Review of Good Luck Chuck (2007) by Storytellershannon M — 16 Jul 2012

This romantic comedy is about a guy named Chuck (played by Dane Cook) who seems to believe he is cursed to never find love. In fact, it's apparently so bad per a backstory hex he received in his childhood years that women who sleep with him end up finding the love of their life shortly thereafter and it's never him. Enter Cam (played by Jessica Alba) who Chuck feels is his dream girl even though she is a total klutz.

They date and it gets so good but when it comes time to have sex he fears losing her and moves away which leads to all types of problems. His doctor friend from childhood, Stu, is there to direct him in all the wrong ways while he thinks of nothing but giving women more implants and looking for the next woman to sex up. Obviously, he's something of a comparison/contrast to Chuck, who really wants to find love and isn't just about the sex and yet the belief in the community eventually makes him decide to have sex with lots of women (this is before he gets serious enough with Cam, who takes him for a player). Some reviewers have said this makes Chuck despicable but I disagree. He's lonely at that point, believes he has no chance for love and his good friend is urging him to get some action. And, most of the women presented are attractive to very attractive. You expect me to believe that most heterosexual men in said position would pass? Riiiiight.

Now compare Cam's brother, Joe, who may be a pothead but he makes insights about love to help guide an insecure and â??pessimistic about love workingâ?? Cam to seeing that Chuck is the man for her even with his flaws. Incidentally, one of Alba's better performances is in this movie but don't go thinking she's going to be nominated for an Oscar.

The comedy and overall lines are better than expected. There's a lot of nudity, too, as well as somewhat graphic sex montages which will offend the prudes. Interestingly enough I held off from seeing this movie because some guy told me the movie was â??so soâ?? but he liked it for all the breast shots. Generally, I don't rush out to see movies like that because I want a good story. And somewhat surprisingly this tale had a good story. Not great but good, mind you. The humor had me laughing early on during the spin the bottle scene.

There's a nice touch at the end which answers was Charlie really hexed or did he just create it in his head. It's open enough where you could pick either way. I vote for the former. Spoilers below.

The budget for this film was $25M and it made a bit over $59M at the Box Office.

STORY/PLOTTING/EDITING: B to B plus; CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B plus; CINEMATOGRAPHY: B; HUMOR: B plus; WHEN WATCHED: early June 2012;.

OVERALL GRADE: B plus.

SPOILERS: Some people think this is a sex film and are offended. I don't see it that way. I see it as a tale of a guy who has sex with lots of good looking women (a popular male fantasy), realizes that is not for him and then goes exclusive. Isn't it interesting that his foul mouthed â??just wants sexâ?? friend, Stu, ends up becoming involved as well at the end of the film? I think the message is pretty clear here.

For those into the nudity (and nothing wrong with that if you're a legal adult) there's some good looking topless women in the picture. Well, for the most part. At one point Stu and Chuck decide to test whether any woman can find love so Chuck has sex with an incredibly undesirable woman and it's funny and makes you sort of want to puke.

The reflection characters of the lovers give advice (sometimes bad, sometimes good) but they usually have good intentions. I found it interesting that Stu gets criticized for pushing Chuck into have sex with all those women yet he also gave good advice to test the theory on whether Chuck was really cursed and was sending all of his lovers off to future husbands. And the blonde in the car pretty much summed up what I think some women would do if there was a tiny chance Chuck was a good luck charm.