Post-Release Down With Love Discussion

yeah it doesn't look terrible - i ain't running to see it but thought about taking my fiance but decided against it - anyhow when it's on cable i'll probably catch it

Saw this with my better half early this evening-- really, really fun. The art direction was superb, and McGregor was stupendous. This really caught the vibe of the old Doris Day/Rock Hudson comedies like "Pillow Talk" (a film I actually grew up watching but never fully appreciated until I was older), and while it seems a bit awkward when it first starts (probably because it takes a while to let your mind switch into a gear that hasn't ever been used, because a good majority of us weren't around to enjoy films like these), the comedy continues to build and I actually really dug the twist. Sure, at first it seems a little convoluted, but it was the way they presented it, with that non-stop, three/five minute single-shot monolouge delievered by Zellwegger that made me accept it. And I loved McGregor's fake Texas accent-- as someone from Texas I loved that he wasn't over-exaggerating that much-- I have met people who talk like that, and while it drives me nuts in real life, here in the mvoie it was a blast.

This movie may be a bit slight and isn't deep at all, but it's a helluva lot of fun and it has its heart in the right place, and for once, it works like that. It's a movie that is very much a product of kitcsh (I'm gonna feel like a moron if I spelled that wrong, but it's almost 2am, and I don't care right now), but it knows it and relishes in the fact.

And I loved Pierce's performance. Jus loved it. That man doesn't get enough work outside of Frasier.

Haven't seen it yet but I'll go see this with her to be able to see some movie down the line. The g/f might not wanna see Terminator or something.

I'm not a fan of those Doris Day comedies, and I'm not so sure why emulating them is a good idea, but this movie looks like the most extravagant piece of design porn since Bram Stoker's Dracula. I don't know if I'd go to see it in public, but I know I have to own it.

I really liked the idea of this film, but the execution was not so kosher.

For one, MacGregor and Zellweger had ZERO chemistry and while you could see why she might fall for him (both under her fake reasons and her REAL ones), there was no reason why he'd ever go for her. She was mostly shrill, overly breathy, and unworthy of him trying to get her to fall for him. so while MacGregor excelled, I just wasn't impressed with Zellweger, who I think was woefully miscast.

She doesn't have the figure, softness, or charisma of any of those great silver screen actresses of yore.

Aside from that, the "plot twist," as conveyed in her 58 day-long monologue was fairly stupid even for the sort of kitsch this film was going for.

It was pretty much Sarah Paulson, David Hyde Pierce, and MacGregor keeping this one afloat for me. Worth a viewing for curiosity's sake, but not as good as it could've been.

Its good but could have been better. I gave it 3.5 out of 5.

It gets into trouble when it tries to be some sort of PARODY. When not parodying something, its really great actually.

Ewan is just a fucking god and David Hyde Pierce is hilarious. Actually, the Pierce subplot was more interesting than the stuff with Catcher Block and Barbara.

Got "dragged" to this by Claire the other day. It actually wasnt that bad. I ended up enjoying it more then I thought I would.

8.0/10

I predict "I enjoyed this more than I thought I would" won't make it onto the back of the DVD case, although that's the general consensus among those of us who have seen it.

I think the film could have been more subversive though.

i thought this movie was fantastic. it didn't seem like a parody at all, it was just schlock for the sake of having schlock. The end with the helicopter was fantastic. the way they shot all the driving sequences with stock footage was awesome. its certainly not for everyone, but i recommend it because its a lot of fun. if you don't want to see the movie, sneak in and watch the first thirty minutes, to see that awesome montage of the women buying 'Down With Love' and that scene with CW, CB,JB, etc...

The first 10-20 minutes were tedius, but after that it was gold. The ending with the long explanation might have worked better with interspered clips or something...

But it was a solid film.

I think Down with Love has already earned a spot on my favorites list this year. I loved every minute of it. I have a thing for absurdity (which isn't always the same as absurdism) and whenever something is as unapologetically absurd as Down with Love, I fall for it instantly. And there could be a whole book about the designs, good God every frame was packed with so much color and so many kitcshy little doo-dads and style and... stuff, that it was hard to take it all in. I certainly hope the DVD does justice to all the work that went into making the movie look as cool as it did. I'm almost sad that it wasn't a musical though. It certainly looked like a musical, and there was enough energy in the cast that it wouldn't have suprised me to see them break into song at any given moment. It would be interesting to see Peyton Reed do a musical in the old Hollywood style... Anyway, loved this movie, and it certainly made a nice break from the Matrix (which I took in 3 times over the weekend, whew...). Can't wait to see it again.

Now here is a chick flick I could stomach. Brownie points for...

STYLE - exaggerated 60's ambiance blended well with the jazzy swells of the soundtrack.

SEXUAL INNUENDO - Giggled like a school girl throughout.

EWAN MCGREGOR - Not many actors today can pull off the suave of yesteryear.

DAVID HYDE PIERCE - Tony Randall incarnate.

BABBLE - Clever repartee and "sex"posé.

Yeah but the Zellwegger speech at the end sucked. Way too long, way too complicated and way too rediculous.

That's when the movie failed for me... all those times when it becomes a parody of 60's movie rather than a wink wink nudge nudge 60's period sex comedy.

That parody aspect weighed it down... but didn't keep it from being a lot of fun.

Loved the hell out of this movie. I wish that when people say that they want to see light movies they meant this and not the latest action garbage. It would be a better world.

This is still great. Out of all the "period drag" movies in the last dozen or so years (Grindhouse, Velvet Goldmine, Black Dynamite, House of the Devil, Far From Heaven), this is the forgotten gem. And it never really parodies the period as much as it revels in it. Blu ray needed.

I might go so far as to put in my top 10 favorites of the last decade. Love.

Easily in my all-time Top 20. It also makes a helluva double feature with Singin' In The Rain.

Such a shame that nobody cared to see this movie.  

 

Nobody will sing the Here's To Love duet with me!!!

Barbara I'd like to propose a toast (*badump*)

to that topic I dig the most (*trumpet*)

 

Catch let me dust off my loving cup (*jazzy*)

 

Hey bartender, fill her up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's in my top 20 of the decade as well. Love this film to pieces. So much fun, even the insane convergence of plot-twists at the end can't dissuade me from my passion for it and yeah, this totally needs a Blu-Ray.

I wanted to love this movie, (I adore Pillow Talk and Lover Come Back), and I enjoyed the first hour or so, but it just got too convoluted for me after Zellweger revealed her true motivations for me.

The DVD had a surprising amount of special features, including commentary tracks.  I don't know if it's still around, but the official website was chock-full of stuff as well, including an interactive bachelor's pad feature - you could go in and decorate a place like Catch's and play with the lighting, the hifi (with those excellent old metal switches), and so forth. 

 

The underscore to this film is also stellar, on of the best in forever.  Just listen as Catch (as Zip) is walking away from Barbara for the first time, doing his countdown.  Pitch perfect.

Pardon the ridiculous hyperbole, but at the time of it's release, I'd considered the film to be The Matrix of contemporary romantic comedies. Simply because it's loaded with comic invention (the split screen scene/the musical-esque entrance of the ladies in the restaurant/Zellweiger's 7 minute monologue) while keeping a firm foot in the style of the films it was an homage to,

 

Carry on.