VALENTINE'S DAY Movie Review

February 11, 2010
by
2 mins read
Folio Weekly

by Rick Grant
If ever a film exemplified commercial exploitation of a holiday, this is it. Directed by Gary Marshall, the premise is reminiscent of Neil Simon’s California Suite, in which various vignettes involved guests staying at the Beverly Hill’s Hotel. Likewise, in this story, a legion of big name actors star in vignettes revolving around Valentine’s Day.
The stories have farcical elements and romantic paradoxes, with predictable results. However, I can’t write this formulaic work as completely unworthy of viewing. It fulfills the date night market and the actors do their jobs well.
It’s Valentine’s Day, the biggest day of the year for LA flower shop-owner Reed Bennett (Ashton Kutcher), who has just proposed to his girlfriend Morley (Jessica Alba) and he is ecstatic that she said yes.
Reed’s best friend Julia (Jennifer Garner) has found her Mr. Right, Dr. Harrison Copeland (Patrick Dempsey), who, not surprisingly, turns out to be married. (natch!) Talent agent in training Josh Morris (Topher Grace) has had his first sleep-over date with receptionist Liz (Anne Hathaway) and is smitten. High school romance is in the air with hot throbs Willy (Taylor Lautner) and Felicia (Taylor Swift).
Ten year-old Edison (Bryce Robinson) has a wicked crush on his teacher Julia and wants to send her flowers for Valentine’s Day. Edison grandparents, Estelle (Shirley MacLaine) and Edgar (Hector Elizondo) are taking care of the love smitten lad while his mother is away.
The first part of the film is taken up with character development, then the romantic interludes begin with various paradoxes happening that lead to unexpected pairings. Viewers will not be shocked by the outcome of these romantic entanglements as characters make obvious mistakes in choosing lovers.
Director Marshall, who is a master at orchestrating so many story elements, ties everything together as the many characters deal with the romantic aspects of Valentine’s Day. Yes, it’s contrived and mundane, but couples in the throws of love will eat it up like popcorn.
Football star, Sean Jackson (Eric Dane) has a secret to tell, but his bi-polar talent agent Paula (Queen Latifah) is trying to get him signed and is blindsided by his shocking announcement. His PR consultant (Jessica Biel) is a dateless wallflower on the big red day, but falls for sportscaster Kelvin Moore (Jamie Foxx) at an Indian wedding.
There is a touching interlude with a character named Holden (Bradley Cooper) on an airliner with Julia Roberts playing an Army Captain heading home on a 24 hour leave. When they are leaving LAX Airport, Holden offers her his limo and driver to take her back home from the airport. But his motive is not romantic in this case.
The film is predictable but does have a few surprises and tricks the audience into thinking the obvious, but then sinks the hook for shock value. It’s just one of those films that exploits the Valentine’s Day hype to present various love stories that have as much long term romantic value as an unsold box of Valentine Day’s chocolates.
Clearly, the high price cast worked cheap to keep their mugs in front of the camera during a lull between winter and summer releases. It was fun for them and the audience with no guilt, like drinking a bottle of ultra-light beer.

Folio is your guide to entertainment and culture around and near Jacksonville, Florida. We cover events, concerts, restaurants, theatre, sports, art, happenings, and all things about living and visiting Jax. Folio serves more than two million readers across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, including St. Augustine, The Beaches, and Fernandina.

Current Issue

SUBMIT EVENTS

Submit Events

Advertisements

SingOutLoadFestival_TheAmp_2025
liz-buys-houses-digital
generac-home-standby-generator-banners

Date

Title

Current Month

Follow FOLIO!

Folio Weekly
Previous Story

LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL

Folio Weekly
Next Story

MARILYN: FOREVER BLONDE! at MOCA

Latest from Movies

SINNERS: Culture, History and the Language of Metaphors

Words by Za’Nya Davis If you miss it, you might only catch a vampire story — paying closer attention, you will find Ryan Coolger’s “Sinners” is a strategically constructed film that uses every aspect of its screenwriting to entice its audience through the art of creative writing and masterful

June Theater, Dance and Film

Through June 1 “Hamlet” The Island Theater, Fleming Island theislandtheater.com Through June 15 “Rhinocerous” Limelight Theatre, St. Augustine limelight-theatre.org Through June 22  “My Fair Lady”  Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com June 2 “Celebrating Celine Dion” Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com June 6-15  “Anastasia”  The Island Theater,

Theater, Dance and Film

Through May 4 “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” Theatre Jacksonville theatrejax.com  “How to $ucceed in Business Without Really Trying” Amelia Musical Playhouse, Fernandina Beach ameliamusicalplayhouse.com May 2 “Our Town” St. Francis-in-the-Field, St. Augustine apextheatrejax.com May 2-11 “The Foreigner” Center for Spiritual Healing, St. Augustine aclassictheatre.org May

Monthly Movie Wrap-Up

Words by Wavery Loyd                                                                                             

April Theater, Dance and Film

April 1-6 “Les Miserables” Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts fscjartistseries.org April 3 “A Year With Frog and Toad” Thrasher-Horne Center thcenter.org April 3-11 “Beautiful: The Carole King Story” Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com April 3-13 “Oklahoma!” Artist Connection Theatre artistconnectiontheatre.org April 4 “The Great Gatsby:
July 5th Cleanup
GoUp

Don't Miss

The Avett Brothers

November 15 The Avett Brothers St. Augustine Amphitheatre (904) 471-1965

Paula Poundstone

Paula Poundstone “Twitter is the postcards in my head.” It’s