Love & Other Drugs could've been a standout movie. In fact, it probably could've been two. What starts as a light hearted rom-com starring Jake Gyllenhal quickly turns into a dark character study on what it's like to fall in love with someone who's ill. The first part of the movie is great. The second part is too. But when both plot lines blur together in the middle, the film turns into a quiet game of cat and mouse, leaving the audience a little confused as to whether they should laugh, cry, or simply sit in the theater in silence.
Love & Other Drugs tells the story of Jamie Randall, a med school drop out who happens to be one hell of a salesman. After losing his job on the sales floor at a local entertainment store, Jaime decides his next step should be pharmaceutical sales. Next thing you know, he's working for Pfizer, selling Zoloft, and eventually Viagra to doctors in the Ohio area. These scenes are fun, filled with a lighthearted energy and charisma from Gyllenhal. He's the man we want to be, selling his way to the top, or at least trying not to be at the bottom.
One day Jamie meets Maggie, an independent girl who happens to be a patient at one of Jamie's frequented offices. He finds out early on that she has Parkinson's disease, a disorder of the central nervous system that impairs motor skills, cognitive processes, and other functions. They sleep together, they grow apart, they sleep together, and they fall in love. Little does Jamie know, dating someone with an illness isn't an easy task. Just when things seems to be great, they fall apart, and it leaves both parties physically and mentally drained.
Love & Other Drugs asks a lot of deep moral questions. That's the good stuff in the script. It tackles questions head on that most people don't necessarily think about when falling in love. What if the one you love is ill? Would you take care of them for the rest of your life? Wouldn't it just be easier to walk away? The scenes that deal with this subject matter are some of the strongest I've seen this year, but when one scene begs these questions, and the next deals with an unwanted (and unending) erection, I can't help but feel like there's an elephant in the room that is clearly bordering on inconsistency.
Overall, I just can't help but label Love & Other Drugs as a collection of wonderful scenes that when brought together just doesn't quite work. It's sweet, romantic, and the on screen chemistry between two A-list actors will be enough to entertain, but overall, I just really wish this film could've been something better. I wish it could've stayed a rom-com, with Gyllenhal sleeping his way too the top only to realize that it's one of the girls at the bottom that truly makes him happy. Even moreso, I wish it would've started as a drama, with Gyllenhal working as a representative for a Parkison's research fund that just happens to meet Maggie at a convention. The rest of the story would be a sad one, with both parties falling in love only to come to the realization that there would be no cure, but their love alone could pull them through. Instead, it's a hybrid, an unfortunate meeting of the minds. Regardless, the two halves are solid, but as a whole, I'm left entertained but underwhelmed.
On a side note, there's one scene where Maggie and Jamie attend a convention with other individuals who have Parkinson's disease. It's one of the most powerful scenes I've seen this year. The emotion, truth, and subtext present in this scene is what could've made this movie a standout. Instead, we're left with an assortment of funny, sad, cute, and cuddly that hits a number of notes, just not necessarily the right ones.
Michael Buffa Editor, Popcorn Jury http://popcornjury.com
Love & Other Drugs tells the story of Jamie Randall, a med school drop out who happens to be one hell of a salesman. After losing his job on the sales floor at a local entertainment store, Jaime decides his next step should be pharmaceutical sales. Next thing you know, he's working for Pfizer, selling Zoloft, and eventually Viagra to doctors in the Ohio area. These scenes are fun, filled with a lighthearted energy and charisma from Gyllenhal. He's the man we want to be, selling his way to the top, or at least trying not to be at the bottom.
One day Jamie meets Maggie, an independent girl who happens to be a patient at one of Jamie's frequented offices. He finds out early on that she has Parkinson's disease, a disorder of the central nervous system that impairs motor skills, cognitive processes, and other functions. They sleep together, they grow apart, they sleep together, and they fall in love. Little does Jamie know, dating someone with an illness isn't an easy task. Just when things seems to be great, they fall apart, and it leaves both parties physically and mentally drained.
Love & Other Drugs asks a lot of deep moral questions. That's the good stuff in the script. It tackles questions head on that most people don't necessarily think about when falling in love. What if the one you love is ill? Would you take care of them for the rest of your life? Wouldn't it just be easier to walk away? The scenes that deal with this subject matter are some of the strongest I've seen this year, but when one scene begs these questions, and the next deals with an unwanted (and unending) erection, I can't help but feel like there's an elephant in the room that is clearly bordering on inconsistency.
Overall, I just can't help but label Love & Other Drugs as a collection of wonderful scenes that when brought together just doesn't quite work. It's sweet, romantic, and the on screen chemistry between two A-list actors will be enough to entertain, but overall, I just really wish this film could've been something better. I wish it could've stayed a rom-com, with Gyllenhal sleeping his way too the top only to realize that it's one of the girls at the bottom that truly makes him happy. Even moreso, I wish it would've started as a drama, with Gyllenhal working as a representative for a Parkison's research fund that just happens to meet Maggie at a convention. The rest of the story would be a sad one, with both parties falling in love only to come to the realization that there would be no cure, but their love alone could pull them through. Instead, it's a hybrid, an unfortunate meeting of the minds. Regardless, the two halves are solid, but as a whole, I'm left entertained but underwhelmed.
On a side note, there's one scene where Maggie and Jamie attend a convention with other individuals who have Parkinson's disease. It's one of the most powerful scenes I've seen this year. The emotion, truth, and subtext present in this scene is what could've made this movie a standout. Instead, we're left with an assortment of funny, sad, cute, and cuddly that hits a number of notes, just not necessarily the right ones.
Michael Buffa Editor, Popcorn Jury http://popcornjury.com