How Do You Know

Okay so just got home from going to the cinema to see a film that despite what the critics tell me I should be feeling I was excited to see it considering the fact that its a film from writer/director James L. Brooks and As Good As It Gets is one of my all time favourite films. I went to the cinema with an open mind because I choose to never listen to a critic until I've seen the film myself because their not always correct despite what they think. I had high hopes; the cast is an all star line up of distinguished actors; Jack Nicholson is a multi-Oscar winning great actor and Reese Witherspoon won an Oscar for her role as June Carter in Walk The Line and the trailers made it seem like a funny but slightly depressing story that would obviously end happy for the characters the audience is supposed to root for.

However the film never seemed to take off, the acting was slightly muted and slow and the story line was not thought-out. every time it seemed we would finally get the point the characters couldn't get their lines out.

I have liked Paul Rudd as an actor since Friends when he married Phoebe and its safe to say Rudd was the redeeming part of the film, as well as I good supporting cast of actors including Kathryn Hahn (who was in Anchorman, Stepbrothers among others). His back story was centred around his getting investigating for criminal feud; the point of this was not explained till the end of the film but when it was talked about during the film it was as if the characters didn't know their lines or for some reason couldn't get them out. And even though the point of this story line was eventually explained at the end but we really should have got there faster.

Owen Wilson didn't really have much character development but despite obviously not being the guy your routing for in the love/relationship triangle but there was nothing terrible wrong with him, it seemed that Reese was the problem in the relationship as the stereotypical whinny girlfriend that just wanted to change her man. I would really love to see Owen Wilson try something different other than the loveable fool who mentally never left high-school. From all reports Wilson has had some problems with depression, maybe he doesn't want to do something more serious because he likes the 'silly' roles he chooses (Marley and Me seems to be the only role were he's taken on more emotional acting). I would like to see him take on a role that's more daring and different from what he's done before.

There's not much to say about Reese Witherspoon's role in the film only that she was there to tie together the love triangle. It seemed like she was there physically and but not mentally and to me she was also the villain in the triangle because she knew Rudd was falling for her but still lead him on by going to his apartment. As I said earlier it seemed she wanted Wilson because he was rich and handsome but also wanted to change him for her own sake.

Last but not least Jack Nicholson; I cant really explain what was going on with him. He was like a confused old man trying to say something but he couldn't remember what it was he was trying to say. I have loved Jack Nicholson for many years: all my life probably, and then to see him like this is a little sad because it just reminds me that he's getting older and wont be gracing our screens forever.

If you want to pay money to see this film in the cinema... do; that's your choice but if you'd rather watch an excellent film and come away happier, stay home and watch AS GOOD AS IT GETS. There aren't many films where the main character can be so awful and brutally mean but remain loved by everyone (my favourite aspect of the film is the vicious insults Nicholson comes out with without actually using offensive language (swearing)).