Love and Other Drugs

Late last night with the house full of our children and each of their overnight guests ( it is clearly summer ) my wife and I realizing that the house would be busy and hectic into the wee hours retired to our room to watch this movie she had got from Netflix.

Having heard of the movie when it was out mostly for its nudity I was concerned but we pulled the door to and with the boys all playing Xbox in one room and the girls playing Wii in the garage and the oldest son upstairs sleeping we felt were ok.

The movie features Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhall. Hathaway plays Maggie Murdoch as 26 year old early onset Parkinson's patient and Gyllenhall a pharmacuetical salesman named Jamie Randall who is pushing Zoloft and Zithromax. Early in the movie we see him earlier losing his job as a stereo salesman, in fact his best talent appears to be seducing women. He meets Maggie in the Doctor's office and eventually she agrees to have coffee.

This quickly becomes sex as she desires no relationship. The first half of the movie features much sex; booty calls, get togethers and the like. Eventually realizing he is falling for her our hero freaks her out with his admission of love.

The characters then tussle over their relationship leading to the inevitable heartfelt moments. Along the way Jamie finds success as a sales rep leading to his gain of the Viagra drug when it appears. A special comic relief is offered by Josh Gad who plays Josh Randall brother of Jamie. Josh is the younger brother but has made millions on a software program he developed. Of course he is lazy, slovenly, and overweight and eventually moves in with Jamie who in a telling moment looks at him sleeping on his couch and says " Why are you here, aren't you a millionare?" to which Josh replies " Your my big brother."

He is for all his faults perhaps the most likable character in the movie. Anne Hathaway is bueatiful and no one ever would turn down a chance to see her naked but it is her face that captivates. The wide smile and the eyes make her attactive in any setting and she at times appears especially vulnerable in this role. Gyllenhaal is non descript. He is handsome but I do not think he did anything in this movie that many other of the young actors could not have done.

Overall a good movie, not a great one, not one you would remember but if the kids are taking over all the rooms of the house one you will not mind watching.

A comic relief is the