Alex & Emma (2003)

Director:

Rob Reiner

Writer (WGA):

Jeremy Leven (written by)

Release Date:

20 June 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Is it love... or are they just imagining things?

Plot:

A writer must turn out a novel in thirty days or face the wrath of loan sharks.

Plot Keywords:

Novel | Writer | Stenographer | Novelist | Paris When It Sizzles

Cast

Luke Wilson	...	Alex Sheldon / Adam Shipley
Chino XL	...	Tony / Flamenco Dancer #2
Lobo Sebastian	...	Bobby / Flamenco Dancer #1
Rob Reiner	...	Wirschafter
Kate Hudson	...	Emma Dinsmore / Ylva / Elsa / Eldora / Anna
Paul Willson	...	Whistling John Shaw
David Paymer	...	John Shaw
Sophie Marceau	...	Polina Delacroix
Alexander Wauthier	...	Andre Delacroix
Leili Kramer	...	Michele Delacroix
Rip Taylor	...	Polina's Father
Gigi Bermingham	...	Madame Blanche
Jordan Lund	...	Claude
François Giroday	...	Croupier
Robert Costanzo	...	Bus Driver

Also Known As:

Loosely Based on a True Love Story (USA) (working title)
The Gambler (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and some language.

Runtime:

USA:96 min | Argentina:96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Ireland:15 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Chile:TE | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:IIA | Iceland:L | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:7 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39965) | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Epsilon Motion Pictures

Trivia:

The bio on the back of Alex's first book reads, "Alex Sheldon has worked for many years in the Boston area. He is currently not married and lives very much alone."

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Alex and Emma are arguing on the stairway, Alex's mouth does not match his words.

Quotes:

Alex Sheldon: I'm just a writer, Emma. I don't know what to do to show you how much I love you. I only have words. That's all I have.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Paris - When It Sizzles (1964)

Soundtrack:

Limehouse Blues

Cute but too much yada yada yada

In "Alex & Emma" Alex, a writer, Alex (Wilson), spends most of the run dictating a romance novel to his stenographer, Emma (Hudson), in his Boston apartment. As the novel develops, Emma becomes more involved in the process and, of course, in Alex. Periodically the film cuts away to vignettes in the world of the novel with Wilson and Hudson playing the lead characters. As a result we get to watch the couple slowly gravitate toward one another with predictable results. Overall the film is watchable though not memorable, eminently predictable, and relies heavily on Wilson and Hudson. Production value is par, the chemistry is just so-so, the ending is clever and twisty, and the sum of the parts is something which will be most enjoyed by sentimental romcom junkies. (C+)