Film Review: America's Sweethearts (2001)

Hollywood comedies that take Hollywood itself for its subject are supposed to be intriguing. However, for every such comedy done right like Altman’s The Player, there are so many those that are done very wrong, like America’s Sweethearts, 2001 film directed by Joe Roth.

“Sweethearts” in the title refer to Gwen Harrison (played by Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Eddie Thomas (played by John Cusack), two big Hollywood stars who are couple on the screen while being married in real life. Their marriage begins to fall apart just as their last and immensely expensive film is about arrive into theatres. Studio executive Dave Kingman (played by Stanley Tucci) is concerned about box office prospects so he hires publicist Lee Phillips (played by Billy Crystal) to try talking the two stars into pretending that they are still together while promoting the film. This proves to be very difficult because Gwen is currently having affair with Spanish actor Hector Gorgonzolas (played by Hank Azaria), while Eddie, who suffered mental breakdown after learning about Gwen’s infidelity, is currently in New Age wellness retreat. Lee finds help in Gwen’s younger sister Kiki (played by Julia Roberts) who works as Gwen’s personal assistant, but things get complicated when she falls in love with Eddie.

Billy Crystal, who is one of the film’s co-writers and co-producers, enjoys reputation as one of Hollywood’s most successful and most respected comedians. His talent, as well as the talents of many other great names involved in America’s Sweethearts, seems to be wasted in this film. What began as potentially intriguing satire on Hollywood’s disconnect with real world and the way it creates public picture of itself through PR machine soon turns into completely predictable and bland romantic comedy with all the worst cliches. Even those viewers who don’t get spoilers from trailer are going to easily guess the plot and how it is going to be resolved, especially with name of Julia Roberts more prominent than any other at the poster and other promotional materials, thus easily suggesting who is the real protagonist. Joe Roth, producer and one of the more successful Hollywood studio executives, shows that directing isn’t exactly his forte and America’s Sweethearts is for the most part utterly boring and not very funny and the lack of truly likeable characters doesn’t help either. The only bright moment happens near the end with Christopher Walken who plays eccentric director, but it is simply too little to late to rescue this film from sinking into oblivion.

RATING: 2/10 (-)

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