Rating: PG13
Genre:
Comedy
Theatrical Release: 05/16/2003(USA)
Release Date: 10/07/2003
SubTitles: English/Espanol
Dubbed: English/French/Espanol
Sound: DDS/DD5.1
Run Time: 102 Minutes
Flags: Adult Situations, Questionable for Children
Distributor/Studio: 20th Century Fox
Director
Peyton Reed and screenwriters
Eve Ahlert and
Dennis Drake pay homage to the frothy
romantic comedies of the early '60s -- in particular the
Doris Day/
Rock Hudson vehicles -- in this light-hearted and affectionate spoof.
Barbara Novak (
Renée Zellweger) is a sweet but savvy small-town librarian who has arrived in New York City with big plans to take on the town. Embracing a feminist philosophy years before it becomes common or fashionable,
Novak writes a book called "Down With Love," in which she presents her theory that romantic relationships cause more problems than they solve for women, and urges women to focus instead on what will truly make them happy -- self-reliance, a solid career, and a healthy sex life (or chocolate if the latter is unavailable at the moment). Almost overnight, "Down With Love" becomes a minor scandal and a major bestseller, but not every man is America is happy with the new breed of liberated (and demanding) women spawned by the book's success, and
Catcher Block (
Ewan McGregor), a lady-killing bachelor who writes for Know Magazine, decides to put
Novak to the test. Posing as a shy, retiring type,
Block is determined to make
Novak fall in love with him, and then share the details with the world through an article in Know.
Block's editor
Peter MacMannus (
David Hyde-Pierce) thinks this is a splendid idea, but to
Block's distress, he discovers himself developing real feelings for
Novak.
Down With Love also features
Tony Randall, who significantly appeared in three films with
Rock Hudson and
Doris Day.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
