Disappointed

Rating: 2/10 (18 June 2011)

Before sharing my reservations, let me note:
1) Others in the theatre seemed to be enjoying this movie before I walked out 2) I've enjoyed some of Woody Allen's recent movies (Vicki Christina Barcelona, Whatever Works), so I think I had pretty fair expectations.
I was looking forward to this movie based on all the reviews I read. One of them noted that Owen Wilson was a surprisingly excellent choice as the Woody Allen "character"/mouthpiece.
After the seductive opening of scenes of Paris (think of the valentine to NYC at the beginning of Manhattan), I found it incredibly jarring to hear what were basically the words and thoughts of a New York Jewish intellectual coming out of a lanky Texan (a problem which was not the case with Larry David in the same role in "Whatever Works").
I tried to work with it when I ran into my second big problem with the movie - the fiancé. As written, the character is cartoonishly unappealing - I found it impossible to buy that these two people had gone on a second date, never mind gotten engaged. The problem really seemed to be with the writing - not with Rachel McAdams portrayal.
When I walked out at the 30 minute mark, the fantasy aspects of the story had kicked in and I should note that most of the new characters seemed very well cast and acted. But the acceptance of fantasy requires the suspension of disbelief and the movie had squandered plausability for me at that point on these first two problems, I couldn't stick around for the ride.
YMMV, and maybe if I had stuck it out it would have worked its magic on me. But since my assessment of Owen Wilson flies in the face of reviews I've read (and a few comments I've read here), I just wanted to voice a contrarian view to be considered by those thinking of checking this movie out.