Review of Spread (2009) by Kevin C — 05 Jun 2010

The Guardian loved this, but I would be less appreciative. â??Spreadâ?? is shallow, melodramatic, pretentious and wildly misguided, but is also ambitious, entertaining and rather funny.

This film is desperate to be a 21st century 'Alfie', 'American Gigolo' or â??Shampooâ??: a searing indictment of Hollywood superficiality and avarice. The opening is promising â?? sharply written and sexual. Kutcher plays a memorably voracious vulture, the perfect fit for his brash public persona? That is, until the script suddenly demands that we empathise with him: our heroâ??s fall from grace provokes scorn rather than sympathy, though thereâ??s still some vindictive enjoyment to be had on the way down.