Jack and Jill vs. The World (2008)

This is a sweet movie, but it is not quite as good as "Kiss the Bride"- Parisse's previous venture. This movie is a more conventional romantic comedy than that. While "Bride" was like an Italian version of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"(though better), this is about a couple just getting to know each other. Evidently, this was one of Freddie Prinze's first adult roles. Maybe he should call himself Fred if he wants to be taken seriously. He certainly had a deeper voice in this movie, but the role really wasn't much different from some of his earlier roles("Down To You", "She's All That", etc.)- a young man unsure of what he wants out of life and love. I thought Taryn Manning gave a better performance. Her character's disease was an interesting(though probably not original) twist on the typical love story. I felt sorry for her and the sick girl. The story is pretty clichéd. A cynical man falls for a his exact opposite-a free-spirited woman. But clichéd stories are usually so because there is a truth in them that is worth repeating. The love between a man and a woman is just such an idea(though some would decry it as being too "heteronormative"). Personally, I was disappointed that such love and the attendant sex was treated in such a morally lax way. I know it may be too "old-fashioned" for most viewers, but I value movies that emphasize the beauty and importance of marriage. Ordinarily, it would be pointless to make light of that with regard to a modern movie. However, Parisse did to a good job of presenting that view of marriage in "Bride". For that and other reasons, I would say that Parisse's earlier movie is better than this one. Of course, the two characters here probably get married at some point in the future. All we can do is infer.

In Manhattan, the successful executive Jack (Freddie Prinze Jr.) is a methodical and controlled man with simple habits that works in an advertisement agency with his coworker George (Peter Stebbings). While smoking a cigarette on the roof of the building of the agency, Jack meets the aspirant actress Jill (Taryn Manning) that has just arrived in New York and is seeking a job. He sympathizes with her situation and gives her name to a Klubendorf commercial in the campaign promoted by his agency. When he takes Jill home, he finds that she lives in a very low-budget hotel and out of the blue, he invites her to stay in the guest room of his fancy apartment for a while. Jill changes the behavior of Jack that becomes happier, and proposes Jack to write together a manifesto where the first rule is "be honest". However, she omits to Jack that she is sick with cystic fibrosis and she would have only a couple of years more. When Jack discovers that Jill is ill, he feels betrayed with her violation of their first rules, and they split. But Jack is changed and sooner he decides to seek out Jill.I was looking forward for the next work of Vanessa Parise since the lovely "Kiss the Bride", where this director and actress develops the themes family, relationship, feelings and love in a nice low-budget movie. "Jack and Jill vs. the World" is a sweet little movie about happiness, sympathy, love, illness and commitment with two lead characters that have opposite behaviors and backgrounds, but feel attracted for each other. The story has potential and seems to be slightly inspired in "Storie di Ordinaria Follia", but is predictable and entertaining. However the screenplay could be improved with a better development of Jack and Jill characters in the very beginning; the health situation of Jill could be deeper and more dramatic; the relationship of Jack and his father Norman could be also better explored since it is one of the best moments of the movie: and last but not the least, the conclusion is not well-resolved and needed some improvements. But in my opinion, there are unfair reviews in IMDb. My vote is six.Title (Brazil): "Regras do Amor" ("Rules of the Love")

This is a film with a message. Unfortunately that message - fair-trade coffee is good, advertising is stupid, having cystic fibrosis sucks - is incredibly trite.Beyond that, the film is desperately uneven. Taryn Manning is partly kooky and charming, partly emotionally stunted. All grown up, Freddy Prinze could pass for a Baldwin brother, and despite his obvious talents, he can only work with the lines he's given... and they aren't great.There's not enough here to make us empathise with these characters. And the film needs you to do that. The tender moments aren't tender enough, the funny ones are barely funny at all. The film has its meagre charms, but the dialogue is stilted in places, unbelievable in others.The end of the movie is so formulaic it would be funny. But it's just not funny. And yet it still fails to convince you that the protagonists have a plan. It's a film with a heart and I so wanted it to fly, but it doesn't have the dialogue or the story to make that heart beat strong.

I had the pleasure of seeing this movie recently and was thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. I am a huge fan of Taryn Manning and she was as expected cute, delightful and slightly troubled, which is a good thing I think. The father left a bit of something to be desired in my opinion because he didn't seem to propel the story forward or add much to the dilemma or resolution of the story. However, that didn't derail my enjoyment of seeing it through to the end. Additionally, the film maker makes a few featured appearances that are hysterical. I expect to see more good things from this cast and crew. Overall this is a good, fun indie film.