Funny and Fun

Rating: 6/10 (6 August 2003)

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is the new romantic comedy from director Jack Gill. Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey star as a journalist and an ad executive, one trying to make the other fall in love with him, the other trying to drive him away.

Kate Hudson plays the intelligent and energetic Andie Anderson. Andie is a journalist at composure magazine where she is the resident `How To' girl. All she wants is to write about things she likes; like the environment, economics, poverty and politics. Unfortunately for her, working at Composure magazine means she's limited to fashion, and men. When her friend, Michelle, is dumped, Andie's boss thinks it's a good idea for Michelle to use it as a story. Not being able to exploit her personal life for an article, the boss hands it up to anyone. Andie doesn't want the story being taken by an annoying little co-worker, and therefore takes it upon herself to write the story. She explains that she will do all the silly things that women, like Michelle, do that eventually lead to men being driven away. `How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days' is born.

Matthew McConaughey plays Benjamin Barry, the other lead role as the confident, well-built, handsome man that thinks he can make any straight and available woman fall in love with him. Two of his co-workers make a small bet with him; he has to make a woman of their choice fall completely head over heels for him by next Sunday; 10 days. The two co-workers notice that in the same bar is the woman they met doing the `How To' article! And if you hadn't guessed already, she is the one they tell Ben to make fall in love with him. We witness the next 10 days of these people's lives as Andie does everything in her power to drive Ben away; while he does everything he can to make her fall madly in love.

I was dragged along to see How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days by a few of my friends, and thought that I was going to see some mediocre chick flick that is scarcely original and would leave me gasping for air as I choked on my own throw-up after having to sit through this horrendous thing they want to call `film'. I am happy to say that my worrying was in vain and that How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, though not a masterpiece, is a solid comedy that'll keep you laughing 'til the expected, yet unavoidable, conclusion.

One of the key factors of this film that kept it from being run-of-the-mill was the amazing performance by the beautiful Kate Hudson. Seeing as how her role in Almost Famous completely stole my heart, I knew that she would not disappoint. She plays very well, and has the right energy and quirkiness to capture the audience and make them care about Andie Anderson. Matthew McConaughey plays average at best in his role as Benjamin Barry, but with such a dislikeable character it is hard to find praise. His character is arrogant, and unbearable, aside from a few scenes with some hilarious one-liners that kept him from giving this movie a lower rating. His co-workers Tony and Thayer, played by Adam Goldberg and Thomas Lennon, were much more funny and likeable than Ben, and provided comic relief when in the same scene.

How to Lost a Guy in 10 Days provides solid comedy with believable dialogue, and a great cast of characters. The witty script matched with some solid performances keeps this movie fast and entertaining. A few tiresome scenes, an unpleasant character here or there and the aforementioned predictable ending slightly detract from the light-hearted fun; but the movie still managed to have enough fun to keep me entertained from start to finish.
***/****
Note: **/**** if it weren't for the talented Kate Hudson to pull this picture out of mediocrity.