How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

Rating: 3/10 (31 May 2009)

From director Donald Petrie (Grumpy Old Men, Richie Rich, My Favourite Martian, Miss Congeniality), I had idea of what to expect in this romantic comedy, so I tried it. Basically advertising executive Benjamin 'Ben' Barry (Matthew McConaughey) makes a bet with two female co-workers at the diamond company he works for, that he can make a woman fall in love with him within ten days, and he is thinking of diamond promotion in the process. Fashion magazine journalist Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) also has a bet on that she can meet a guy, and get rid of him within ten days, and she gets to write about whatever she wants if successful. So Ben is trying to make her love him, and Andie is doing everything possible to get him to dump her. To be honest, I think the one making the most effort is Andie, being the most bitchy, irritating and over emotional girlfriend possible, and Ben is struggling to put up with it for his bet. Of course, eventually they both find out each others bets, and split, with Andie getting to write what she wants, about fashion, which she refuses, and Ben realises she is making a mistake moving away, and of course they love each other, so all is settled in the end. Also starring Adam Goldberg as Tony, Michael Michele as Spears, Shalom Harlow as Green, Bebe Neuwirth as Lana Jong, Robert Klein as Phillip Warren and Kathryn Hahn as Michelle. Hudson does well as the deliberately irritating girlfriend, and McConaughey is alright playing his usual "Mr. Nice Guy" character, but I can agree they don't have much chemistry, and it does lose its humour in parts. Adequate!