Catch and Release

Plot synopsis:
The film opens with Gray (Jennifer Garner) at the funeral of her fiancé, Grady. They were supposed to be married that day, but due to a boating accident that happened during his bachelor party weekend, he was killed. Gray is very upset and eventually seeks solace by hiding in the bathtub. Meanwhile, one of Grady's friends, Fritz (Timothy Olyphant), has seduced one of the catering staff and takes her into the bathroom, not realizing that Gray is there. Gray is forced to listen to them have sex. Once the caterer leaves, she pulls back the shower curtain, startling Fritz.Gray visits the attorney to determine what will happen to Grady's estate. Grady did not have a will and since she and Grady were not married, she will not inherit his money. The attorney reveals that Grady had an investment account with a million dollars in it, which Gray knew nothing about. She determines that she can no longer afford to rent the house that they had picked out and she was already living in. With help from Grady's friends Dennis (Sam Jaeger) and Sam (Kevin Smith), she puts her things into storage and moves in with them into Grady's old room. Fritz, who lives in L.A., is also staying in the house during his visit.Tensions continue between Gray and Fritz. As Gray investigates Grady's investment account, she finds that every month, he transferred $3,000 out of the account.During the night, a cell phone rings. Gray wakes up Fritz, thinking the phone is his. He says that it's not his and turns it off. At the same time, they realize that the phone must have belonged to Grady. Gray grabs the phone first and turns it on to find ten voicemail messages. She listens to a string of messages from a woman who goes from cautiously concerned to increasingly angry as each message progresses.When Gray researches the phone number, she finds out that the area code is for L.A.. She goes to Fritz for answers, and he reveals that Grady had a son with a woman he met in L.A. and that she depends on the money she received from him to support herself and their son. Fritz tells her that the boy is eight and that the encounter happened before she and Grady were involved.Meanwhile, Gray is further upset when Grady's mother asks for the engagement ring back. Gray refuses and keeps the ring.Eventually, the other woman, Maureen (Juliette Lewis), and her son turn up, trying to get answers about Grady and the money. When Gray encounters them, she realizes that the boy is 3 years old, not 8, so the affair happened while she and Grady were together. Gray confronts Fritz about the revelation. She slaps him and he pins her arms against the wall. They kiss, but part and leave without a word.Gray doesn't want anything to do with Maureen, but the guys are reluctant to send her away. They all spend time together and get to know each other. Sam and Maureen begin to develop a connection.As Fritz and Gray continue to develop their relationship in secret, Dennis reveals that he has feelings for Gray. Gray lets him down easily, but he becomes furious when he finds that Gray and Fritz are an item. Gray tells Dennis that her relationship with Fritz is "less than nothing", not realizing that he is standing by the doorway and can hear her speaking. Fritz determines that Gray doesn't return his feelings for her and he returns to Malibu.
Grady's mother insists that the boy have a DNA test before inheriting Grady's money, as he stands to do under Colorado law. The results determine that Grady was not the father. Maureen is devastated, unsure how she will support her child without Grady's money. Gray goes to Grady's mother and tells her that she thinks that Grady must have known that the child wasn't his, but that his money could make a difference in the boy's life. She offers Grady's mother the engagement ring in exchange for her giving Grady's money to Maureen.The group gathers at the dedication ceremony for the peace garden that Dennis has built to memorialize Grady. Grady's mother gives Maureen a certified check. When Gray finds out, she offers the ring back, but Grady's mother tells her to keep it. She says that she never cared about the ring or the money, she just wanted her son back.Dennis decides it's time for him to be on his own, so he moves out of the house. Maureen and her son move in with Sam. Gray determines that she never fully knew Grady, but that she has come to have feelings for the one person that they both could be themselves around, Fritz.At the end of the film Gray goes to Malibu. She goes to Fritz's house and finds him outside at the beach playing fetch with his dog. She throws the ball and the dogs runs after it. Fritz turns around and sees her. She walks toward him and says she should have called then starts rambling. He quiets her by kissing her and says, "What took you so long?" The film ends with Fritz's photographs rolling through the credits.

Tags: romantic, stupid

Review:
It was a very friendly audience, but watching the movie, I couldn't help but feel Grant could have and should have done better.The film opens promisingly, teasing us and playing with our expectations as we first see Gray (Jennifer Garner) and the circumstances she finds herself in.
However, Grant never quite builds on that initial promise and soon "Catch and Release" meanders into traditional romantic comedy territory, complete with the obligatory playful and lovable sidekick - in this case, Sam (Kevin Smith) - and the friend harboring a romantic secret of his own, Dennis (Sam Jaeger).The crux of the story is Gray's realization that her life is being turned upside down because of what she finds out about a loved one.
Lewis is a good actress, but she seems to get typecast in these off-kilter roles and there's an unmistakable sense we've seen this performance from her before.Olyphant plays sleazy well - just watch him in the otherwise-forgettable "The Girl Next Door" (2004).
Despite Grant's admirable attempt to spin the romantic comedy's meet-cute moment, it's hard to believe Gray would fall for a chap who, for the lack of a better phrase, finds carnal comfort at the most unlikely occasions.Of course, "Catch and Release" has a certain sweetness about it.
The central character Gray (played most fetchingly by Jennifer Garner) is coming to terms with the death of her fiancé and in the process learning a good deal more about him than she thought there was to know.
Loosening up about two-thirds through the film "in the company of his friends: lighthearted and comic Sam, hyper-responsible Dennis, and, oddly enough, his old childhood buddy Fritz, an irresponsible playboy whom she'd previously pegged as one of the least reliable people in the world" (as IMDb puts it), she admits that though she never told her fiancé or his friends, she abhors their practice of catching and releasing fish for sport.
"If you're going to put a poor fish through the agony of being caught, you ought to have the decency to eat it" (that's a paraphrase)."Catch and release" seems intended as a symbol of the coming to terms with the loss not only on the part of Gray, but also on the part of the fiancé's friends and mother (played effectively by Fiona Shaw).
In fact, in coming up with an IMDb score, I tried to think of any one thing that would detract from a perfect movie-watching experience and, can you believe it?
The attempt to mix the two is handled with little cohesion, and never seals the deal for either audience (and certainly falls short of appealing to both, which is what it seems to want).We meet a grieving woman (Jennifer Garner) who was engaged, but her fiancé dies just before the wedding.
Juliette Lewis and Kevin Smith guest star, both as enjoyable (and sometimes hilarious!) characters, that will keep the audience hooked.All-in-all, "Catch & Release" is a quick-paced, light-hearted, romantic comedy, which chronicles love, loss, and finding love again.
I have seen so many clunky romantic comedies, where characters behave in ridiculous, unrealistic ways, so I was very pleasantly surprised by this movie.
Please do not waste your time and money and rent this movie but if its one o clock in the morning, you don't feel like going to bed, and nothing else is on, then I say what the heck, you might as well watch it if its on HBO or something..
The romance between the lead actors was as predictable as it was unbelievable - at no point do you feel any warmth between the characters or chemistry between the actors and the romance only seems to occur because Jennifer Garner finds out some bad news about her late Fiancé, rather than any actual romantic development.
The only (minor) plus points of the whole film are the brief laughs from Kevin Smith's paint-by-numbers kooky sidekick performance and, erm, the scenery (because OF COURSE the characters live in a beautiful, organic 'community', with lots of time for outdoor activities - according to Hollywood romance doesn't occur in rubbish towns).
Her fiancé's best friend, Fritz, comes from California for the funeral, but for some reason that is not explained, ends up staying at the same house which seems like for weeks.
This film also contains a scene that makes me wince every time I see it (and I have seen it in countless movies) and that is the old "turning on the blender with no lid" shtick.
This now makes about eight Jennifer Garner movies that I've seen and I haven't liked her in ANY of them.
Here her first real attempt at directing is not helped by her less than inspired script.Never really sure if it aspires to be a statement on loss and human weakness or an awkwardly tender humorous love story, the film rambles along as if every day of production was unrelated to the those previous.
Jennifer Garner (fresh off birthing a real life baby) is actually at her best in the opening scenes as she grieves over the loss of her fiancé.
Juliette Lewis is back with her customary weirdness, this time with kid in tow.The two best parts of the film are the few amazing shots featuring the natural beauty of Boulder, Colorado and the nice little soundtrack with some real gems.
It is not very often that I seriously dislike a movie, but this one left me glad I had not paid to see it in a theatre.It started off with real promise, the first few scenes showed the beginnings of quite a good and intriguing story.
The storyline just kind of drifts along and if you have seen more than ten movies in your life really doesn't take you anywhere.It was a waste of my time and that is why I am here at my computer writing this while it plays in the background.The Gray character is a pretty face and if you like to look at a pretty face with music playing then you will love this movie.
And there are decent things about it, notably Juliette Lewis, who gives a delightful performance as a new-age hippie struggling with motherhood, who makes you wish the movie was about her every time she appears on screen.
Kevin Smith was great as the character of Sam. He is a big part of the comedy in the movie.
Watched this film, not expecting great things (the title certainly doesn't give anything away), and I wasn't disappointed.My first thought is with the lead female character, if you can't get Julia Roberts, I guess Jennifer Garner will do, It's that sort of film, The only storyline is that a girls' fiancé dies, and she get's on with life..
Timothy Olyphant and Jennifer Garner make an amazing acting duo and I hope they make more movies together.This movie took a very serious topic and keep it real, yet added in some necessary wit and humor so that it wasn't a total tearjerker.The entire cast worked extremely well together and made it believable that they were all really friends that hung out.If you like movies that deal with real life situations, or that can add humor to in a sophisticated and appropriate way, you'll probably like this movie..
Sam Jaeger's character melts into the background through most of the film so it was nearly a surprise to see it jump to the forefront for a bit.The basis of the story is a good one, getting to know one of the main characters, who just happens to be dead, through his friends, his fiancé, and secrets that are revealed after his death.
The pace of the film "feels" pretty even, there are no outrageous special effects and although there are a few "ah ha!" moments and some very emotionally charged moments the overall result is close to seamless.There was one glaring omission of an element that is usually present in this type of "real life" story involving a woman's trials and emotions, but that realization comes only in retrospect .
The film has nothing new to say about grief or healing, just about unchecked lusts for love and food (the latter the province of Kevin Smith, whose turn as the sloppy, overweight lovable friend, is sometimes funny, as when erotic massage therapist Maureen, played by Juliette Lewis, literally jumps his bones.That Wheeler falls into the cute arms of Timothy Oliphant's Fritz is a given for this lightweight chick flick that would have us believe she would fall for a womanizer who scores a babe in the bathroom at the funeral while the grieving Wheeler listens aghast behind the shower curtain.
That 60's Simon and Garfunkel type of music with a message should appeal to the audience of the 21st century, which may not demand character development in order to understand plot.Catch and Release, a multiuse title referring to both the loss and a fishing motif, is a romantic comedy whose romance is low-grade (she just lost her fiancé for goodness sake) and comedy low-ball.
Fritz and Gray don't think much of each other until they begin to get past appearances and stereotypes and appreciate what their mutual friend loved about the other.While I've never been a huge Kevin Smith fan, probably based more on choice of material than anything else, he is delightful as the bumbling, guru-quoting friend Sam who takes Gray in as a roommate and provides intelligent comic relief, as well as being allowed some depth of character that is pleasant and surprising.Spiritual significance is pretty light in this film.
For the ones who watched it..I do not understand how the guy that "sleeps" with that girl at the funeral proves to be so profound during the movie..Than, the scene where she, after finding out that her fiancé's son is smaller than she was told, goes angry to her fiancé's friend to argue with him...and he kisses her.
Interesting film where Jennifer Garner finds out that her fiancé, who has died unexpectedly, led a very different life than what she could have ever envisioned.The guy was a millionaire who had a one night stand with Juliette Lewis and was supporting the child from this alleged liaison.This story is basically dealing with the relationships formed after the death of Gray, the groom-to-be.We see the interactions among the friends and the ultimate rediscovery of love among them.When a DNA test proves otherwise, we see the noble actions of a mother who is willing to continue sharing her son's wealth.The film is well worth watching due to the strong interpersonal relationships that are depicted here..
Acting was great, plot was good, a movie that doesn't throw you for any loops or catch you by surprise but is very easy to watch.
This movie starts with the funeral of Gray (Jennifer Garner)'s fiancé Grady.
Do this, and you'll have a pretty good idea of what you are going to think of this movie when you watch it.Most of this movie (I won't call it a film) makes no sense to a guy, because nothing that the characters do has any reason or development behind it.
Thats the only good thing I can say to the director: "Hey, you didn't make Jen Garner look ugly." As far as the writing, I think the movies that these guys stole the plot lines and dialog from need to be credited.A pathetic attempt which deserves pathetic box office returns..
The movie has got a good story, amazing actors, camera, music, it's funny, decent, it's not movie for Oscar, but it is not one of the silly not realistic romantic comedies, this one gives you two hours of watching one story of love which has finished and one which is just surprisingly arising, Jennifer and Timothy are great together and I've watched the scenes with the two of them so many times, other actors are great, too...
Word to the wise: Always be wary of movies that have theatrical releases in January since that means the studio has concluded they are not award-worthy material.After the requisite mourning scene, Gray spends most of the rest of the story sorting out her late fiancé's estate in idyllic Boulder, Colorado, and hanging out with his trio of friends, all of whom hold some kind of torch for her.
Also excellent played rolls by Timothy Olyphant and Juliette Lewis (I thought she wasn't going to do any more movies?, well, glad she did.) All in all, a great movie to watch..
You may empathize with some of the secondary characters, but the actors playing the leading roles (Jennifer Garner and Timothy Olyphant) did such a poor job...!
I hope this isn't the sort of film she's going to make a habit out of, because she's better than this.Juliette Lewis was the standout in this film, essentially playing the "Juliette Lewis Part" she always plays, but it's nice to see her back on the screen again.The cast was all good, a surprise to see Fiona Shaw in something like this, she does her best with a limited role.From the blurbs I read when Jennifer first signed on for the film ("When her fiancée dies, she discovers hidden secrets from his past.") I was expecting an Ashley Judd thriller, not a rom-com.
Don't Catch It. Gray (Garner) Wheeler's fiancée dies before the wedding and she must learn to cope with this tragedy, but as time goes on she learns that her intended, Grady, among other things fathered a child out of wedlock when they were going together.
Oh, Oh!!!I like Jennifer Garner, and she is a good actress, but this type of movie is not her style.
This is my favorite movie so far of 2007.From the subtle "37" on Kevin Smith's clothing to Timothy Olyphant's mischievous grins, this film is outstanding.
Jennifer Garner is as beautiful and innocent as ever playing the grieving, lonely, and often confused widow trying to rebuild her shattered life.Susannah Grant does an excellent job making you laugh with Kevin Smith's facial expressions and wit, and then does an immediate 180 bring you back to earth with the lost Gray (Jennifer Garner).I'm not normally a huge romantic comedy fan (romantic drama comedy as they classify it), but this movie really does it for me.
If you want to see a Jennifer Garner non-action film, go see 15 going on 30 (which I do really like - see?
It seldomly achieves both.Written by Susannah Grant, who also had the pen in hand when came time to write Academy Award Winner Erin Brokovich, Catch and Release's script feels labored and is so rarely funny for a film dubbed a "romantic comedy." It tells the story of Jennifer Garner's Gray who is left heartbroken after the death of her fiancée.
That's a question I'd be pondering after watching the finished Catch and Release if I was Smith.Starring: Jennifer Garner, Timothy Olyphant, Kevin Smith, Sam Jaeger, and Juliette Lewis.
Over the course of the film, she paints some walls, pouts, and, this being a romantic comedy, naturally falls in love with one of her dead fiancée's friends (Timothy Olyphant), who for some reason decided to move in with Garner and her friends even though he has a giant beach house in Malibu.
It's not anything special as far as romance movies go so I'm at a loss to explain why I like it so much but I would have to say its one of my favourites.It's one of those tragi-romances, along the lines of 'PS I Love You', surrounding the death of a partner, in this case Jennifer Garner's fiancé.The characters and all their sub stories is what really makes this movie.
The supporting cast is excellent especially Kevin Smith and Juliette Lewis who steal many of the scenes.Jennifer Garner is charming and Timothy Olyphant is the sexy bad boy with a heart.
Opening: Jennifer Garner's character, Gray Steele, attends her fiancé's funeral instead of their wedding (he died in a boating accident).
He does nothing the whole film that would make me think, "No wonder Jennifer Garner "makes love" to him right after her fiancé dies." He constantly has this look of mild retardation on his face, which worked for Johnny Knoxville in The Ringer but for different reasons.
Why would Jennifer Garner's Dead Fiancé's Friends-Who-Are-In-Love-With-Her invite this woman over to their home...with her really annoying child...and play house with her?
Kevin is definitely in character with his good-natured personality as well as a devoted hockey fan wearing hockey jerseys in real life.However, nothing positive can be said for Jennifer Garner and two other male supporting leads.
CATCH AND RELEASE (2007) **1/2 Jennifer Garner, Timothy Olyphant, Juliette Lewis, Kevin Smith, Sam Jaeger, Fiona Shaw, Joshua Friesen.
Jennifer Garner is good in a nicely entertaining movie..
The movie's title comes from the habit of the three friends fishing and releasing the fish.Jennifer Garner is Gray Wheeler, who has recently lost her fiancée and is having difficulty dealing with it.
The movie opens with his funeral and reception, where Gray is thinking, "The last thing you heard me say was not 'have a good time' but 'no more loving for you until you figure where mother's bridge club is going to sit.'" In this scene we are also introduced to most of the characters in the movie, including Timothy Olyphant as Fritz (the cat??) who takes a catering girl into the bathroom for a 'quickie', only to find that Gray had been in the bathtub all the while, getting away from the mourning guests.
My favorite part of the movie was the romance between Jennifer Garner and Timothy Olyphant's character.
I truly liked the characters and I would love to have any of them as my friend, including the dead fiancé's mother.
This is a good date movie, because not only the women like it, but also the guys or it may be Jennifer Garner.
Catch and Release (2006): Dir: Susannah Grant / Cast: Jennifer Garner, Timothy Olymphant, Kevin Smith, Juliette Lewis, Sam Jaeger: Pitiful tear-jerker piece of crap.