Review of All About Steve (2009) by Emily H — 14 Aug 2010

It's unfortunate that this didactic flick had to create a sitcom-esque, preposterous plot and characters to make it's point. But maybe worse yet is that such ridiculousness is necessary to reach us Americans who "buy what we can't afford to impress people who don't care"--that it would probably take a journey like Mary's for most of us to realize who we are and why.

I didn't expect this movie to make me think--much less mull introspective. It surprised me in its subdued and well-choreographed slap stick and it's unconventional ending.

Bullock regularly plays the quirky person, but her most recent films seem to bring her ability to portray such to career-zenith levels. And her kind of beauty fits her better now than her Miss Congeniality days. The writers gave her spectacular lines of Captain Random knowledge and the perfect reason to know them.

Bradley Cooper plays his typical persona so well that he needs to be careful not to sink himself into a character acting. DJ Qualls, it's too late for you; but it's a job that'll pay you to work with attractive women.

Watch this romantic comedy for its humor, but take the simple truth home with you.