Love and Other Disasters (2006)

Love and Other Disasters is a film that very few people even know about. I happened to catch it, maybe 4 years ago as part of the Toronto International Film Fesival, when it was one of the movies showing that year. I saw it with two friends and we all enjoyed it very much! It's light...it's funny...it's cute...a great date movie...and has something for all adults, gay and straight alike (as it has a slight gay element) who like a good romantic comedy. After we saw it.... we never heard another thing about it. It never apparently found a distributor, and never was shown in theaters, to my knowledge. About three years later...it appeared on DVD. I have owned a copy since it came out on DVD and we had one of our "Movie nights" at our home with 8 or 9 friends over, and everyone enjoyed it a lot!

What amazes me in the movie business is all of the total garbage movies that get made and shown in theaters every week..... bad, awful, poorly made and poorly acted films that should never even be produced.... and then there are movies like "Love and Other Disaster" that are well-made, with good acting, and they never see the light of day.

It was such a shame when young and vivacious Brittany Murphy died in December 2009 at age 32, depriving the film world of her sunny countenance. Along with the biopic of rapper Eminem, 8 Mile -8 Mile (Widescreen Edition) -this was my favorite Brittany Murphy film.

A few words of disclosure are necessary about this film. "Love and Other Disasters" is a romantic comedy set in London. There is not one original idea in the script and just about every movie cliche to be found in romantic comedies is in this movie to wit:

-Murphy is a fashion designer with a mixed up love life.

-She befriends a gay photographer (who is actually not gay) that loves her.

-There are several other gay male characters in the film with mixed up love lives.

-In fact, all the characters in the film have a mixed up love life.

-All the actors are employed in the arts -once writes a screeplay called "Love and Other Disasters."

-The film appears to be heading to tragedy but has a wonderful, happy ending.

-The movie ends by having the action in the film made into a movie.

Having made these disclosures, I will say I adore this movie. This is such a warm film, so full of good spirits and love, that it transcends all these cliches to be not only good entertainment but a memorable film experience. The chemistry between Jacks (Murphy) and Paolo (Santiago Cabrera) is natural, unforced and credible. Almost all the actors are likeable, you root for them, and you want their love to succeed. And it does.

I can't think of a romantic comedy I've seen in recent years that I enjoy as much as this 2006 production. It's better than "Four Weddings And A Funeral" Four Weddings and a Funeral to which I think it compares very well. This is a sexy, delightful, easy on the eye and mind film that breezes through its 100 minutes and leaves you satisfied. If you're in the mood for mindless entertainment with a big warmth factor, this movie is for you.

Buy Love and Other Disasters (2006) Now

Whatever your taste in good movies, you will like at least some parts, if not all, of this movie. Even if you find it hard to embrace this movie, you will find it even harder to dislike it.

At the risk of being controversial, I will rate this movie above multi-threaded ensemble movies like "Love Actually", "Crash", "Valentine's Day" and "New York, I Love You". The surprise is in a singular actress carrying the entire movie, supported by a cast of relatively unknown but competent actors.

As I am writing this review, James Taylor is coming on "live" at the Oscar presentation (this is Oscar night, 7th March in the USA) with Brittany Murphy being remembered on screeen, and her image reprised at the end of Taylor's solo "In My Life". We will never know if she would earn an Oscar one day, but from her performance in this movie, it is not possible to rule out her future potential. I have watched "Ramen Girl", "Uptown Girls" and the Futurama with Brittany's voice, and I went on a binge of Brittany Murphy's movies like "Little Black Book" after I got the news that no more movies would be made by this great actress. This movie was among the prominent ones recommended by Amazon when keying in the actress' name. The movie surprises at many levels.

From earlier reviews I gathered that the plot was going to less straightforward than "Ramen Girl" or "Uptown Girls". Without going into the story line, I like this movie because:

1. The acting was serious, focused and well directed. I cannot think of another actress who could have been better cast in the main role. The British accents all round were from good character thespians.

2. The cinematography was good. There were refreshing camera angles of contemporary London. The Houses of Parliament framed by the London Eye (across the river) was one such unexpected view.

3. The colours were bright. Like on picture post-cards. The indoor shots were unusually bright and colourful. No dim "Memoirs of a Geisha" artwork requiring Night Vision Goggles here. Brittany Murphy's fully nude body in a kitchen scene(strategically covered by a copy of "The Naked Chef") was boldly illuminated. Refreshing to see the details of English interior furnishing instead of the usual American home interiors.

4. For an adult movie, there was relatively little swearing. Then there is a sensible plot. It is fun, but does not sit well as a chick-flick. Nobody picks up a movie like this to feel depressed at the end. Best watched together with close friend(s): beer/alcohol optional, not a necessity. For morbid, pick up "Deadline" or "Dead Girl".

Brittany Murphy does a good "damsel in distress" with pleading doe-like eyes, as in "Ramen Girl". This appears be a recurring pattern in her movies. Well, if you are good at something, keep doing it Denzel Washington does a good "Don't lie to me", Tom Hanks replayed "stupid" in "You've Got Mail" and Julia Roberts does a good petulant temper tantrum in "Pretty Woman", "Pelican Brief", "Erin Brockovich" and so on. I thought that Brittany's waif-like begging was similarly getting to be one of her acting trade-marks.

I am glad to have experienced this movie.

Read Best Reviews of Love and Other Disasters (2006) Here

An offbeat comedy treat that will entertain some viewers and annoy others. There are some enjoyable humorous scenes and some touching romantic moments but this movie is not for everyone.

Brittany Murphy's performance is pretty good, but Matthew Rhys seems to shine more brightly in this talented but quirky ensemble cast. The chemistry between Brittany and Santiago Cabrera, while leading to a predictable outcome, is endearing and at times downright funny.

Give this one a chance and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Want Love and Other Disasters (2006) Discount?

Love and Other Disasters is bursting with eye-candy, ear-candy, and heart-candy. The cinematography is gorgeous, the music is wonderfully charming and the story is cute. Fans of well-written/acted/produced films take note: this is one such gem.

The comedy works as well as the romance, and the characters poke fun at movie stereotypes as well as at themselves (the wacky smoker gal is hilarious) and the relationships are brightly played out in the 90 minute run-time. From start to finish I couldn't find anything wrong with this one!

There are 3 central characters, each trying to find love, each with lessons to learn. The gay roomate's story is especially touching.

In the film the characters watch "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and one states its her favorite film. That older film may be a classic, but I enjoyed this one much more.

5/5 stars! Funny, romantic film.

Blu-ray: 1080p video is great, colorful. DTS HD sound is fantastic. No special features, no subtitles.

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