It's a chick flick and I'm a chick, but...

Rating: 5/10 (11 August 2014)

I had strong recommendations on this movie from 2 friends, one of whom has totally opposite taste from me in everything, and the other of whom has the nearest taste in movies to me of anybody I have ever known. And I do tend to enjoy rom coms so I thought I would definitely like this. Have never liked Diaz but I love Kate Winslet, and Rufus Sewell was in it so that was the clincher.
There was one laugh-out-loud scene, but if you're going to see this flick and haven't watched the trailer yet, don't. It gives it away plus it's funnier in the movie. There is also a cute line by Jack Black as the unlikely romantic co-lead (and I'm not talking about that scene in the bar – ugh).
A lot of people seem to think this is a good movie to see during the holidays, and they watch it every year along with the actual Christmas movies, saying it's warm and family-themed, but I don't see it. I don't even remember it being very holiday-oriented.
It all just seemed too unlikely -- other than simply because ALL FOUR OF THEM were on the rebound -- that these people would fall in love with each other so quickly and easily.
What was so great about the Amanda character that someone would fall in love with her? She slept with him right away which is supposed to be a relationship killer. (Incidentally Diaz looked revoltingly skinny in the bathtub scene, as though her arms were badly Photoshopped thinner.) She seemed mostly pretty shallow. It is telling that she doesn't even seem to realize her neighbor is this old film legend, and it is never even mentioned in her phone calls with Iris. And in the end she was not really giving up anything to be with this man – he seemed to be pretty well off himself.
What was the point of making everyone so rich? Particularly Amanda -- obviously it was so important that the filmmakers spent a million just on the set of her house interior alone. It really made her seem like she didn't have too many problems! Or that even if she did, you could hardly feel sorry for her. At any rate, you could not identify with her.
Even the less fortunate Iris had an incredible quaint country cottage. A "fairytale English cottage" like that would probably be out of reach of most ordinary people.
Jude Law did not seem natural playing a sweet guy. I got the sense he had a disdain for the role (as well he should have).
James Franco and Lindsay Lohan are 8 years apart in age, yet he plays her father. That's just for a silly subplot, so I guess it doesn't bother me so much.
The only part of the movie that seemed believable and real was the story of the unhealthy relationship between Iris and her coworker. Though even that seemed far-fetched when he intended to continue it even as a newlywed.
I'm really trying hard to figure out why so many people like it, however I just don't think I can bring myself to watch it all again.
No screen magic going on here.