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Alex and Emma | Year: 2003 Classification: Romance/Comedy Directed: - Rob Reiner Actors/Actresses: - Luke Wilson as Alex - Kate Hudson as Emma - David Paymer - Sophie Marceau No 'When Harry Met Sally' ALEX AND EMMA makes a critical misstep in the early moments of the film. Emma (Kate Hudson) takes Alex's (Luke Wilson) last novel and reads the ending first. Why? Because she has to know how it ends to see if it's worth reading. They might as well have had her say, "because if I die before I finish, I know how it ends." Such a blantant steal from Rob Reiner's far superior and classic romantic comedy, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY. After that, all I did while watching the movie was make endless comparisons. It was unfortunate, because while ALEX AND EMMA is no great cinematic feat, it's leads and the story are cute enough to make it a worthwhile romantic comedy. Luke Wilson is Alex, a bestselling writer of romantic comedy novels, who finds himself in a pickle when two large Cuban men threaten his life because he can't pay back the money he borrowed due to a gambling addiction. He offers them double their money to let him live, and they accept, knowing he will get at least that once he turns in his manuscript for his next book. The problem is, he has writer's block, which the men seek to unblock by giving him a 30 day limit on the payment. Knowing he doesn't have enough time to write it all down, he hires Emma, a stenographer (Hudson) to transcribe the book as he thinks it aloud. However, Emma doesn't always like the way the story goes, and she isn't afraid to speak her mind. It's easy to watch and the leads have enough chemistry to get by. There are few laughs, even when there are meant to be more. A lot of the humor is forced, and it shows. What also shows is the cheap production value. What special effects there are are downright cheap looking. A cute movie, with cute actors, who all deserve better. Defnitely no WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, but a cute diversion for a Saturday afternoon. (4+) Cute and Clever - Two Romances In One Movie After reading the mixed reviews, we were very pleasantly surprised by this movie. Luke Wilson is cast as Alex, a novelist who is unable to fulfill his contract with his publisher (Rob Reiner) due to writer's block. His task suddenly assumes a great deal of urgency when two enforcers pay him a visit and give him a deadline of thirty days to pay off a gambling debt of $100,000 or be killed. Since they torched his computer during their appearance, he decides to dictate the story to Emma, a stenographer played by Kate Hudson. This also allows him to concentrate on the creative task confronting him, although a fair amount of the comedy involves her commentary on his efforts. The novel is a 1924 tale involving Adam Shipley (also played by Luke Wilson), an Andover student who takes a summer job tutoring the children of Polina Delacroix (Sophie Marceau). The situation quickly becomes the classic story of a love triangle , with Polina faced with the dilemma of having chosen to marry for money but meanwhile increasing attracted to Adam. As Adam schemes how to become wealthy, his infatuation for Polina keeps him from recognizing his attraction for the various incarnations of her servant (the character keeps morphing as the story is rewritten), so Kate Hudson becomes the Swede Ylva, then the German Elsa, followed by the Spaniard Eldora before ending up as the American Anna. This is all done in a very clever and lighthearted manner. Meanwhile, the novel's scenes are interspersed with the development of the relationship betwen Alex and Emma during their increasing frantic attempt to meet the Alex's deadline. And not at all surprisingly, their real lives intersect with the plotline of the novel. Emma increasingly wonders if there is a real life Polina? Why is Alex as afraid of commitment as his characters? The cast gives the movie just the right feel, and Rob Reiner does a great job as both producer and director as well as in his small but crucial supporting role. There is enough time for the story to develop, but the various elements of the story aren't stretched out unnecessarily. This is a very clever, quite funny film. The humor is often low key (as in the instance of the law firm and its partners), rather than the slapstick hilarity that occasions raucous laughter. Thus, when not actually laughing we were almost constantly smiling. The key point is that the story and the techniques that are used to tell it work well in my estimation, rather than seeming to be forced into service to tell the story. I truly enjoyed the multiple roles played by Luke Wilson and Kate Hudson and their various romantic entanglements. It was especially fun to see Ms. Hudson alternate between Emma and her serial incarnations as Ylva, Elsa, Eldora, and Anna. And much to my surprise, the ending was a perfect conclusion to both the novel and the film. HUDSON and WILSON MAKE "ALEX & EMMA" A MODERN CLASSIC TRUE LOVE ISN'T ALWAYS BASED ON FICTION. Author Alex (Luke Wilson) has writer's block and is completely broke. On top of that, he owes loan sharks some money, a lot of money. To turn his life around, he has to finish a novel in 30 days (or else...), so he hires a stenographer named Emma (Kate Hudson). Alex has a fine storyline, but this doesn't stop opinionated Emma from challenging his ideas. His fictional story of love seems to mirror things from reality. While the story tries to work itself out, Alex and Emma spend days (and nights) working to finish the book. Soon, we find that the characters in his novel aren't the only ones falling in love...Kate Hudson is fantastic in the film. She gracefully takes on five separate roles throughout the film (Ylva, Elsa, Eldora, Anna, and Emma), which really impressive. Luke Wilson is also likeable and amusing. The creative script continues to grasp while Rob Reiner's direction makes this film a "When Harry Met Sally..." for the 21st century. "Alex & Emma" has romance and comedy, making it enjoyable with its fun comparisons and interesting artistic views. Reiner brings us a great romantic comedy that holds the audience and proves to be not only likeable, but also respectable. Kate Hudson's portrayal of numerous characters proves she is worthy of any film that comes her way. I suggest you see "Alex & Emma." It might surprise you. Buy Alex And Emma at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  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