Love is a seemingly incomprehensible topic, but is unfortunately tackled by many movies in a bland, "cookie-cutter" manner. Boy meets unavailable girl (or vice versa). Boy falls in love, and wins girl over using the fact that he is so different from anyone she's ever met to his advantage. Boy and girl realize that they are perfect for one another, and live happily ever after.
In recent years, few romantic comedies have strayed far from this idealistic depiction of current trends in relationships. The Accidental Husband is no exception. The movie begins with sickeningly orthodox "chick flick" chatter, as the archetypal wise sage is brought immediately into our midst. Dr. Emma Lloyd (Uma Thurman), a young, accomplished novelist and host of the radio show "Real Love" offers up her insight on matters of the heart. She hears from a young woman having second thoughts about her impending marriage, and advises her to follow her to call it off. The woman's fiancee, a rugged firefighter by the name of Patrick Sullivan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), hears their conversation on the radio, and seeks to give Dr. Lloyd a taste of her own medicine. His interference in her wedding plans is the catalyst for a whole slew of misunderstandings, wherein deluded emotions reign. In the end, the two realize that they are undoubtedly happy together. Dr. Lloyd becomes Dr. Sullivan, and the two live a wonderful life together.
With an annoyingly bubbly soundtrack to top it all off, the film will definitely not be making anyone's list of romantic favourites. There was a limited amount of chemistry between Thurman and Morgan's characters, albeit one particularly steamy elevator episode. The story was typical and unimaginative, leaving no one to wonder about what would happen next, and the supporting roles were lacking in professionalism and maturity, bordering on B movie quality.
The film was laced with the characteristic themes of honesty and chivalry - the two things a woman wants in a man, according to the vast majority of romance movies floating around. This, in combination with the frequent and implausible coincidences that had to occur in order to make the story possible made the movie redundant and inaccessible. The relationship Dr. Emma Lloyd has with her father is, at first glance, refreshing and sweet, but soon proves to be just as
colloquial as every other character relationship, as the discovery is made that the family struggles with trust issues.
Redeeming qualities about the movie included short-lived bursts of sexist wit that I couldn't help but crack a smile at. Subsequently, Jeffrey Dean Morgan did a wonderful job portraying the broken-hearted man at his wit's end. While this may be a mundane role, the type of character that one comes across too many times on the big screen, it is indicative of the mindset that so many base their lives upon. Society believes in this true love fairy tale, and if this movie serves no other purpose, it should at least show us that fairy tales are not always plausible or even valid.
For those looking for a typical romantic comedy, you can find a poor example in The Accidental Husband, my personal choice to win the Oscar for least imaginative motion picture.
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