"Five days is too short, and we go to press in eleven!" Andie's assignment

Rating: Null/10 (9 July 2003)

I was sure this would NOT be a movie I enjoyed, but rented the DVD for my wife. In the end, even though it leaves no lasting impression, like a caffiene-free diet soda, watching Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey play their respective roles was thoroughly enjoyable. She is cute as a button, and he is one of the best and natural young men acting today. The 112 minutes never became boring and was a pleasure to watch on this rainy afternoon.
some SPOILERS follow, read further only at your risk of future disappointment.
Andie (Hudson) is a writer for one of those women's magazines that specialize in such things as plastic surgery, jewelry, weight loss, and how to NOT lose a man. She comes up with the idea that she will get some guy to fall for her, and making all the classic mistakes drive him away in 10 days or less, then write about it as an aid to single women. The problem starts when the guy (Matthew) is on an opposite mission -- meet a girl and make her fall in love with him in 10 days so that he can get the plum diamond advertising assignment.
So they begin. Some of the things she does -- make him get her a soda near the end of a Knicks championship playoff game so he misses the final winning shot. Take him to a "Chick Flick Marathon", then when he actually is enjoying himself picks a fight for him with the big guy behind them. For dinner at his place she brings a box of stuffed animals and other things to decorate his place for her, then at dinner says, regarding the lambchops, "I wish I ate meat." During a seduction she decides to name his "member" Princess Sophia, which turns him off. Brought him a dog to his office, and called him "Bennie Winnie". Left most of 17 phone messages one day, each a few minutes apart. Made a "family album" showing how their kids might look.
The breakthrough came when at a fake therapy session, Andie's friend posing as the therapist suggests they spend a weekend at his family's home. They do, she loves his family, mom hugs her and says "please don't hurt my boy." But at the big diamond extravaganza she finds out about the "bet", he finds out about the "article", and in a great funny scene with Marvin Hamlish they do an impropmtu duet "You're So Vain", then spilt up outside.
Later, when he reads her article, he comes to realize how she really feels, and goes to find her. She has quit her job and is headed to D.C., and, in a great little chase scene he rides his Triumph through NYC, splitting lanes, to find her in her cab. They pull off, they make up, and all's well that ends well.
Cute story, cute actors, no lasting impressions, but a good diversion for someone wanting to see a fun movie.