So how do you lose a guy in 10 days? For starters, you could try bringing a guy to see this movie. For much of “”How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,”” the question that really comes to mind is: How was this film ever made?
Based on a humor paperback, the film’s storyline is interesting: Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) is a “”how-to”” columnist for a women’s magazine who aspires to write more meaty topics, such as news and politics. For her latest assignment, Anderson has to drive a man away within 10 days. Unfortunately for her, the man that she has to get rid of is Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey). Barry is an advertising executive who makes a bet that he can have a meaningful relationship with a woman and make her fall in love with him within 10 days as well. If he succeeds, he will land a big account with a diamond company.
Anderson tries her hardest to get rid of Barry by being annoying, demanding and just about anything a person can do to drive someone else insane. The only reason Barry puts up with all this is because he wants that ad account. While the two are playing the cat-and-mouse game, the movie manages to roll smoothly. The deceptive foreplay between the two leads to an interesting game of who can outdo the other the longest, but anyone can guess the plot even before the movie begins. Once the movie deviates from this simple premise, the trouble starts.
Although the basic storyline is interesting, the actual script is another cliched, “”been there, done that”” romantic comedy. The film treats the audience as if having two big-name actors makes up for the numerous plot holes. It would be hard to believe that anyone would make an important business decision based on a dating bet. Somehow, the film tries to ignore its many problems and focus instead on the relationship between the couple.
However, there doesn’t seem to be any chemistry between Hudson and McConaughey. The connection between them seems to be as true as the lies their characters dole out to each other. When they finally confront each other, the expected fireworks between them die out; neither of them ever seem to be truly upset by deception and lies, let alone be in love with one another. It would seem more plausible that they were never meant to be, as opposed to the movie’s obvious ending.
The supporting cast is forgettable, and no one seems to be truly enthusiastic about their characters. Even the lively Bebe Neuwirth, who plays Anderson’s editor, seems complacent and bored with her role.
For a better (and cheaper) alternative, consider buying the actual “”How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”” book by Michele Alexander and Jeannie Long, which is full of hilarious “”don’ts”” and stick-figure drawings. Even simple sketches can provide a better form of entertainment than such a cliched, typical movie.
“”How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days””
**
starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey
in theaters Feb. 7