Valentine’s Day

Jessica Biel and Jennifer Garner in "Valentine's Day"(2010)

“Valentine’s Day” surprisingly did not suck. It was a very lightweight romantic comedy, but they were very careful to make sure that there were no major characters that did NOT deserve a decent ending. The large cast and multiple storyline meant that there was very little padding in the individual stories and performances, and given their fluffy nature, they didn’t need extra time.

There were even a few surprises at the end for the audience that went very well. Two of them involved Julia Roberts, by the way – one of those is in the end credits.

Oh, and somebody needs to get on that Jessica Biel / Jennifer Garner action movie RIGHT NOW, they both looked fantastic.

Having lived there for a while, I thought that spending a day in Los Angeles was going to be a proper drag, but I was pleasantly surprised.

I find myself sort of defending this movie - not for itself but just against a sort of kneejerk response to basic genre movies, where they get saddled with far more weight and responsibility than this kind of project really needs. We need more, not less, simple genre projects like romcoms, and action and Westerns and sci-fi that make going to the movies easier, and more fun.

One reviewer that I read actually mentioned Un Chien Andalou in relation to this movie! Now, if you are seriously referring to Un Chien Andalou a) in relation to fraking Valentine's Day and/or b) even as an example of a Good Movie (feh), you need to have your head examined.

Roger Ebert said it best:

"Moviegoers who knowingly buy a ticket for "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" are going to get exactly what they expect: There is a mummy, a tomb, a dragon and an emperor. And the movie about them is all that it could be. If you think "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" sounds like a waste of time, don't waste yours."

This movie is called "Valentine's Day". Some people need to go watch something else.

I've written versions of this in so many places I figured I'd better post it here.
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