FILM: Love, Rosie
DIRECTOR: Christian Ditter
CAST: Lily Collins, Sam Claflin, Christian Cooke, Suki Waterhouse, Jaime Winstone and Tamsin Egerton
Love, Rosie is a frothy, run-of-the-mill, but charming romantic dramedy based on Cecelia Ahern’s novel, “Where Rainbows End”.
The narration literally starts off by asking the audience a rhetorical question, “What do you get when you fall in love?”
For those who don’t have an answer to the question, this film is a response of sorts. And for those who know the answer, this is a reiteration of events that has touched their lives at some point of time.
Narrated in a non-linear fashion, “Love, Rosie” is the tragic saga of Rossie Dunne (Lily Collins) and Alex (Sam Claflin) of how, the two inseparable childhood friends take each other for granted and remain ‘best friends forever’ and star-crossed lovers.
It is after a fleeting shared moment that they part ways. The realisation dawns that despite their flaws and flings, they are meant for each other and fate has decided to bring them together.
Though the eventuality is predictable, it is their journey, packed with misunderstandings and ill-fated circumstances that makes the viewing interesting. But then the plot loses its fortitude in terms of logical balance of the character graphs.
Similarly, the script emphasises heavily on dreams — literally, as well as in terms of ambition of both the characters.
It is when Rosie’s father advises her, “There is nothing you can’t do if you put your mind to it, so keep chasing your dreams”, the advise seems apt. But in the overall context of the film, this message seems forced as Rosie was never fiercely chasing her dreams or her man! The performances of every character are fresh and bubbly. Lily Collins as Rosie Dunne and Sam Claflin as Alex are likeable.
Their chemistry is palpable. But it is their transition, physically and mentally, from teenagers to adults in their early thirties that is unconvincing. Nevertheless, both of them make a loveable pair.
They are aptly supported by Suki Waterhouse as Bethany — Alex’s girlfriend in college, Tamsin Egerton as Alex’s sexy wife and Christian Cooke as Rosie’s one night stand and a mistake, have their moments to shine.
The humour surfs up sporadically in a formulaic situational manner.
There are precisely two memorable scenes; both involving Rosie’s sexual endeavours.
These scenes induce laughter and remain etched in your memory much after you leave the theatres.
On the visual front, with his complex camera movement, few of director of photography, Christian Rein’s frames are worth a mention.
Especially the shot that captures a close up of a melancholic Rosie, then gradually zooms out to capture her within the frames of the window and go beyond that to showcase the whole house and the lane. This image metaphorically shows Rosie’s loneliness. This technique is repeated twice in the film.
The numerous, frisky and mindless soundtracks actually add to the frothiness of the narration. The film is worth a watch if you have nothing better to do. (IANS)
FILM: The Boy Next Door
DIRECTOR: Rob Cohen
CAST: Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Guzman, Ian Nelson, John Corbett, Kristin Chenoweth, Lexi Atkins, Hill Harper…
There have been over a dozen films on cougar relationships, but the most done to death is the teacher-student romance.
The Boy Next Door is another one in the list.
The film features Jennifer Lopez as Mrs. Claire Peterson, a literature teacher at the local high school.
She lives with her teenage son Kevin (Ian Nelson) and has been having marital problems of late. She is in a dilemma about divorcing her philandering husband Garrett (John Corbett).
While she is coping with her dysfunctional marriage, her son Kevin befriends Noah (Ryan Guzman), “the boy next door” who has recently moved in. Noah, after losing his parents in an accident, has moved in the neighbourhood to take care of his ailing grand uncle (Jack Wallace).
Claire appreciates Noah’s genial and ever obliging, helpful attitude towards her son and herself.
She is further floored by his interest in classic literature and sparks fly when they notice each other spying.
Then one weekend when Kevin goes out for an outing with his father, on the pretext of asking for assistance in salvaging a half-thawed chicken cooking, Noah invites Claire to his kitchen. Then amidst half-hearted protests and full-on cajoling, the inevitable happens.
The narration takes a twist after Claire reveals to Noah that she made a mistake. She tries avoiding him. And you realise that there is more to just the romance bit. When Kevin offers Noah some cookies and Noah responds making a dig, “I love your mother’s cookies”, His dubious intentions are clear.
Gradually, Noah’s obsessions build up leading the narration into a different genre.
The problem with “The Boy Next Door” is that it lacks the passion of a romance film and the intensity of a psychological thriller. Nevertheless, director Rob Cohen keeps the film afloat with these genre tropes.
Due to lack of novelty in the characterisation, the script written by Attorney turned script writer Barbara Curry seems laidback. The plot being formulaic focusses on the plot graph rather than establishing the characters and their motivation, thus making the characters seem generically crafted and flimsy.
On the performances front, the sultry Jennifer Lopez, still has the oomph factor.
She plays the “smart people do dumb things, I made a mistake” act with the apt trepidation.
On the other hand, Ruz Guzman with his well-chiselled physique, seems too grown-up to play a 20 year old. He is a misfit in the role, but he executes the emotions of the charismatic as well as sinister Noah with precision.
Ian Nelson as Kevin is charming. Kristin Chenoweth as Vicky, Claire’s colleague and confidante along with John Corbett as Garrett, are functional as they play second fiddle to the narration.
Given the low budget, the production values of the film are good.
Mildly entertaining, the film is worth a one-time watch. (IANS)