Valentine’s Day

Directed by Garry Marshall

Starring: Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine, Emma Robert, Julia Roberts, Taylor Swift

Director Garry Marshall put together an all-star cast for this romantic comedy released in 2010. Marshall is best known for films about romance like Pretty Woman and Runaway Bride. The ensemble cast is impressive and includes talent from all segments of pop culture. The film was panned by the critics but managed to remain successful at the box office becoming the third most successful February release. The film is also linked to Marshall’s newest release New Year’s Eve.

“More than a dozen Angelenos navigate Valentine’s Day from early morning until midnight. Three couples awake together, but each relationship will sputter; are any worth saving? A grade-school boy wants flowers for his first true love; two high school seniors plan first-time sex at noon; a TV sports reporter gets the assignment to find romance in LA; a star quarterback contemplates his future; two strangers meet on a plane; grandparents, together for years, face a crisis; and, an “I Hate Valentine’s Day” dinner beckons the lonely and the lied to.”

– jhailey@hotmail.com

This is a fun film filled with the clichés you might expect from a romantic comedy. The script seems to avoid taking risks and instead falls back on the expected conclusions throughout the film. I would stop short of calling the movie predictable since it does hold several surprises.

If you’re expecting a film with some hidden gem or new styling you’ll be disappointed. The film is relatively straight forward in all aspects and makes itself easy to watch. The acting is good and the characters are well-written. The movie is just an entertaining story with some funny moments and a good message. I give this film 3.3 out of 5 stars.