Overnight Delivery (1998)

Overnight Delivery (1998) ** (out of 4) Wyatt Tripps (Paul Rudd) isn't your typical college student. Instead of drinking beer, getting high and on the prowl for women, Wyatt is a gentleman who's madly in love with his girlfriend (Christine Taylor) who he's known since high school. The two made a commitment to hold off on sex until marriage but after a dreadful phone call Wyatt begins to think that she's cheating on him. Entering the picture is Ivy Miller (Reese Witherspoon), a former stripper with the heart of gold.Wyatt pours his soul out to Ivy but she isn't the type of girl who believes in love. She tells Wyatt that the only way for him to get back on his feet is to regain his ego. She suggests that he sends his girlfriend an overnight letter telling her that's he's the one cheating on her and wants to break up. Wyatt does this but the next morning he learns that the girlfriend really isn't cheating so he and Ivy hit the road trying to intercept the letter before the love of his life gets it. Along the way Wyatt and Ivy learn more about one another and I'll let you guess what happens.Overnight Delivery is just one of many romantic comedies where the first eight-minutes we have the main characters fighting, screaming, fighting and doing more screaming yet in the final five minutes we get the typical ending, which we've come to expect from this type of film. A movie like this depends on liking the main characters, which is half the problem with the film. The other problem is that we've seen this way too many times so there's so surprises along the way and in the end we're left with an unoriginal film that doesn't have much of anything going for it.Paul Rudd is best known for his role in Clueless but I've never really cared for him in anything. I'm not sure how much direction he was actually getting but the performance is very weak because this guy has no identity. One minute he's acting like a mature gentlemen yet the next minute he's acting like a buffoon. Rudd fails on both levels because he's good guy act comes off as hokey and all his jokes come off without any laughs. Reese Witherspoon is the best young actress working today and she does the most with what the screenplay offers. She's pretty much just along for the ride but she's at least easy on the eyes and brings that certain charm of hers to the film.Although Witherspoon is very good in the film she has no chemistry whatsoever with Rudd, which just makes the film even harder to get through. The so called best of these types of films usually at least have charming leads but that's no the case here and I'm going to guess that's why this film got a limited theatrical run before hitting video. The screenplay isn't fresh, isn't sharp and it really doesn't contain anything we haven't seen before. There are a few dirty sexual jokes but these come off very badly and you'll just be sitting there rolling your eyes. Overnight Delivery isn't the worst of its kind but outside of Reese there's really nothing to watch.

I had to say something, since there are so many positive reviews by users. I'm watching it now on Comedy Central at 2 in the morning, and it's obvious why its here. I don't have many positive things to say about this movie. Paul Rudd, an actor I usually like, was terrible in this movie; he overacted everything, which may be caused by the poor direction. Reese Witherspoon was just bad casting; her cutesy good-girl persona was too much for the wise-talking rebel thing going' on in this flick. The soundtrack was nothing special, smaller parts were dull and forgettable, and the plot was predictable. All in all, the movie is boring as sin. If you're looking for a cute romantic comedy, keep looking. There are WAY better ones than this. Let this one just rot in the dollar section.

How do you mess up a sure fire romantic comedy formula acted out by talented young actors? By making the characters completely idiotic and more importantly unlikable. Only thing that kept me from giving it a one was Reese Witherspoon. She's got charisma. Paul Rudd has it too, but the script wouldn't allow it to shine through. Don't bother with this one unless you're into mind numbing crap and wasting an hour and a half of your time thinking about how much better this movie could've been. You're better off checking out 40-year Old Virgin where Rudd plays a similar whining character but comes off as much more sincere, tongue in cheek, and actually funny. The physical comedy was a nice idea but seems a little misplaced and does nothing to distract from the incredibly crappy overly obvious dialogue. In fact, I recommend watching this movie with the sound off. The setups are completely obvious so you won't have any trouble following it and you'll get more laughs from Rudd's spastic facial expressions. If you want a good romantic road comedy with some smart, funny dialogue and God forbid, likable characters, try The Sure Thing.

I was bored. I was hungry. It was a Sunday. While I was cooking something to ease the painful growling in my stomach, I happened upon "Overnight Delivery". Although this movie didn't make my meal more enjoyable, I didn't feel like I was watching paint dry.It's pretty much the typical banal storyline: Guy has Girl. Other Girl has eye on Guy. Guy screws up and has to go his Girl. Other Girl tags along. Other Girl and Guy have some silly adventure/end up sleeping together/share a kiss. Guy finally goes to Girl, leaving Other Girl alone to fume. Guy realizes, usually by a kiss/some flirting/heavy petting, he's in love with Other Girl. Guy leaves now his Ex-Girl to find Other Girl. Other Girl meets up with Guy, both express their love, and they walk hand and hand for a new adventure/away from wherever they are/to have sex/enter your own scenario here. The End. Don't step on that huge wad of Now and Later's on your way out of the Theatre--oh wait, this was a "direct-to-video" movie. Ooops, nevermind!I giving this movie a "5". As far as the too cute, too quirky, sometimes-trying-too-hard script (and even some of the acting) is concerned, I have to give it a "1". Come ON. Anyone that has seen this movie (and the thousands like it) know why I'm giving it a "1". NOTE: I adore Kevin Smith, and I know he dipped his pen into the script, but . . . something wasn't right about it. I can't put my finger (or my big toe) on what that "something" was, but it was something.Yet, the actors/actresses REALLY want you to enjoy this movie. They WANT to entertain you. Nowadays, some actors just read the script, report to work, get the check, and go home to live their over-paid lives. While there are NO Oscar winning performances (although if there was a category for "Most Unexpected Scene In a Movie Involving Guns", this flick may have had a shot, although I doubt it because it went straight to video), I have to give the performances (especially from Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon) a "10". I know what you're thinking, and I quote, "How can she give the script a '1', but give the performances a '10'?". It's quite simple: That's how the movie is set up. It's bipolar. Entertaining and utterly awful at the same time.I wanted to shut off the TV, but I couldn't. I had to see how the movie ended, although in the back of my mind, I already knew. Damn mind games.God help us all if they decide to make "Overnight Delivery 2" (Don't get any ideas all you budding screenwriters, I see your brains working!), but it wouldn't hurt to rent it one NIGHT, invite some friends OVER, and get some Pizza--DELIVERY. Ok, I was trying to be cute and quirky like the script, but, as per usual, it seems like I was trying too hard. Where's Kevin Smith when you need him? :)