 Movie
Reviews
with Evelyn Gough.
America's Sweethearts (M)
Directed by Joe Roth
 A story that would keep the women's mags gossip[ing for weeks - Gwen (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Eddie (John Cusack) are Hollywood stars whose relationship is stranger than fiction.
There's nothing the movie going public loves more than the successful screen couples and if the on-screen romance spills over into real life. It's the stuff (movie) legends are made of.
Think Spencer Tracey and Katherine Hepburn, Bogart and Bacall, Goldie and Kurt, Gwen and Eddie.
'Who?' I hear you ask. Only one of the most popular pair of lovebirds ever, both on-screen and off. But after nine box office hits together, their real life relationship is going the same way as Tom and Nic, and Gwen Harrison (Catherine Zeta Jones) and Eddie Thomas (John Cusack) are causing a major headache for PR man Lee Phillips (Billy Crystal).
In Crystal's latest film, the romantic comedy America's Sweethearts which he co-wrote with Peter Tolan, he had a ball - poking fun at the crazy world of Hollywood film-making, in particular the behind-the-scenes shenanigans of publicity and promotions.
To save his job and ensure the success of 'Time Over Time' - Gwen and Eddie's final film together - Lee promises studio head Dave Kingman (Stanley Tucci) that he'll reunite the romantic idols. His plan ignores the fact that Gwen has shacked up with hot Spaniard Hector (a hilarious Hank Azaria - Antonio eat your heart out!) and a distraught Eddie is still in therapy.
When you're in a jam, who are you going to call? In Lee's case it's Gwen's long suffering but extremely capable assistant Kiki (Julia Roberts) who just happens to be her sister.
But the problem of reuniting two people who hate each other pales into insignificance compared to getting the finished film from the eccentric director Hal Weidmann (Christopher Walken).
Don't be put off by some less than flattering reviews. America's Sweethearts is a lot of fun, has plenty of laughs and most importantly, not a whiff of anything schmaltzy. And what a cast!!
Okay, so it's a tad predictable. But for some lightweight entertainment this hits the mark. (Just like the dobermann)
Rating: 3 ½ stars
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