NEW YEAR’S EVE

US, 2011, 118 minutes, Colour.
Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Robert De Niro, Halle Berry, Cary Elwes, Alyssa Milano, Common, Jessica Biel, Seth Meyers, Sarah Paulson, Til Schweiger, Carla Gugino, Katherine Heigl, Jon Bon Jovi, Sofia Vergara, Russell Peters, Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, James Belushi, Lillian Lifflander, Sarah Jessica Parker, Abigail Breslin, Jake T. Austin, Josh Duhamel, Larry Miller, Jack Mc Gee, Yeardley Smith, Penny Marshall, Ryan Seacrest, Cherry Jones, Hilary Swank, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, Hector Elizondo, John Lithgow, Matthew Broderick, Michael Bloomberg.
Directed by Garry Marshall.

From the director and the writer (Katherine Fugate) of Valentine’s Day, that star-filled sweet concoction of multi-stories centred on that romantic day. So, why not New Year’s Eve in New York City and Times Square?

During a swanky dinner, the chef has designed desserts in parcels parachuted towards the guests on the floor below. Some are very light. Some are heavier. The guests reach out to catch the dessert they can. Seems a useful enough image for the whole film. A lot of sweet stories that might please the sweet toothed audience, will be too much for those who can’t take sugar and will be ignored by those who don’t like desserts.

This is a film for a night out, not for a character study nor a sociological study of American habits (being in Times Square or among the alleged millions who watch it on TV) and behaviour on New Year’s Eve.

Most of the stories are short and slight, generally undemanding. But, there is a crisis for the ball that falls in Times Square to mark the New Year. Can it be fixed in time? Hector Elizondo to the rescue. There is also an old man dying of cancer. There is a Skype-like call to a soldier in Iraq. (And, in good advertising, since the action takes place on New Year’s Eve 2011 into 2012, there is a huge poster in the Square for the new Sherlock Holmes film that would be screened at that time!).

And the stars! We are surprised at a very dowdy-looking Michelle Pfeiffer who is taken around the city to fulfil her wish list by Zac Efron. Caterer Katherine Heigl has romantic problems with a pop singer who had proposed to her and then run, Jon Bon Jovi. Hilary Swank is responsible for the success of the event in Times Square (and gets to give the homily on national television about good will and generosity). Sarah Jessica Parker has to cope with her fifteen year old daughter, Abigail Breslin. Two couples want to win a money prize for the first baby born in 2012. And, it’s Robert de Niro who is dying of cancer and Halle Berry, looking plain in nurse’s uniform if that is possible, who is his nurse (but then changes into glamour, expensive, for that call to Iraq). Ashton Kutcher exercises his boyish grin with singer Lea Michele spending most of their time trapped in a stuck elevator.

There is also a nice sequence of attention misdirection as Josh Duhamel hurries to meet the woman he met last year.
That’s the menu. Emphasis on the sweets.
1. A broad romantic comedy? The many stories? Interwoven?

2. New York City, Times Square, an American celebration?

3. One day, the preparation of the celebration in Times Square, the falling of the ball, the approach to midnight, the aftermath of midnight?

4. The star cast, the range? Stars acting according to type, against type?

5. The stories, their being slight, intercut, characters and situations, the effect of New York City? Funny, sad, serious? Love stories?

6. Times Square, the crowds, the television coverage and Ryan Seacrest hosting? The music? The ball, its being lifted, its lights, its falling for the last ten seconds before midnight? Claire, her responsibility, being nervous, her staff, Brendan, friendship with Claire, his support, family, carrying her up because of her fear of heights? A sense of failure, the executive for the committee coming in his car, warning her? Calling in Kominsky, his background? His being able to fix the ball? Her going on television, her speech – a homily of goodwill for New Year’s Eve? The congratulations of Mayor Bloomberg?

7. Stan Harris, his illness, Nurse Aimee? The care in the hospital? His dying, refusing treatments? His talk, the discussions with the doctor? Watching the ball, talk about his wife, talking to Aimee as if she were his wife? His going up on the roof? Claire, her hurrying to the hospital, with her father, the reconciliation, watching the ball, his death?

8. Aimee, her work, the staff at the hospital, their interactions, care for the ill, her listening to Stan Harris, her changing clothes, her Skyping, her talking to the soldier in Iraq? Bringing in the topical issues of Iraq and Afghanistan? The effect on American soldiers away from home?

9. Ingrid, her work, looking dowdy, Paul and his deliveries, her being on edge, going in to her boss, his criticisms and taking her for granted, her decision to resign? Her wish list: going to Bali, saving a life, going to Radio City...? Her exuberance when Paul took her on these wish fulfilments? Throughout New York City? Her overhearing Paul’s comments about her? Paul, the promise of the tickets? Her going with him to the dance – and her exuberant dancing during the final credits?

10. Randy, alone in the apartment, planning to meet Paul, his antipathy towards the decorations, taking them down, going to the elevator, the encounter with Elise, the initial antagonism, her having to get to Times Square, her worry, their discussions, sharing their lives? Going to Times Square? Her supporting Jon Bon Jovi? Her singing Auld Lang Syne? Randy going out, giving her his support?

11. Sam, at the wedding, the car, the breakdown, the encounter with Harley, unable to fix the car, the pastor and his bus, taking his family to New York City, Sam getting a lift? The discussions, the pastor’s father, daughter? Worldly wisdom, Christian wisdom? His going to the party, his mother and her status in the company, his speech, about his father, using the words that the family told him on the bus? The women? His appointment after midnight? Talking with his mother, the girls, running to the clock, the irony of his running towards Claire, but their going in opposite directions, going to the restaurant, the fact that it was closed down? Kim finally turning up, their talking together – a future?

12. Kim, her work at the theatre, her clashes with Hailey, permissions, the boys going to Times Square, Kim taking her daughter home? Hailey and her going out by herself? Her mother pursuing her? The other mother who was stalking the group? Hailey seeing her friend kiss the girl? The explanation? Paul as Hailey’s uncle, giving advice to Kim, telling her where Hailey was, the search, the crowds, her giving the okay to Hailey, hurrying to the rendezvous at the restaurant?

13. Laura and her catering, the friendship with Jensen, the revelation that they had been engaged, that he had walked out, her slapping him? The back-story of their relationship? The argument? Ava, flaunting her sexuality, working with the catering, the other helpers? The dinner itself, the praise for Laura’s catering? Jensen singing? The irony that Jensen had recommended her for the job? His going to Times Square, Claire getting him to sing, getting him to get over his concerns? His return? Laura eating the chocolates – his calling off the tour, the reconciliation?

14. Kominsky, his having got the sack, coming to fix the ball, the work, Claire and her hopes, the mayor and his praise? The ball falling at midnight – and Stan and Claire watching it?

15. A pleasant story of the joys of New Year’s Eve, hopes, expectations, love?