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Movies / Upcoming / Love Happens
Love Happens

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Love Happens (2009)

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Reviews Counted:94

Fresh:17

Rotten:77

Average Rating:3.8/10

Consensus: Love Happens is a dull, chemistry-free affair that under-utilizes its appealing leads.

Rated: 12A [See Full Rating] for some language including sexual references

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:09-10-2009

Synopsis: Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston star in the romantic drama Love Happens. When a self-help author arrives in Seattle to teach a sold-out seminar, he unexpectedly meets the one person who might... Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston star in the romantic drama Love Happens. When a self-help author arrives in Seattle to teach a sold-out seminar, he unexpectedly meets the one person who might finally be able to help him help himself.

Dr. Burke Ryan (Eckhart) is on the precipice of a major multimedia deal, but the therapist who asks his patients to openly confront their pain is secretly unable to take his own advice.

Eloise Chandler (Aniston) has sworn off men and decided to focus on her floral business. However, when she meets Burke at the hotel where he's speaking, there is an instant attraction. But will two people who have met the right person at exactly the wrong time be able to give love another chance?

As each struggles with the hurt of love and loss, they realize that in order to move forward, they need to let go of the past. And if they can, they'll find that, sometimes, love happens when you least expect it. --© Universal [More]

Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Jennifer Aniston, Dan Fogler, Judy Greer

Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Jennifer Aniston, Dan Fogler, Judy Greer, Joe Anderson, John Carroll Lynch, Martin Sheen

Director: Brandon Camp

Director: Brandon Camp
Screenwriter: Brandon Camp, Mike Thompson
Producer: Scott Stuber, Mike Thompson
Composer: Christopher Young
Studio: Universal Pictures

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Love Happens

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
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Not content with being a romcom that’s trite and shallow about love, it’s gone one step further — it’s trite and shallow about death, too.

Full Review Source: Sunday Times (UK) | comment Comment
10/16/09
Sunday Times (UK)

Both stars seem bemused in their parts and it is left to Martin Sheen and a pet parrot to emote. The parrot, in fact, is the best thing here.

Full Review Source: This is London | comment Comment
10/16/09
Derek Malcolm
Derek Malcolm
This is London

The film is sentimental and deeply embarrassing... There isn't a laugh or an honest emotion in the whole picture.

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
10/15/09
Philip French
Philip French
Observer [UK]

Falls between romance and drama without really satisfying either.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
10/09/09
Anna Smith
Anna Smith
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The sorrowing widower is a great subject for film romance; but the point is to let the girl have a proper crack at cheering him up. And, as always with love, a GSOH would help.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
10/09/09
Nina Caplan
Nina Caplan
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

As a romance story, Love Happens is nothing special, with the spark between Eckhart and Aniston almost non-existent. But as a drama about grief, it's much more interesting, though the blend of both does not always sit easily.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
10/09/09
James Mottram
James Mottram
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Lovers of therapy-speak with its "closures" and "I'm in a good/bad place" will probably warm to this film.

Full Review Source: Teletext | comment Comment
10/09/09
Victor Olliver
Victor Olliver
Teletext

Everyone is trying to re-invent the rom-com at the moment and the makers of Love Happens are no exceptions. The formula they’ve come up with is to remove all the comedy, which is a bold choice.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
10/09/09
Toby Young
Toby Young
Times [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

How can we, as a species, tolerate Jennifer Aniston with her blurry expression of emotional bravery?

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
10/09/09
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It’s not a comedy. It certainly isn’t funny.

Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph | comment Comment
10/09/09
Tim Robey
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A glossy, meandering wallow of a film with personable stars and predictable storylines. Blandly forgettable even with Aniston at her most winsome.

Full Review Source: Daily Express | comment Comment
10/09/09
Allan Hunter
Allan Hunter
Daily Express

It's quickly evident that Love Happens hasn't struck the chord it was hoping for.

Full Review Source: Digital Spy | comment Comment
10/09/09
Simon Reynolds
Simon Reynolds
Digital Spy

It's a movie that suffers because it offers a glimpse at a far more interesting premise, but elects to stick to rom-com tradition. Ultimately, love does happen, and for Aniston fans that'll no doubt suffice.

Full Review Source: Sky Movies | comment Comment
10/09/09
Rich Phippen
Rich Phippen
Sky Movies

In Jennifer Aniston's latest feeble romantic drama, almost nothing happens. Certainly not love or, indeed, much in the way of excitement.

Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
10/09/09
David Edwards
David Edwards
Daily Mirror [UK]

What a title. Not that this crybaby romantic drama deserves much better.

Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
10/09/09
Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Independent

I will hold up my hands and admit I find Jen pleasant enough to watch, even at the worst of times. But this film IS the worst of times. And even diehard romance fans will find their patience challenged by the end credits.

Full Review Source: News of the World | comment Comment
10/09/09
Robbie Collin
Robbie Collin
News of the World

Anyone expecting the Jennifer Aniston romcom that the posters and trailer seem to promise is going to be bitterly disappointed.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
10/08/09
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Attractively shot but dramatically inert, this isn’t persuasive enough to qualify as a tearjerker, and neither does it work as a substantive comedy.

Full Review Source: Screen International | comment Comment
09/17/09
Brent Simon
Brent Simon
Screen International

click for the full review

Full Review Source: Movies for the Masses | comment Comment
10/13/09
Joseph Proimakis
Joseph Proimakis
Movies for the Masses

Love Happens is more about catharsis than chemistry. It's not a terrible film, but like skydiving lessons, you'd better know what you're getting into beforehand.

Full Review Source: Spectrum (St. George, Utah) | comment Comment
10/11/09
Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett
Spectrum (St. George, Utah)
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Love Happens

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This week at the movies, we've got a possessed student body (Jennifer's Body, starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried); an oddball snitch (The Informant!, starring Matt Damon and... More...

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More...

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