A Lot Like Love
Ashton Kutcher isn't a great actor. Let's face it he isn't going
to win any acting awards anytime in the near future. However he
is quite competent at playing variations of Kelso the character
that made him famous on the hit FOX series That 70's Show. Kelso
is bumbling, inept and manages to posses an uncanny combination
of insecurity and confidence. Kutcher's film roles don't stray
much from that formula and his character Oliver in his new movie
A Lot Like Love isn't an exception to the rule. While being
light-years ahead of Kelso in the intelligence department he has
all the other characteristics that make him just as endearing
and lovable and fun to watch.
Amanda Peet's character Emily is just as bumbling, inept and
simultaneously sure and unsure of herself as Oliver. The
relationship that develops between the two works because they
seem like twin souls that were destined to meet and no amount of
time or separation will change the fact that they are made for
each other. The movie also works because the chemistry between
Kutcher and Peet is palpable and one could easily believe that
the two would make a great couple off screen as well.
Taking place over a seven year span Emily and Oliver have
several short and not so chance encounters that take place after
an initial chance and very memorable meeting on the plane as
they travel from Los Angeles to New York. Unlike most romantic
comedies their relationship is allowed to develop over time and
while they never have that much time together their initial
friendship and later romance seems natural and believable.
The film could have easily fallen into the trap of many romantic
comedies that force the audience to believe that two completely
different individuals manage to fall madly in love with each
other in a matter of days, despite overwhelming odds and all the
obvious signs that they are completely wrong for each other.
Hell, in many romantic comedies the characters know they are in
love long before the audience can figure out why they even like
each other let alone love each other. In A Lot Like Love, the
audience recognizes how right the characters are for one another
before they are willing to make such an admission to themselves.
Watching Oliver and Emily struggle with their pride and plans
and just the natural fear that comes with putting your heart on
the line is sweet and endearing and tugs at your heartstrings
without feeling forced or contrived.
The movie also doesn't shy away from how imperfect the
characters are. Emily has a problem with being by herself and
has to confirm she "still has it" by hooking up with the first
guy she meets when a relationship has ended. And Oliver doesn't
know how just to live in the moment and must plan every aspect
of his life well in advance or he is unable to function. Their
flaws are real and they experience many of the problems young
twenty somethings face as they try to find their way in life and
love which adds to the convincing nature of the story and its
characters. The movie isn't perfect. There's some dialogue that
I could have lived without and the attempt by Oliver to get
Emily back via a musical serenade outside of her home is an over
used movie device that will never be as good as John Cusack's
boom box plea in Say Anything. But I will say I was pleasantly
surprised at how entertaining I found A Lot Like Love. I would
recommend it to anyone who enjoys a smart, funny, innovative
comedy about looking for, finding, and knowing when to take hold
of the love that lies right within your grasp.