Review of Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009) by Mike C — 11 Nov 2014

I can't give this more than an average 6, but let me tell you this: take my love of Taylor Swift and cut it in half and that's roughly how much I love Matt McConaughey, which is roughly double how much I like any other actor. I'm trying to say I can watch this guy in anything.

It's a brilliant and original concept. Original if you're Dickens, but I thought a pretty nifty idea to apply it to a rom-com/chick flick situation. Take out a few of the cliches and goddamn that's one hell of a novel.

I really do like McConaughey. I think How to Lose a Guy is the best chick flick out there, right ahead of Definitely, Maybe. The critics hate this one and How to Lose a Guy, but that's fine. In 10 days, McConaughey's chemistry with Hudson is untoppable. Jen Garner is great in movies like this and evidently quite likable outside of acting so her character is again easy to fall in love with her. Even though we could use a name change.

Two other positives: Emma Stone is awesome in her role as the first lover, stuck in a horribly awkward 16-year-old body. And I'm not a big fan of Michael Douglas, but he was good in this role with his version of class and that awesome voice.

So yeah, it's a cheesy as hell movie, but in terms of story, the ghosts are quite effective. I can respect that and I can respect taking a classic novel and converting into something vastly different by using the same gimmick. On top of that, it's horribly cliche...the rich wedding, the slutty bridesmaids, Douglas' character, the redemption. Blah, blah, blah. So I guess it all comes down to the acting and you had to great leads in McConaughey and Garner, and for that, I felt way more than I should have while watching this very cheesy flick.