I cannot believe what I'm reading. People actually liked this cheesy film???? Not only is the plot horribly contrived, it's entirely too predictable to warrant some of the big-name stars that actually agreed to do this film. The problem is that the characters are stuck with this terrible script and film that takes itself too seriously. Gillian Anderson plays a woman burned in the past by love who is unwilling to try again, and proves repeatedly that she does not deserve someone as dedicated and earnest as Jon Stewart (who does redeem the humor a teeny tiny bit). That's one facet of the story down the drain. Then there's the emo-predecessor Ryan Phillipe who attracts the party girl Angelina Jolie, whose resulting relationship is unbelievable. Then there is Patricia Clarkson who has an affair with a man purely for their "sexual compatibility," which is just stupid. Dennis Quiad is one of the more interesting character, showing up at bars with these outrageous stories and being followed by a woman, but as with many other aspects of this film, the buildup is much better than the actual conclusion and denouement (they really let you down). But the very worst are Sean Connery and Gena Rowlands, whose struggling marriage is hard to watch. My point is that after a certain point, the cheesy lines start making you wince with their pure predictability. You could be one of the characters and say the lines. But it all works out in the end (surprise!).
Review of Playing by Heart
