy ending are all pure 50s style escapism and its a joy to watch. It won't change the world but it brightens up a wet Sunday afternoon!

For Love or Laughs?

If films had school reports this would be a parent’s nightmare to work out if they deserve praise or punishment. The film scores well for bright colours and some excellent art and design work; but loses marks for lack of concentration and some weak acting from the female lead.

The script just about manages to steer a path between mocking and celebrating the Rock Hudson / Doris Day genre (though it does tend to veer between the two extremes rather than sail a steady path down the middle and the two main supporting characters (David Hyde Pierce and Sarah Paulson) steal almost every scene they are in and almost make the film worthwhile on it’s own.

Ewen McGregor is fine as the Playboy journalist clearly enjoying the role (but who wouldn’t). Only Renee Zellweger struggles as the Romantic lead and but for a few scant scenes failing to convince as either of the roles she is meant to be.

Worth watching but probably with a big bar of Chocolate handy to help you over the cravings for something more substantial.