Review of Love Happens (2009) by Deb S — 02 Oct 2010

If you thought this was a romantic comedy, then be warned that it's not. The movie is actually about loss, coping with the death of a loved one and moving on with life in the present. The "love story" is less than secondary, and is practically incidental as self-help guru Burke (Aaron Eckhart) and Florist Eloise (Jennifer Aniston) meet while Burke is touring Seattle giving self-help seminars. Burke is struck by her quirkiness and asks her out but is so out of practice in the dating game that he comes across as vulnerable - a trait that makes Eloise wary at first and attracted later. But Burke has a secret. He suffered a tragedy three years ago, and has not quite worked through it. On one hand he's teaching others how to move on from their pain, but in private we see that he still can't quite let go. Will he overcome the tragedy, or will he suffer in loneliness.

A noteworthy performance was that of Walter played perfectly by John Carroll Lynch who is grieving over his dead son and veteran Martin Sheen did well in his few minutes of screen time. Overall, there is nothing groundbreaking here but I liked it.