Much better than I thought it'd be

Rating: 7/10 (19 March 2005)

I guess I need to stop reading reviews of rom-coms before I decide whether to see them. They are usually my favorite genre of movies, especially when I've had a tough week and I just want to relax and "escape" for a couple of hours. Most critics panned this or gave it lukewarm reviews, but several friends of mine had seen it and told me they liked it, so I gave it a try. I am not a huge fan of Will Smith, but I think he did a great job in this movie. He was charming and funny, and he had good chemistry with Eva Mendes. However, the Kevin James/Amber Valletta couple absolutely stole the show. Kevin James has the best moments in the film and he always lit up the screen when he was on. I was also afraid that since I'd seen the trailer for this movie, I'd seen all the best jokes and there was no point (don't you hate when that happens?) but I was wrong. The laughs were evenly spaced with the dramatic moments, and I think men who usually run quickly in the other direction from chick flicks will enjoy this movie. Andy Tennant (director) did a marvelous job on this one. I recommend it.