Love Happens Movie Review

The new romantic movie Love Happens stars Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston. He plays Dr. Burke Ryan, a self-help book author who arrives in Seattle to teach a seminar based on his book. Aniston plays Eloise Chandler, a hotel floral shop owner who has sworn off men to focus on her business. Eloise meets Burke at the hotel where he is speaking and, surprise, they’re attracted to each other.

The movie’s tagline is, “Will two people who have met the right person at exactly the wrong time be able to give love another chance?”

Yes.

There. I’ve saved you the 20 quid it would take for you and your girlfriend to go see this movie at the cinema.

This is not to say that Love Happens is some kind of failure as a romantic comedy-drama (the drama is because his wife died and he never properly grieved for her). As a romantic movie it succeeds handily. The two stars are very attractive, and Aniston looks every bit the outrageously pretty girl next door who somehow doesn’t quite realize just how outrageously pretty she is. Eckhart is lantern-jawed and even has a dimple in his chin. He looks like he could be straight out of central casting for a male romantic lead.

Written by Brandon Camp and Mike Thompson, Love Happens was previously titled Brand New Day, and then Traveling. He doesn’t realize that his reluctance to get involved is the result of having not gained closure over his wife’s death. She doesn’t realize that by going to him for help, she’s forcing him to bind up his own wounds to help heal her. Those feeling uncharitable might think that a more apt title might be Clueless in Seattle.

The movie was filmed in Vancouver and Seattle, and is visually pleasing by virtue of the the attractive lead roles filmed in attractive urban surroundings. If you’re feeling cynical when you go see this movie, it will probably have the effect of cementing your cynicism, but if you are in an expansive mood, you may well be buoyed by the classic story of boy meets girl, boy and girl think they aren’t attracted to each other, boy and girl eventually realize they’re perfect for each other in their own quirky way.