Predictable film both a foolish frivolity and clever diversion

“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” puts a clever spin on
the old romantic comedy formula. Boy meets girl, not knowing that
she, Andie (Kate Hudson) is a journalist doing a story on how to
drive a man away. He, Benjamin (Matthew McConaughey) is a cocky
ad-man who has bet his boss he can make any woman fall in love with
him in 10 days. But Andie subjects Benjamin to all the ways girls
can mess up relationships ““ being clingy, demanding and
commitment-crazed. Even after she divulges she “used
Photoshop to see what (their) kids would look like,” he
can’t dump her because of the bet. The strength of the film
lies in Hudson’s performance. Whether singing along to Carly
Simon’s’ “You’re So Vain” or strutting
around in Marc Jacobs dresses that no real magazine journalist
could afford, she displays comedic timing and a natural radiance
reminiscent of her mother, Goldie Hawn. This film should give her
the stardom that seemed inevitable after “Almost
Famous,” but somehow didn’t appear. McConaughey’s
role isn’t nearly as developed, but it perfectly suits his
good looks and natural charm. The two stars have nice chemistry
together. The script is predictable but clever, especially in
detailing the ways that women sabotage their relationships. What
girl hasn’t called herself fat or called a guy and hung up 17
times? The cinematography is muddy and contains too many close-ups.
These are understandable as the interior scenes were filmed in
Toronto while the exterior scenes were filmed in Manhattan.
However, they give the film a fake feel that carries over into key
scenes. “How to Lose a Guy,” while not ranking with
classic romantic comedies, is an enjoyably fluffy diversion. And
who knows, girls, you might learn something. –Johanna
Davy