Alex & Emma (2003)

Alex & Emma is a charming, silly little rom-com. One of its biggest flaws, however, is that it doesn't really rely on the threat as much as it should. Hey, the main character will probably be killed if he doesn't finish the novel and hence get the money, and for some reason they aren't focusing on that at all. Maybe they thought it would be too heavy for a romantic comedy, but I think if they would've leaned on it more, it would've really given the movie that special something. And not necessarily make the movie feel like a thriller, but there is definite pressure in the situation, yet it doesn't seem or feel like that at all. One of the strongest elements in the movie is that there are two stories going at once: the reality with Alex and Emma, and the novel they are writing. It's always interesting to see movies that work out that way, especially when you can see how the two stories intertwine, like in the play in Moulin Rouge! or the screenplay they are writing in Seven Psychopaths - though Alex & Emma artistically is nowhere near those two movies. Also even though there are two stories, the story they are writing wouldn't work on its own. It would be boring without knowing how it's affected by Alex's experiences. Also the other story on its own is no story without the one they are writing.There's something really charming and sweet about this movie, and a lot of its charm comes from the style of the novel they are working on. It takes place in the 20s and it looks and sounds exactly like movies based on that era would, which is noticeably different from the base, which is a typically bland romantic comedy.Alex & Emma is fun and sweet, yet eventually there's not much in it. It's good to watch it once, but I can't imagine seeing it another time. What could it offer me the second time? No idea.

The sweetest couple I've ever seen on screen!! By quite a bit! They're perfect for each other. Alex has this magnetic personality with tons of charm and Emma is this very practical, forthright, honest, lovable, sweet woman seemingly capable of holding worlds together. She's constantly trying to steer Alex down the right path. I could watch her smile 24/7! The best is when she says a silent "bye" when standing outside his door as she is heading home one day, toward the end of the movie. I would pay good money to see Kate Hudson play a role similar to this one more time! Great movie! You've got to be sentimental to really enjoy it.

Off-beat tale fails when a writer and his stenographer live out the characters in his novel that he is desperately trying to write and complete in 30 days-so that mobsters will not kill him for owing money. He is depending on the money from the book to keep him alive.This premise would have made for an ideal comedy. Instead, the picture goes nowhere with the two people living out the book he is writing. Kate Hudson as the stenographer is constantly interjecting. She has the far more difficult part as he is constantly changing the women in the household where he is tutoring in the summer of 1924.The film becomes such a mess that even the mobsters play out in the book. A good novel should have good plot development; however, there is little plot development here as our 2 people find eventual love while literally torturing us with scenes from the book.Sophie Marceau plays the wealthy woman in the book who literally comes back to life as it becomes serious for our writer (Luke Wilson) and Ms. Dinsmore. (Hudson) David Paymer and Cloris Leachman briefly appear. They have very little to do and should be grateful for that.

At the beginning of the film it failed to capture my attention. But as the characters began to develop i was pulled into the story of poor Alex and feisty Emma. I really liked the plot outline with the narrative characters developing alongside Alex and Emma.I actually felt moved in the beginning when Emma lost the stenograph pages which surprised me.One major niggle did occur to me though about the whole '30 days' thing i would have given the film a higher rating if it had focused on wit and humour than macho men/suspense. After a while i also felt that it needed more edge something more than just a battle of the sexes. Anyway it diverted my attention plausibly and i give a rating of: 5/10