"Love American Style" knockoff is notable for its cast, not its content

Rating: 6/10 (29 April 2011)

When I heard about this film's box office success and "who's who" of British talent, I expected something that was sharp, funny, and romantic. What I got was a string of celebrity vignettes in ordinary situation comedy skits. It's easy to take and has enough laughs and romance for its running time, but fell short of my expectations. Take away the A-list cast and some of the sexual content and there is nothing that you haven't seen before. It could have easily been called "Love British Style." Liam Neeson's role as a recently widowed man was the most moving, but because it happened to him in real life, not because of anything that happens in this film. Laura Linney is given a reasonably compelling role, but the story hits a dead end, as if the writers didn't know what to do with her character. Hugh Grant is cast as the Prime Minister, but the role is written to suit his on-screen persona so his performance here seems generic and his pursuit of a member of his staff member seems far-fetched. Emma Thompson does well, but her role is pure soap opera. One can easily sit through this film and even enjoy it at times, as I did, but don't expect anything more than an decent time filler.