YOU may recall Love Actually, that 2003 British romantic comedy made up of different stories involving multiple actors, and where varied themes of love were explored in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Gary Marshall, the man behind Pretty Woman (1990), has now come up with the American version of that ensemble project.
In Valentine’s Day, we’re introduced to myriad characters living in Los Angeles, where they try to find true love and happiness within a single Valentine’s Day.
There are too many actors to name.
But it’s part of the fun trying to figure out who is who, who’s dating who, and which lucky couple will hit it off and perhaps live happily ever after.
So, in one corner, we have Jessica Alba and Ashton Kutcher getting engaged in the morning.
In another, Patrick Dempsey is romancing Jennifer Garner with his charms.
Next, Topher Grace and Anne Hathaway are frolicking in bed, while the two Taylors (Lautner and Swift) are locking lips as high-school sweethearts.
To show that love knows not what age means, we see Shirley MacLaine and Hector Elizondo playing a loving old couple who are still devoted to each other after decades of marriage.
Their onscreen grandson (Bryce Robinson) provides not only the film’s cute-kid factor, but also a child’s perspective on the topic.
SWEET ROMANCE: Patrick Dempsey charmingly woos Jennifer Garner in Valentine’s Day, an ensemble movie that features many other big-name stars.
There’s even an awkward attempt to add (ahem) sexual orientation into the mix (giving you another guessing game on who’s coming out of the closet).
As with any ensemble film with multiple characters and story threads, this light-hearted romp runs the risk of being unwieldy and confusing.
But with Gary Marshall directing a screenplay by Katherine Fugate (television series Army Wives), there is order in the chaos.
But that doesn’t stop the film from being manipulative, in the sense that the stories seem to be crafted precisely to pander to what the target audience wants – this is a chick flick after all.
You can expect plenty of cliches from past romantic films gelled together to evoke an appropriate mood for the special day.
While the actors can only do so much with their fleeting appearances, Julia Roberts manages to leave a strong impression as an army captain returning home from the war zone for just a day to visit the one she loves.
Country-pop singer Swift – yes, the Grammy winner currently being slammed for her Grammy performance with Stevie Nicks – plays her bimbo role well, showing a ditzy flair that could earn her the title of “the next Lisa Kudrow”.
And a decidedly grown-up Hathaway throws in a surprise with her hilarious dirty-talk as an adult phone entertainer.
Other big names in the cast include Jamie Foxx, Kathy Bates and Queen Latifah.
But the trouble is, when you’re faced with uninspired dialogue
- like a corny line about “sunshine” mouthed by Kutcher
- and with how characters experience sudden, neat little epiphanies at the end, you can’t help but think that it takes more than marquee stars to make a predictable love-fest shine.
