Love Happens (2009)

 Is there anybody out there offended by Jennifer Aniston? I ask the question as personally, I could watch her standing still in a plastic bin liner, picking her nose and not saying a word for ninety minutes and still leave the theatre quite satisfied, if I'm honest.

The fact that she walks, talks, acts and is good at it is a bonus.

With the exception of 'Derailed', I'm not sure she has really tested herself, or impressed any doubters that are still unsure of her big screen credentials, however, and to be honest, opinion on that subject is unlikely to change from what we see here.

Aniston does rom-coms well enough, but when you have seen one, you really have seen them all. There isn't alot of new in this outing to enjoy, but this doesn't stop the viewer form enjoying a tried and tested forumla performed by competent and experienced players.

Both Eckhart and the aformentioned Aniston are dab hands at this romance malarkey by now, and whilst the film does struggle a little for direction in the second act, adding quarter of an hour that we probably didn't really need to a film that really would have suited ninety minutes, we do get a well crafted, enjoyble, albeit by the numbers rom-com that most will come away from feeling just fine. Not ecstatic, you understand, but just fine.

Following the death of his wife in a tragic car accident Burke (Eckhart) decides to write a book about his feelings and how to get over the loss of a loved one. This is only beginning of the bandwagon that is to become 'A-OK'. His success brings merchandising deals, weight loss supplements, lecture tours and three day counselling courses, all in his name. Still, Burke is missing his wife, having not really addressed his own loss completely, choosing to help others through their own pain. (for a nominal fee, of course)

Then along came Polly...sorry, Eloise, the flower seller. A woman so completely in control of her own life that she doesn't even begin to have the time for Burke when he finally takes the advice of his friend to get out there and start living real life again, and musters up the bare faced cheek to ask her out to dinner. What follows is the pursuit of Eloise, the blossoming romance that grows and all of the other mumbo-jumbo associated with perfect relationships that were clearly meant to be, written by Hollywood largely for the entertainment of women who need reminding, again, that some men are romantic and sensitive and genuinely want to do the right thing by them. All well and good then.

There really isn't much here to spout enthusiastically about, except to say that apart from the almost arduous second act, they don't really do much wrong with this. This is no When Harry Met Sally though. It is not nearly funny enough to be classed as comedy in it's own right, but well within the bounds of romance. Enjoyable, forgettable and harmless.