"Sometimes the things you want the most don't happen and what you least expect happens. I don't know - you meet thousands of people and none of them really touch you. And then you meet one person and your life is changed forever."
- Jamie Randall to Maggie Murdock
Hollywood, like its Indian counterpart is turning banal with each passing day. I've never been impressed by explosions, heavy gunfire and all the cliched glamour associated with hollywood movies before. And now, the technological advancements in computer generated graphics have only made things worse. It has become a matter of style over substance, with the substance quotient measuring pathetically low in many movies. Though such movies go on to become box office hits, if you break them down, they turn out to be nothing but froth and drivel. At this point, it wouldn't be fair of me if I refrain from remarking on the romantic movies these days. This beaten-to-death theme has become so mundane to the point that even discerning movie buffs have resigned to predispose towards watching them earnestly, with no rebuking comments. Sad. :(
However, there are movies, of any genre for that matter, that stand out from among its contemporaries. These fine aberrations are what serve as tributes to the art of making cinema. Given that most movie directors these days are slaying the slain with the theme of love, it was a refreshing treat for the eyes to behold 'Love and other drugs'. LAOD has much going for it. But there are a few, minor aspects that pull it down from becoming sensational. DISCLAIMER: THIS MOVIE'S STRICTLY FOR ADULT AUDIENCE. IF YOU'RE UNDER 18, LOOK ELSEWHERE.
Plot: Jamie Randall, a handsome young medical rep, falls for Maggie Murdock, a lively girl suffering from Parkinson's. What starts as a relationship with no strings attached becomes a complex love story that's endearing to say the least.
In the beginning, you've Jamie, the young medical rep working under zoloft, charming the knickers off young ladies for the kick of it and sometimes based on an ulterior motive. This motive involves getting into the good books of Dr.Knight and persuade him to prescribe zoloft instead of prozac- the arch rival of zoloft. Ultimately, Jamie gains the favor of Dr.Knight and one day, donning a doctor's white coat, he meets Maggie in Dr.Knight's consultancy room. Life will never be the same again for Jamie. The story progresses with Jamie and Maggie slowly falling for each other and finding strength in each other.
Anne Hathaway steals the show! Anne's easily one of the best actresses out there and is a joy to behold on the screen. Believe me. My appraisal has nothing to do with her skin show in LAOD. We've seen her act up a storm in 'Rachael getting married' and 'The devil wears prada'. And this time, she has outdone herself with a powerful performance. Jake fits the pretty boy role to a T. Nothing impressive about him at first, but he does a decent job in the later parts. However, the chemistry between the two is almost magical, as they breeze through from one frame to the next. The character development is realistic and pushes the right buttons. Despite their flaws, Jamie and Maggie make an odd, yet lovely duo. There are scenes that make you gulp down the lump in your throat and cry your heart out. In a nutshell, the relationship between Jamie and Maggie stands out gloriously.
The cinematography and lighting are adequate. The cinematography shines during the scenes shot in Maggie's snug yet messy apartment. As I mentioned earlier, what pulls back LAOD from being hailed as the epitome of romance drama is the jarring, blatant sex scenes that are uncalled for. These scenes (involving Jamie and women other than Maggie) exhibit the grotesque, amorous nature of Jamie. Showing Jamie as a casanova initially and making him a douche who hits on every being with a XX chromosome are two different things. If not for this particular disturbing characterization, this movie would have become a timeless hit! Either way, I strongly recommend this movie for serious movie lovers who don't cringe at or drool a river over explicit scenes of nudity. ;)
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