Plot: What’s it about?
In the realm of romantic comedies, there are rules and limits as to what is generally acceptable. I don’t want to get started on the wrong track here, as this isn’t that controversial of a movie, but we’ll get into that later. There’s a scene in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” that shows the couple inside a movie theater as part of a “Chick Flick”? marathon with titles like “Sleepless in Seattle” and “When Harry Met Sally” in the lineup. These are great romatic comedies. What “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” attempts to divulge is that two people, good-looking and successful, can manipulate anyone they want anytime and any place. Not to say that this same thing doesn’t happen every day, but for a romantic comedy that came out (appropriately enough) around Valentine’s Day; this has some pretty fierce underlying issues. The movie tries to be funny and upbeat, he (Ben) has his buddies and she hers and if it were approached in a different way, this could have been a totally different film altogether. However, it wasn’t and it isn’t. Those that have read this far might think that I’m not a fan of the movie. That’s true, and it’s not. Here’s why.
We meet Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) as she is writing what she thinks to be a “story that matters”?. She’s just out of grad school and has been relegated to writing “How to”?”? columns for an up and coming women’s magazine. “How to Feng-Shei your apartment”?, “How to Dress Like a Supermodel for under $50”?, etc. Her friend has recently been dumped by a boyfriend of a week and a half (10 days, naturally) and to please her editor (Bebe Neuwirth), she takes on the assignment of what it would take to chase off a man in only 10 days. Essentially, what “not”? to do with a guy in a relationship. Conversely, Ben Barry (Matthew McConaughey) works at an ad agency where he is master of his domain in the beer and athletic equipment arena. He wants a diamond account, but it’s been given to two women in the same agency. Proving that he has what it takes to get the account, he bets his boss (Robert Klein) that he can make a woman fall in love with him in only 10 days. Should this happen, he’ll get the account. And wouldn’t you know it, the two meet at the same party and the game (as they say) is on. Now this is both where the movie gets interesting and when the movie falls apart. She appears to be normal for the first few days, then we see the baby talk come out, she names a certain part of his anatomy “Princess Sophia”? and so on. Most any other guy would turn the chick loose, but lest we forget; he’s going after a diamond account and she’s got a story to write!
Now I don’t hate this movie, really I don’t. It’s a good movie to watch on a date, so long as you tell her that you’re not like any of the characters in the movie. What I had a problem with is the fact that the movie plays on one of our (humans) most underlying basic instincts, love. It makes it out that any two people, naturally attractive and confident, can manipulate anyone into doing what they want for the sheer sake of utter enjoyment. Again, I’m sure this happens everyday and we do live in a world where “reality”? television shows this same thing. So maybe this movie is just cashing in on what we already watch and therefore know? Regardless of this, the movie was a financial success. It seems that the window is closing for day and date releases as this just went off of my local movie theater a few weeks ago. Odd? Don’t try and read too much into the movie and odds are that you’ll enjoy yourself. There are some truly funny moments and things that a lot of men (and women) will be able to relate to. So I suppose there’s something for everybody in this movie. We have to wonder, though, would a sequel be called “How to get a guy back in 10 days?”
Video: How does it look?
Admittedly, I haven?t seen this movie since its debut on standard DVD some six years ago. But viewing the movie now it has benefitted from the Blu-ray format. The colors seem a bit more pronounced and the detail level is bumped up a bit as well. Contrast is nice and the black levels are right on target. This is as glossy as they come and the wardrobes all look sleek and sophisticated. While there are a few soft spots, I feel that overall it?s a stronger image than the standard DVD. Fans shouldn?t be disappointed here.
Audio: How does it sound?
No matter how uncompressed the sound is, we still can?t shake the fact that Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are still the stars (at the time, they hadn?t become the romantic comedy king and queen yet). Dialogue is clean and crisp with solid vocals dominating. Even McConaughey?s Texas twang sounds a bit better on the Blu-ray format. There?s some solid songs in this soundtrack and they sound good reverberating through all 5.1 channels. There?s nothing too impressive here, but it could sound a lot worse, that?s for sure.
Supplements: What are the extras?
In somewhat of a strange move, a majority of the features from the standard DVD have been replaced by some new featurettes. We have the same commentary with director Donald Petrie who gives his assertions on the film and the like. It?s a good track, though a bit dull and bland at the same time. We do get the featurettes in HD and we start off with ?Why the sexes battle? with some insight by the cast and crew on this subject. The less said about ?Girls Night Out? the better and we?ve got the same music video ?Somebody Like You? by Keith Urban as well as the deleted scenes with the optional director?s commentary. Gone are the ?Mapping the?? features from the standard DVD. I wonder why?
