What a Shame!

Rating: 1/10 (31 January 2008)

I read the book last year and was really impressed. Ahern really got the characters and the emotions related to grief, spot on. It was funny, touching and very sad.
Even though I was a big fan of the book, I had reservations about the film, it looked too "hollywood" and to be honest trying to convert a very poignant story into a glossy romcom was never going to work.
so the film... it seemed to lack any real emotion, all the scenes of holly grieving was glossed over. Her friends and family did not appear very sympathetic. Also I couldn't understand why the film did not show Jerry actually being ill or dying, the film jumped from Jerry and Holly bickering, to his funeral which didn't make sense.
Other major irritations of the film where the shocking "Irish" accents, though this did cause much (and the main) amusement for me and my friend (who happens to be part Irish), which leads me to my next point.why were all the "Irish" characters so stereotyped? They were always drinking either Guinness or Jameson's, and both of them looked and dressed pretty much identically.
I was also disappointed as I really rate both Gerard Butler (in 300)and Hilary Swank (in Boys don't cry)but their chemistry on screen was non-existent.
So to anyone who is contemplating watching this film, I advise you to spend your money on buying the book instead!