America's Sweethearts (2001)

America's Sweethearts is just the kind of romantic froth that makes for pleasant viewing on a lazy, rainy day. While Julia Roberts, John Cusack, and Catherine Zeta-Jones offer high-wattage marquee value, costar and cowriter Billy Crystal reworks Singin' in the Rain for latter-day Hollywood, where estranged superstars Gwen (Zeta-Jones) and Eddie (Cusack) reluctantly promote their latest movie by pretending their messily disputed relationship is still going strong. The studio chief (Stanley Tucci) is desperate for a hit, so he hires a seasoned publicist (Crystal) to orchestrate a press junket that will cast everyone in a profitable light. The catch: The director (Christopher Walken) has abducted his own film in an act of artistic extortion, and Gwen's sister and longtime assistant Kiki (Roberts) is the true object of Eddie's desire.

Chaos ensues at the luxury hotel where the junket is scheduled, and America's Sweethearts pokes easy fun at the cynical machinery that keeps Hollywood running. Quotable quips are delivered in abundance, and while Zeta-Jones is readily convincing as a bitchy narcissist, Roberts effortlessly steals the show with her trademark charms. All of which makes America's Sweethearts lightly entertaining, even though it never rises (like Roberts's earlier Notting Hill) to the level of classic romantic comedy, hampered by a script that too often substitutes easy laughs for ripe satirical invention, flashing a phony grin when it should be baring its fangs. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

Colossal Waste of Time

Don't get me wrong....Zeta-Jones, Cusack, Roberts, Crystal....I love them all and all of them can do comedy quite well but after viewing this film all I can say is, "What was the point? Why bother making it?" Another pointless, predictable, un-funny film is not what the entertainment world needs. Save yourself two hours and go watch No Reservations (Zeta-Jones), Mona Lisa Smile (Roberts--not a true comedy but some funny moments) Grosse Pointe Blank (dark but still a funny Cusack flick) or nearly any Billy Crystal film. May 19, 2008

America's Sweethearts

Many people have given this movie horrible reviews, but I really enjoyed it. The cast is what made this movie wonderful. Catherine Zeta-Jones played the prima dona over the top, and it really worked. Billy Crystal is as always delightful. Christopher Walken always seems to play some kind of dark character, but maybe that is because he is so good at it. I was surprised how much I liked Julia Roberts and John Cusack together. They had great chemistry, and were just so natural together.
April 5, 2008

Excellent script, good acting

I remind anyone reading my reviews that I rate movies according to their genre, so a movie that might not deserve any awards might still get five stars from me. That said, this is a romantic comedy, a genre I don't care too much about. But this movie appeals to me. Everyone is on game. Julia Roberts plays a sly role a little off her normal beat that I enjoyed very much--I don't automatically like Julia Roberts characters. Billy Crystal plays, well, a pretty good Billy Crystal and no surprizes from Catherine Zeta-Jones or John Cusack who turn in excellent performances. Frank Azaria, that woefully underrated talent, does a humorously over-the-top version of a Latin lover. Christopher Walken plays against type as an artsy Hollywood director and brings additional comedy to already humorous movie.

A good evenings entertainment--what more can you expect from a Romantic Comedy anyway?? (OK ladies, shoot me.) January 2, 2008

Yes, it's possible for John Cusack to make a bad movie

I was flipping through the channels some time ago and came across this movie, which I had misfortune of paying for when it was in theaters. To say it was a waste of fine acting talent is certainly true, but doesn't capture awfulness and pointlessness of the film.

The film was awful because the writing was awful, and great actors (although slightly miscast) and good directing could not make up for something that just wasn't there.

Console yourself in watching classics for the actors in these movies instead: for Cusack, watch "The Sure Thing"; for Roberts, "Notting Hill"; for Walken, "The King of New York"; for Zeta-Jones, "Traffic" and for Crystal, "When Harry Met Sally." Now *those* are some movies worth watching. December 13, 2007

A Witty, Fun Movie

This movie has it all.....It's witty, funny, charming and for the most part has an all star cast. I'm sorry fans, but I do not like Billy Crystal at all and feel like it was a waste having him in the movie. However, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Cusack, and Hank Azaria have such a wonderful on screen chemistry together, making this movie a must see and a great purchase. May 26, 2007

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