Plustown
A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.
adonis98-743-186503
In 1962 New York City, love blossoms between a playboy journalist and a feminist advice author. You would definitely expect something more from the Director of 'Ant-Man' and 'Ant-Man and The Wasp' but instead of the 2 really talented leads? Down with Love doesn't offer anything much to it's viewers except maybe some boredom. The acting was fine, the chemistry? was alright but the storyline as a whole? Nothing very special or memorable for sure and they could have tried much better plus Ewan McGregor's face looked pretty damn weird for sure. (5/10)
Dave
This is a romantic comedy set in the early 1960s in New York City. It is done is the style of the romcoms that Doris Day starred in during the 1950s and 1960s. This is a pale imitation of them. Although the stars Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor have acted very well in other films, they're awful in this. Zellweger and McGregor can't decide whether they're paying homage to Doris Day romcoms or making fun of them. I don't know who the intended audience demographic for this film was. The large majority of film fans in the 21st century aren't into this style of comedy; those who are wouldn't enjoy this mediocre copy of them. It's too tame and bland to be a funny parody and too badly made to be a good imitation of them.
SnoopyStyle
It's 1962 NYC. Barbara Novak (Renée Zellweger) is new to the city. Vikki Hiller (Sarah Paulson) is publishing her new book "Down with Love" which teaches woman to live independently. Vikki and the book are both dismissed by her bosses. She gets Barbara an interview with dashing ladies' man Catcher Block (Ewan McGregor), a writer for a woman's magazine. Peter MacMannus (David Hyde Pierce) is his editor who sets up the meeting because he's infatuated with Vikki. Catcher brushes her off expecting a bookish spinster. Then the book becomes an international success and Barbara calls out his womanizing ways. He pretends to be Zip Martin to sweep her off her feet.This is a nice homage to the breezy 60s rom-com. Renée Zellweger is more than fun and she has sassy chemistry with Ewan McGregor. The style does overwhelm the story a little. Also, I expected a musical with that style. It's slightly disappointing that they don't break out into a song and dance until the closing credits. It's fun but it's also very light and fluffy.
Jackson Booth-Millard
Having seen many of them myself, it was right that filmmakers would want to pay homage and recreate the feel of the 1960's trend of sex comedies, e.g. starring Doris Day and Rock Hudson, and they did their best with this one, from director Peyton Reed (The Break-Up, Yes Man). Basically set in the swinging 60's, from Maine to New York City comes aspiring writer Barbara Novak (Renée Zellweger) who wants to prove her theory that women can live without men, e.g. eating chocolate and taking control of life, and her book with this theory, Down with Love, becomes an instant hit. The man she was originally going to get publishing rights from was lady's man - man's man - man about town playboy journalist Catcher Block (Ewan McGregor) who also suffers women he wants to sleep with taking this theory to heart. In anger Catcher decides to prove that her theory is actually false and that he can make the author of Down with Love give in and long for a man again. To do this he acts away his British accent and poses as South American astronaut "Zip Martin", and slowly he does manage to sway her with his charm and good nature, so much so that she does feel the need to be passionate with him, but does not give in. Meanwhile Catcher's best friend and boss Peter MacMannus (Frasier's David Hyde Pierce) is romantically entangled himself with Barbara's best friend Vicky Hiller (Sarah Paulson), so to make things more convincing for both women they swap apartments. Eventually it becomes apparent that Catcher is falling for Barbara for real, and they share a real passionate kiss together, and when his true identity is revealed, it is not actually a blow to her, because she is faking her identity herself. Barbara, real name Nancy Brown, she reveals that she used to work for Catcher as his secretary and had been desperate to get his attention for some time, and she knew the only way to get to him was becoming a successful writer with this big theory for women to turn away from him, and he would obviously want retaliation. In the end Barbara accepts that everyone will be disappointed if her true identity comes out, and Catcher convinces her that he does genuinely love her, and they make up and live happily ever after. Also starring Rachel Dratch as Gladys, Jack Plotnick as Maurice, Tony Randall as Theodore Banner and Jeri Ryan as Gwendolyn. McGregor is likable as the originally egotistical womaniser and then the smooth charmer, Zellweger is great fun as the easy going but ultimately passionately opinionated writer, and Hyde Pierce does great with his time on screen as the nervous wannabe charmer boss. Many of the ideas and story plot line moments come straight from the most popular sex comedy of the time, Pillow Talk, but you can forgive this film trying to give it an original twist, featuring the good title song by Michael Bublé and Holly Palmer, and also the final song "Here's To Love" sung by McGregor and Zellweger themselves, and many new style and funny ways of doing the jokes you recognise, this is an enjoyable near spoof romantic comedy. Worth watching!
