Love & Other Drugs

"Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman", now that's an interesting book to base your movie after. But for director Edward Zwick it worked. Remember back in the 80's when pharmaceutical companies were on the rise, well this movie definitely transports you back in time when sales reps were pushing it hard and heavy!!

Maggie (Hathaway) is an alluring free spirit who won't let anyone - or anything - tie her down. But she meets her match in Jamie (Gyllenhaal), whose relentless and nearly infallible charm serve him well with the ladies and in the cutthroat world of pharmaceutical sales. Maggie and Jamie's evolving relationship takes them both by surprise, as they find themselves under the influence of the ultimate drug: love.

After watching this film you will sit back and say wow, who would have thought. With this movie we get the package deal, surprising and great acting, believable storyline, and moments of saddness along with some comic relief. It's your typical romantic-comedy, that even a secure man can watch and not feel all gushy inside. Now what I really like what Zwick did with this film is that you inadvertently ask several question that society needs to confront: the role of the pharmaceutical industry in the medical-industrial complex, how we treat people with incurable diseases, and how people with incurable diseases search for cures.

Love & Other Drugs is the typical movie that will definitely be a film to get your critical juices flowing as well as a big commercial hit. Finally we get another movie that gives us a realistic storyline that we can honestly believe. In particualr Anne Hathaway who plays a very convincing woman who suffers from stage 1 of Parkinson's. As an audience member we got the opportunity to be enlightened about the pitfalls of Parkinson and the job of 'legitimate' Pharmaceutical sales. Anne showcases a rebel trying to find her way. And with some help from Jake Gyllenhal's character, who to me really takes a journey of self-development and renewal. (This role puts him back on my good list and you will see why if you have seen Prince of Persia.) Both characters have this chemistry that works, and truly shines on the screen.

This is a movie that honestly speaks the truth. It may not necessarily be an "Oscar-caliber" film but not every movie is meant to be. In many cases smart entertainment is the better route, that's where the true reward come into play. Sometimes you have to give up that old self so that you can make room for the new one. Love is a funny thing in that you will do either something crazy, something amazing, or a combination of both.


Stars: 3 out of 4 stars