Director Edward Zwick takes a break from all his dramatic, epic dramas to make a nice romantic comedy/drama.
The topic of drug companies hawking their wares to doctors as a quick fix for problems is an interesting one that I don't think has been explored all that often in film. It was very refreshing to see it here but I was a little disappointed that it did not dig very deep. The main plot of the film is the romance between Jamie and Maggie and the problems they have because Maggie is sick. So while they explore the issue of drug companies it is not done in as scathing way as I would have liked. Now that is not to say the film is bad because the main plot is excellent. I'm a big softy for romantic films and so I really responded to it. It really makes you think about your relationship and whether you would stay with someone if they got really sick. Most films if one of the couple is sick then you kind of know they are going to die, but here Jamie must decide if he can handle being with someone who is going to be sick for the rest of her life. This makes for many emotional scenes which made me very emotional as well.
This is the type of role that Jake Gyllenhaal was made for. He is brilliant at being the charming suave guy who can charm women to get what he wants. Being good looking helps as well. He can also be funny when it is required as well as dramatic. Anne Hathaway is also perfect for her role as well. The confident young woman trying to hide her disease. She does such a brilliant job of playing the illness but not in a smothering way so it gets too much. Oliver Platt is once again a joy to see in anything he does. And Josh Gad makes a wonderful comic relief character.
A wonderful romantic comedy/drama that while not as scathing on the pharmaceutical companies as you'd like but better on the romantic side.
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