Bad, real bad

Laws of Attraction
(directed by Peter Howitt, screenplay by Aline Brosh McKenna; 2004)

Mix the super-excellent Julianne Moore, the ever-charming Pierce Brosnan and the director of the mildly interesting Sliding Doors -- surely nothing can go wrong?

Think again. Laws of Attraction has the dubious honour of being the least-entertaining film I've ever sat through. (Sure there are worse films, but usually there's some entertainment to be gained from laughing at 'em, if not with 'em.) The script is leaden; how anyone can write a rom/com with no jokes is just beyond me. Moore is dreadfully miscast: it seems she simply can't pull off comedy. Brosnan flashes his trademark smile a few times but that's the only charm to be found anywhere in the entire 90 minutes. Watchability plummets after the characters have first been introduced, and by half-way through after cliché after cliché, it felt like bad fanfiction.

Rent The Thomas Crown Affair instead, or just go to bed early.

8 December 2004