A movie review of 'Someone Like You' (2001)

This article is a movie review of 'Someone Like You' (2001). It is a romantic comedy released by 20th Century Fox. Based on the novel 'Animal Husbandry' by Laura Zigman, it tells the story of a woman searching for the reasons why she was dumped by her boyfriend. Starring Ashley Judd in the lead role and supported by Greg Kinnear, Hugh Jackman and Marisa Tomei, the film was directed by Tony Goldwyn.

Plot

Introduction A clear indication to the content of the movie is signalled at the start the movie with a voiceover from Ashley Judd, playing Jane Goodale. As she talks, the audience is shown a bull with a herd of cows. It is explained that the bull never copulates with the same cow twice. Jane says that until recently, men were exactly the same. Flashback The movie moves backwards into time and the audience is shown what led Jane to this conclusion. Jane is a production assistant with a talk show that has Eddie Alden (Hugh Jackman) as the producer. He is a womaniser and Jane is not slow to criticise his actions or to rebuff his advances. When a new producer arrives on the scene, Ray Brown (Greg Kinnear), Jane is immediately interested. Love Love seems to blossom, but Ray decides that he is through with the relationship. Distraught, jobless and homeless, Jane moves in as a flatmate with Eddie. She learns to live with his constant stream of girlfriends and a mutual friendship eventually grows. Dr. Marie Charles Needing work, she accepts the offer to write a column at a men's magazine under the pseudonym of Dr. Marie Charles. Here, she exposes her views on men and her opinions on how to get someone to like you. It becomes a must-read and a big hit. Unaware of her true identity, Dr. Marie Charles is invited onto the same talk show that she left earlier as a guest. It is here that she is forced to face her own failings and misguided beliefs as much as the men she has vilified. At the climax of the show, Jane discovers who she really loves.

Reception

Deemed as a financial success, making a profit of around $10 million dollars, the film received a mixed reaction from film-goers. Despite an opening at number two in the US box office, it was plagued by accusations of being too light and shallow. Bearing in mind the Rom-com genre it is part of, that does seem a little harsh. To summarise, the 'Someone Like You' movie makes for easy watching, is well acted and produced, and should appeal to its intended audience.