VALENTINE’S DAY
US, 2010, 125 minutes, Colour.
Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Carter Jenkins, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Shirley Mac Laine, Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts, Bryce Robinson, Taylor Swift, Larry Miller.
Directed by Garry Marshall.
It's really a 2 hour plus movie equivalent of valentine's day cards, posters and romantic gifts, roses and chocolates and dinner dates, in fact, the date movie par excellence. It was made for the romantic audience at the multiplex for a light night out. To that extent, it is critic proof.
This is a Los Angeles story, so geared principally for US audience sensibility, more extraverted than introverted. There is a lot of travel in and around LA , especially with the delivery of flowers as the shop at the centre of the film has a busy, busy day. (Even Julia Roberts is seen in a stretch limousine at Rodeo Drive and the chauffeur asks her whether she has ever shopped there and she replies that she did once and it was a big, a huge mistake – that joke is in the final credits!)
So, Julia Roberts, not in so many films in recent years, is one reason to see the film even if for most of it she is sitting next to Bradley Cooper on a long haul flight. It is probably the rather starry cast appearing in quite a number of stories which are gradually interlinked that is the main reason for buying a ticket to see it. And, it depends on whether you like the stars or not.
The film opens with Ashton Kutcher, which seemed something of a bad move, but he is at the centre of the story, proposing to Jessica Alba, helping his best friend, teacher Jennifer Garner, who is in a relationship with Patrick Dempsey (but you know something is wrong). Actually, Ashton Kutcher's character is rather nice as is Jennifer Garner so there is a pleasant happy/sad story there. Oldies will appreciate Shirley Mac Laine and Hector Elizondo (who has appeared in every Garry Marshall film for nearly 30 years). There is also Jamie Foxx, Queen Latifah and Jessica Biel, Eric Dane for Grey's Anatomy fans, let alone Patrick Dempsey, Taylor Swift for the music fans appearing with Taylor Lautner for the Twlight fans. For the young adults there is Anne Hathaway with Topher Grace. Something for everyone – even Bryce Robinson, aged about seven who has a crush on... (no spoiling the plot!).
At the beginning, TV executive Kathy Bates orders sports reporter Jamie Foxx to go out and report on Valentine's Day from people in the street – and tells him she wants plenty of 'fluff'. So that is what this film is, plenty of dream fantasy, plenty of romantic fluff.
1.A romantic film? Date movie? Fluff?
2.Los Angeles and the film as a love letter to the city? The city as a character, the ordinary parts, apartments, the contrast with mansions? The flower shop and business? Schools, restaurants, the media world, agencies? Planes? Airports?
3.The musical score, the range of songs, the love songs – illustrating situations and characters?
4.The interlinking of characters over one day? Characters, situations? The range of characters?
5.Valentine’s Day and the commercial hype? The American psyche, outgoing, cards, flowers and gifts? The media, the radio, television? Julia and her attempt to explain Valentine’s Day to the school class?
6.The strength of the cast?
7.The introduction via Reed, waking up, Morley, the proposal, her saying yes, his disbelief? Setting the tone? Fulfilment, disappointment, reality?
8.Reed and his shop, the staff, talking about his engagement, people’s suggestions, their joy? The busyness, deliveries, orders? Alphonso and his friendship, his advice, the crash and his encounter with Sean Jackson, his autograph, insurance? The decision to help Julia, his advice to Reed? A shoulder to lean on, an ear to hear? Going to his family – and Reed watching the lyrical family sequences? The details of the day?
9.Morley, her saying yes, meaning no, Reed finding her in the middle of the day, packing and leaving, her regrets, checking into the hotel, lonely, wandering the street with the dog?
10.Reed and midday, the disappointment? His encounter with Harrison? The code and sending the flowers to wife and girlfriend? His reaction? Going to Julia, trying to explain? Eventually her listening but not hearing, going to the airport, Reed pursuing her, the security and rushing off without his socks, trying to explain the truth? The end and their friendship turning into love?
11.Julia and the relationship with Harrison, his saying he was going to San Francisco, going home, his wife, the anniversary? She going to Reed, full of joy? At school, the class, explaining St Valentine’s Day, Edison in charge? Her decision to go to the airport, her going to the hospital, finding Reed was not there? Phoning Kara? Going to the dinner, bashing the big heart? Edison arriving with his gift? Her persuading him to give the gift to the Indian girl? The humorous interlude of her pretending to be a waitress, the help of the student’s father, her menu for Harrison and exposing him to his wife? Her realisation of the truth and going to find Reed?
12.Edgar and Estelle, fifty-one years married, minding Edison, grandfather driving him to school, going to the flower shop, spending his fifteen dollars and wanting the flowers sent to the school? His playing football, Grace as his babysitter? Grace and her having to chase him as he slipped out of the house? Grace and her talking with Estelle, her relationship with Alex, the planned sex encounter for Valentine’s Day? Edgar and Estelle encouraging her to wait? Estelle telling Edgar the truth, the deep effect on him? His going to the screening at the cemetery? Encountering Jason? Giving him the ticket? Jason learning his lesson? The sequence from Hotspell on the screen? Estelle turning up in her most flamboyant dress? The reconciliation and forgiveness?
13.Grace and Alex, the plan, Alex going to the house, the guitar, his clothes, Grace’s mother? His talking about rehearsing? Rushing out, picked up by Grace? The contrast with Felicia and Willy, his big gift of the bear, Felicia’s excitement? Their being interviewed on television, her performance, his hurdling and fall? The wry comment of the interviewer?
14.The television station, the producer, asking Kelvin to talk to people on the street about Valentine’s Day? His being a sports reporter? At the market, the Chinese and his being inarticulate, Reed and his giving an advertisement? Kelvin’s own attitudes towards Valentine’s Day? The sports situation, Sean Jackson and his retirement, ringing Kara about a question, going to the office, her tantrum and eating chocolates? His question for Sean Jackson, going to the press conference, asking it? His turning up at Kara’s party, singing, their kiss?
15.Liz and Jason, the relationship for two weeks? Liz in a hurry, her phone calls, her job, the phone sex, her impersonations? Working for Paula, the comedy with Paula, overhearing the phone calls? Jason and his talking about his relationship, discovering that it was Valentine’s Day, inviting Liz to the meal, sitting at the table in the hotel, with all the couples nearby, some in love, some quarrelling? Liz and her going out with the phone – and at the bus stop (from Pretty Woman)? Her clients, Jason’s shock? His going to the cemetery, giving Edgar the ticket, their sitting together, listening to Edgar reflect on life, seeing Estelle come in? Going to apologise to Liz? Her wanting something simple – and the trio having to exit quickly?
16.Paula, the agent, bossy and enjoying it? Taking the phone calls?
17.Kara and her PR work, the phone call with Sean? Her reaction against Valentine’s Day? Ordering the meal at the Indian restaurant? Her being upset, Kelvin witnessing it? Handling the press conference, Sean and his coming out? The party, no-one turning up – then everyone arriving? Her response to Kelvin?
18.Sean Jackson, swimming, the girls on the beach, aged thirty-five, the football losses, the issue of retiring? Ringing Kara, reflecting on his life? Paula as his agent? The press conference, coming out, people’s responses? The surprise of Holden coming back home to him?
19.Holden and Kate on the plane, the fourteen hours, Kate and the military, Holden putting the blind down, waking Kate, her psychoanalysis of him? In the toilet and the turbulence? Their talking, the flight attendant and her attentions? The limousine at the airport, his giving her the car, her going home to Edison?
20.The happy endings for most – except for Morley and Harrison?
21.The final joke during the credits and the allusion to Julia Roberts, Rodeo Drive, shopping and Pretty Woman?
