What Love Is (2007)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Mars Callahan

Writer:

Mars Callahan (writer)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Tom plans to surprise Sara with an engagement ring, and he's asked his four best friends to witness...

Plot Keywords:

Talk | Friend | Party | Bar | Engagement Ring

Cast

Cuba Gooding Jr.	...	Tom
Matthew Lillard	...	Sal
Sean Astin	...	George
Mars Callahan	...	Ken
Andrew Daly	...	Wayne
Gina Gershon	...	Rachel
Anne Heche	...	Laura
Tamala Jones	...	Katherine
Shiri Appleby	...	Debbie
Jud Tylor	...	Amy (as Judy Tylor)
Terrence 'T.C.' Carson	...	Kwame
Gillian Shure	...	Karen
Victoria Pratt	...	Sara
Steve Makhania	...	Bogie the Clerk
Roxanne Arvizu	...	Dancer

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language including graphic sexual dialogue, and some erotic dancing.

Runtime:

USA:93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Big Sky Motion Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: Towards the end, during the scene where Sal is sitting on the couch and drinking a scotch, you can see the level of liquid on the glass go up and down on several occasions, as the camera changes angles.

Movie Connections:

References Pakkuman (1980) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Mannish Boy

Truly Bad in an Interesting Way

This movie fails, but it fails in an interesting way.

First of all, it's not a film. It's an unsuccessful attempt to permanently record a stage play, masquerading as a film. The director seems to have no clue to the techniques, nuances and flexibility possible with film.

Instead, 90% of the "action" takes place on two very contrived stage sets. The characters are merely stereotypes. The "action" consists of each character delivering a long soliloquy on their philosophy regarding sex. However, the writer is so self-absorbed that every point of view is that of a young male "player." Ultimately, this is a few hours of audible naval-gazing. Instead of presenting different points of view, this feels like an inner dialogue from one really immature, boring guy.

The female characters are especially shallow and unbelievable when they talk about sex, which is all anyone does in the movie. They are clearly women speaking words written by a clueless man who is developmentally about 25 years old.

The director also doesn't trust his actors to convey complex emotions on film. That's unfortunate, because there are some fine actors in the film, who are capable of much more. Instead, the performance are so "big," the gestures so exaggerated, that they seem a parody of stage acting. Only Sean Astin's nice-guy character manages to escape this curse, appearing understated by comparison.

Whenever the script calls for strong emotion on screen, the director goes into a series of cartoonishly distorted quick cuts. Again, this indicates a lack of trust in the actors, or respect for their abilities.

If any of these tactics worked, they would be interesting artistic choices. Unfortunately, they don't, and there's nothing interesting about this movie.