a mildly amusing Rom Com for guys

Rating: 6/10 (23 April 2008)

I watched this because I like Simon Pegg. It was OK, for what it is, a romantic comedy - aimed at guys.
The best part of the movie was Gordon (Dylan Moran). Nearly every laugh I laughed was at /with him. His voice/manner reminds me a lot of Alan Rickman (who I think is fantastic).
I also enjoyed the diversity of the cast. For so long I've been used to an all Caucasian cast, but I've noticed their TV shows (dr. who, etc.) have started having a more multiethnic cast to reflect what the country is becoming.
The kind of jokes that we were supposed to laugh at were pretty stereotypical guy stuff(crotch scratching, groin kicks, and oh no, seeing another man naked!).
Libby, isn't that developed as a character. She's obviously beautiful and a successful entrepreneur. But this film isn't about her, it's about Dennis and his pining for her. I also can't believe any self-respecting female would make the choice she did at the end. (though luckily they refrained from going as far as they could have). Maybe the problem is that I could never have forgiven Dennis behavior at the opening of the film.
Simon's character, Dennis is a loser from beginning to the end. He has one small revelation while trying to explain life to a 4.5 year old and makes one small pathetic attempt to redeem himself. Sure, we can root for Dennis, he's a dork, but he's endearing. We can certainly understand his desire to get the beautiful successful woman (but from a female perspective, you can't root for her to take him back). Another problem I had was that his supposed "change" seemed to me more like a really stupid obstinate refusal to bow to reality. He chooses to risk permanent physical injury to do it. Yes, I know that's not how you were supposed to see it, but that's what it felt like to me.
The 3rd main character, Whit, supposedly Dennis's rival, is a great guy. He's sensitive, caring. He's established in life. He keeps himself in shape. He tries to bond with the kid and get along with his girlfriend's ex. He actually seems like a great boyfriend. I found his presence to elicit nothing but pity for Dennis because there's no way he can compete.
About 20 minutes from the end the director seems to realize that he wanted us to root for Dennis & Libby, not Whit & Libby. Suddenly Whit is portrayed as a jerk. (Suddenly you find out he plans to take Libby away forever, he acts in a dishonorable manner and then acts reprehensibly towards the kid). That was an incredibly big cheat.
I would have preferred to see Dennis grow up and move on with someone else (maybe the Indian woman?)
I also subtracted a star for the prominent product placement of footwear ads that encompassed the last section of the film.