Review of Down with Love (2003) by Thomas B — 09 Nov 2007

I'm a huge fan of the '50s and '60s sex comedies because they were cheesy, but that made them funny and enjoyable. It also took clever writing to suggest certain sexual aspects that perhaps more conservative audiences, during that era, wouldn't stomach.

(Or moreover, perhaps, the studios.) "Down with Love" has brilliant casting (anyone familiar with Tony Randall's recurring role as the 'other one' in "Pillow Talk" or how his career was heavily composed of goofy sex comedies should appreciate David Hyde Pierce as that character in this film.

) Zellweger works well in the Doris Day position. Now, McGregor, as Rock? Or other leading men of the day? I couldn't grasp that as much. But he pulled it off. I give the film five stars but still have one major critcism: this film went TOO far.

While it maintained the innocence yet suggestiveness of the old sex comedies, the oral sex sight gag, for instance, would never have been seen in the old comedies. It was too forward, not clever enough.

The movie relied on overt sexuality a bit too much, which hindered it a bit. But the artificial exterior backgrounds, the cinematography, the film's true-to-form look and the amazing twist toward the end (not to mention that LONG monologue Zellweger delivers) and those zany tongue-twisters, make this one a gem.

I have it on my wishlist.