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A self-help author (Aaron Eckhart) falls for a florist (Jennifer Aniston) who might help him deal with his own issues in the rom-dram “Love Happens.” |
Despite how commercials and trailers portray it, “Love Happens” is much more of a rom-dram than rom-com.
In fact, Brandon Camp’s unexpectedly mature romance is downright sad, for the “love” subplot gets shoved to the end of the issues line after death, loss, guilt, redemption and forgiveness take the limelight.
This is a strong, sincere, even thoughtful drama executed by two lead actors sparkling with charisma, at least for the first hour. Then things get a little shaky.
The fateful moment occurs near the end when “Love Happens” abruptly becomes “Clichés Happen,” and all the good will and emotions up to that point implode in a forced and fake scene that feels as if it was imported from some other film.
Aaron Eckhart plays Burke Ryan, a self-help guru who has written a best-seller about dealing with the death of a loved one. His wife died in an car accident three years earlier and his book, intended to be a therapeutic account of his loss, rocketed up the charts.
At a Seattle hotel convention for fans of his book, Burke bumps into a modern-day flower girl in the hallway. Eloise Chandler (Jennifer Aniston) thinks he’s moving in on her and dusts him off by pretending to be deaf. (Read more…)