Alright!
I "cheated" too since reading that you could already preorder the movie in America or the UK or something. I figured that by the time it was released in Australia, it'd be out on DVD already elsewhere in the world.
Hell, there are even DVD region 5 rips available in the wonderful world of torrents (which is how I saw the movie).
So what did I think of the movie?
Well, as always, Aaron Eckhart was gorgeous and his performance of a widower who hasn't come to terms with his grief was very convincing. He showed a brilliant range of emotion and for me, he really carried the entire movie.
I don't known why this was billed as a Jennifer Aniston romcom, because she wasn't the main protagonist at all, and didn't feature that much in it.
**SPOILER WARNINGS!**
It's not even reallly a romcom at all! Romance isn't the theme of this movie; grief is.
I found the interaction between Burke and Walter to be very real and touching, and while Eloise was fun, she wasn't that important. There were some really funny scenes too, where Mr Eckhart's character seemed really child-like and playful, like when he was going around the hotel looking for Eloise's words, and when he was stealing the parrot from his wife's parent's house. I really enjoyed those scenes. It was so much fun seeing this grown up man who was some sort of Tony Robbinsesque type life coach act that way.
Oh, and the scene where he's setting the parrot free on the river bank? I laughed so hard! It'so cute, and Eckhart is absolutely adorable!
The bit where Burke discovers that Eloise isn't really deaf and the subsequent dialogue were also hilarious.
There's one thing I didn't really like, but it's a minor complaint considering this movie's not meant to be some massive dramatic award winning piece.
I didn't like it how Burke went off at Eloise about her looks, then went on to build her up as some intelligent intellectual --yes, I know he was just stereotyping, but I felt that scene was supposed to give insight into Eloise's character even though he was the one explaining her, and then Eloise is relegated to doing a meanial job like being a florist.
It felt a bit insulting how they were trying to play up her job as really scientific and cerebral when she goes on about raising the pH of the water, and cauterizing the flower stems.. It was like they wanted to fit her into a role where she was 'powerful' (she's not the one in emotional strife), but she couldn't be too 'powerful', so they made her something girly and tame like a florist instead of say, some kind of career woman in a suit.
I guess the film wouldn't have worked so well if they did, because they seemed to want to portray women as gentle and as 'healers', as precious things to grieve over, like Burke's wife, or as women in need of help, like the women who attend the conference, all of whom aren't beautiful or successful seeming.
Maybe I'm analyzing it too much! Oh, and I don't like how it was never explained WHY Eloise writes words on the hotel wall!
The end part was touching too, where he admits that he was the one driving the car. I didn't find that too surprising, but it was a sweet scene all the same.
**END SPOILERS**
I don't think I would have enjoyed this movie as much if it didn't have Aaron Eckhart playing the main character. If you're a fan of his, go and see it! I thought he was showing his age a little aesthetically, but then he's still so adorable and boyish! He's just the most gorgeous thing ever, and YES, there is a fan-service shirtless scene too! I just wanted to give him a big hug, the poor guy! Great acting!
Definitely worth watching to see Eckhart!!
