LOVE GUARANTEED
US, 2020, 90 minutes, Colour.
Rachel Leigh Cook, Damon Wayans Jr, Heather Graham, Caitlin Howden, Brendan Taylor, Sebastien Billingsly-Rodriguez?, Sean Amsing, Denise Durupt, Alvin Sanders, Jed Rees, Kandyce Mc Clure.
Directed by Mark Steven Johnson.
So, “they don’t make them like they did anymore�. Well, Love Guaranteed certainly puts paid to this objection. This is a love story, old-style in a modern setting.
While the title assures us that there is going to be a happy ending, Love Guaranteed actually is the name of a huge dating company, massive modern building, lush interiors… And, it is managed by a self-made glamorous CEO, Tamara Taylor, a comic touch performance by the glamorous Heather Graham dressed accordingly, quoting Buddha – not always accurately. And when a lawsuit comes up, she has a large table full of legal representatives.
And a case does come up.
Going back a little, the audience is introduced to Susan (Rachel Leigh Cook) rehearsing a speech (appealing to the jury to let Justice take off the blindfold and really see!) And then delivering it in court. She is a modern professional woman, focusing on building up her company, no time for any personal life except caring for her sister and her family who live next door.
On the way to work, she impedes a reticent gentleman, Nick (Damon Wayans Jr) at a takeaway trolley but then learns that he is her client. Nick must be one of the most charming leading men of any romantic comedy (and the quietest of any of the performances by the many Wayans family of whom Damon is a member).
And his case? Against Love Guaranteed. He has been on almost 1000 dates and has not found love at all! He offers a big cheque so Susan, along with her two comic assistants she works within the office, feel they must investigate. Nick who has been on all these dates – and eventually gets to 1000. Susan interviews a number of them and they will have only nice things to say about Nick. She and Nick venture to Love Guaranteed who want to do an out-of-court deal. No deal.
Of course, as Susan investigates and meets with Nick, love will be guaranteed. There are nice sequences with Susan’s sister, rushing to hospital to give birth. As Susan investigates Nick, she finds he works for the elderly at an Institute for rehabilitation, again charm personified. She meets Nick’s former fiancee – who also speaks well of Nick.
But, Love Guaranteed’s lawyers plan to prove that Nick found love, not on his dates, but because he was involved with the company in the case against them, in love with Susan!
Court scene, everybody speaking well of Nick, Nick behaving like a gentleman – and a happy (profitable) happy ending for all concerned.
Maybe too nice for many contemporary hard-edged tastes.
1. An old-style romantic comedy? A feelgood film?
2. The title? The irony of the title of the dating organisation? And the guarantee that love would be found on a date?
3. The introduction to Susan, lawyer, rehearsing in the toilet, the affirmation of the court guard? Her defence? Helping Jerome? His promising to help her?
4. Susan, her age, busy, her company, with her two assistants – and their comic performance? But always helpful? Weary, at home, her sister next door, dizziness the landlord, kindliness, their son? Susan and her hopes and prospects for her company?
5. At the takeaway, awkward, Nick behind her, walking with her, her being disturbed, his turning out to be her client? Nick, personality, charm, gradually revealed, his friendship with Jerome, at the centre, rehabilitation?
6. The case, the humorous touch, questioning the guarantee of the company, is almost 1000 dates, his description of the dates, the comic touches, the subtitle describing each, and Susan later interviewing them, their descriptions of the date, favourable to Nick, even the parents of the date?
7. Susan hesitant, the large check, her working on the handling of the case? The interviews with Nick, doing back check, meeting Jerome? The outings, the touch of love?
8. The visit to the company, the building, affluent, the table full of lawyers, Tamara Taylor and her quotes, wooded…? Susan correcting her about Heraclitus? Jones, spokesman? The deal? Negotiations? Susan refusing? Jones and his later tactic that Nick had fallen in love with Susan not because of the dates but because of the work with love Guaranteed – and the guarantee fulfilled?
9. Susan, with her sister, pregnant, Gideon, awkward, getting her to the hospital, the birth? Nick and Susan babysitting?
10. Susan, the visits to the various women, her being reassured? Her visit to Ariana? Nick and his version of what had happened, the breaking off of the engagement?
11. In court, Jerome, the assistance, everybody in court? The cross examinations? The women all speaking in Nick’s favour? Susan’s decision to call Ariana, the objection of the defence, the judge supporting her? Ariana, completely in favour of Nick?
12. Nick, on the stand, his being upset by Susan’s tactics, her knowing what Bill Jones was intending about the relationship?
13. Tamara Taylor, offering them a deal, their being the ideal photo couple for the firm?
14. Susan and Nick, the reconciliation? And the future?
