breacain

Every female should see this movie to get an outsider's view of how some of us can sabotage ourselves so completely. Maybe it should be required viewing in junior high, and then again in college? Maybe men should see it too, just to understand this particular brand of psychosis.

Difficult to watch, but really smart.

If you think you hate men, think dating sucks, and wonder why men only seem to want to date "Barbie types," maybe this is for you. Especially if you fancy yourself smart and cool and wonder why no man appreciates that. The character Heather is played brilliantly and realistically as the girl who gets it all wrong.

Surprise! It's not your big butt keeping men away, it's your attitude! So brush your hair, get out of your sweatpants and enjoy the day!

I didn't know what to expect from this film, but whatever I got is about ten times better than whatever I was expecting, if that makes sense.

The characters are so likable. And the acting is just phenomenal. There were several scenes I had to back up and watch again just because some of the layers of small gestures and expressions and emotional choices are so genius, I just couldn't believe how thoughtfully turned out it all was.

(Hint: Watch Penn's face when he is asking his tired, pregnant wife to put on heels and a nice dress for going out. Men, that is how you get your woman to say "YES!")

And I love the theme of honesty in this movie. The characters are all more honest with themselves and each other than anyone you'll meet in the world, and they're also more tolerant of other people's honesty than real people are. It's beautiful, and it's not "brutal" honesty. And everything is beautiful until that honesty is taken away (by good intentions).

Yes, I agree they oversimplified the whole missing ten years thing, but I don't mind because this was such a stunningly original, surprising little love story.

Remarkable.

Oh, and extra credit for including Tito Larriva!