The Citizen Kane Of Romantic Comedies

Rating: 10/10 (15 February 2009)

For as long as I can remember, my movie viewing of choice has always been the horror movie, or to be more precise, the B horror movie.
However since I got married a few years back, my viewing habits have gradually changed, I still find time to watch the odd horror flick that warrants my attention.
As with marriage, you have to share and care for one another, and I would never dream of making my good lady sit down and watch such demented delights as 'Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers', the mere mention of title practically makes her raise an eyebrow, so such delights I often leave for myself to recall with fondness.
That being said, having worked in video Shops, and cinemas down through the years, I have often decided to swerve anything that remotely contained the romantic comedy angle, but the love of my wife is such, and rather than ruin such romantic interludes as Valentine's Day or a romantic date for two out to the cinema, I more or less have opened my mind to other cinematic possibilities.
So as the years have passed, such suspect delights like 'Love Actually' 'Pretty Woman' have left an indelible impression upon my festering heart.
Such a similar case can also be said for this slice of rom-com candy floss. Initially the notion of watching Hugh Grant in any sort of movie would fill me with deepest fear.
However my guard was down one night, in popped the DVD and there I found myself hooked.
As has often been the notion, whenever you have the very beautiful Drew Barrymore in a movie, more often than not, you would be guaranteed some modicum of entertainment.
Just ask Adam Sandler, whenever he needed a romantic comedy to fly at the box office, a simple call to Drew would more or less bring multiplex cinemas to their collective knees.
Beyond anything else that Mr Sandler has made before or since, both 'The Wedding Singer' & '50 First Dates' will always rank highly for me as pure romantic comedy entertainment.
Perhaps, such a notion also entered into the mind of writer/director Marc Lawrence, when it came time to cast this very fine movie.
Granted not all of the movies mentioned will have made mega bucks, but their legions of fans will have guaranteed that the DVD sales would have wanted similar parings.
If we were to be honest, Hugh Grant's acting talent is pretty much focused on that one character trait, that of the foppish cad, and as long as the project suits the actor, then the movie will always be given the green light.
Now I haven't watched 'Two Weeks Notice' Or 'Miss Congeniality' but during my video shop days, both these titles always flew off the shelves.
As has been mentioned many times previous writer/director Marc Lawrence certainly has a way with the written word, and this is certainly on display here.
Both Hugh Grant & Drew Barrymore work very well together, Drew as ever showing that slight glimmer of vulnerability which is always endearing in movie of this type.
Couple their performances, with the witty script as well as the very excellent soundtrack, which I have since purchased, and cannot stop playing, especially the main track 'Way Back Into Love' this movie in my humble opinion, is truly a wonderful experience, that really makes you feel spot on inside.
The additional performers in the movie also add a touch of class to the proceedings, especially Brad Garrett and the very sexy Kristen Johnston.
More often than not, certain films can withstand the test of time and become true classics of their respective genre, okay so this movie might not reach the fevered heights of acclaim of 'Gone With The Wind' or 'The Wizard Of Oz'.
However for me this movie could possibly be the 'Citizen Kane' of romantic comedies, but the again, I'm the guy who loves his horror movies, but as my wife often says, 'Give it time my love'.
My rating for this movie is 10/10