At the time this movie came out (2000), I was obsessed with romantic comedies. This is one of the few I didn’t see, mainly because I’d heard so many bad things by the time it came out on DVD. More recently, it was covered on a movie podcast I follow, both of the hosts concluding that a.) it doesn’t hold up, and b.) it’s genuinely awful.
To be fair, there’s a lot to dislike about it. Some of the female stereotypes are obnoxious, and Mel Gibson’s character is intolerable for at least half of the movie. It’s also way too long, and the music/score is horrible. Seriously, I hate that frenetic, jazzy New York shit, and I can’t stand Frank Sinatra.
Other than that? The movie wasn’t that bad. The characters/relationships are more endearing toward the end, and there were moments that were legitimately funny. Granted, I don’t think I’ll ever watch it again, but as far as mediocre late 90s/early 2000s romantic comedies go? I can think of worse ones.
