December 20, 2002
Warner Bros.
Comedy, Romance
VHS
B-
Marc Lawrence, who co-wrote Sandra Bullock's Miss Congeniality and would go on to Hugh Grant's Music and Lyrics, wrote and directed this formulaic but mostly satisfying rom-com that pairs Bullock and Grant. They play respectively, a driven left-wing lawyer and a lazy but intelligent rich man. Their chemistry fuels the movie, both of them playing off of their established personas, but putting little twists on the lines. There is an extra layer of political subtext to the movie in that his character is named George Wade, and the W figures prominently. But not much is done with this. It's just sort of there. And, yes, there should be an apostrophe after the S in "Weeks." I think this is symbolic of how the movie feels thrown together but nonetheless works, most of the time.
Heather Burns has a much smaller role here than she did as Cheryl Frasier in Miss Congeniality, but she's again sweet and funny as Bullock's best friend, here named Meryl Brooks. Jeannette Gould was an Audience Member in In & Out and is a Senior Center Woman here, while Adam LeFevre was a Bachelor Party Guest there and is the RV Man here. And John Cunningham, who was great as the "Be a Man" Tape Instructor, plays a Justice of the Peace here. George Gearhart King III was a School Child in Object of My Affection, and his appearance here as RV Son is his only other credit. Iraida Polanco, who was Carmelita there, is Rosario there.
Steven Weisz, who's a Charity Ball Attendee, would be a Stunned Pedestrian in Enchanted. Adam Grupper, who's the Lawyer for Wade's ex-wife, would in Gary in Music and Lyrics, while Charlotte Maier, who's Helen Wade here, would be Barbara there.
