 |
Two Weeks Notice
2002 - PG-13 - 101 Mins.
|
| Director: Marc Lawrence | | Producer: Sandra Bullock, Marc Lawrence, Mary McLaglen | | Written By: Marc Lawrence | | Starring: Sandra Bullock, Hugh Grant, Alicia Witt, Dana Ivey, Robert Klein |
| Review by: John Ulmer |
| |
|
"Two Weeks Notice" is about a smart, educated woman (Sandra Bullock) who falls for a billionaire idiot (Hugh Grant). The movie is as predictable as yesterday's dinner, but it's fun to watch and humorous. The film's two main stars light up the screen and make the film appear more than it is; they make such a simple and predictable film seem more complex than it is.
Lucy (Bullock) is an aspiring lawyer who firmly believes in what she believes in. She fights for what she wants, she usually doesn't get what she wants. In the beginning of the film, she tries to stop a landmark construction in New York City from being demolished by a wrecking ball; it doesn't go as planned.
George Wade (Hugh Grant) is the billionaire, not as snobby and ignorant as he is sloppy and arrogant. He comes across smart and trustworthy in the media, but he really is not.
Lucy meets with George to go over his plans for tearing down another building, but she ends up becoming his personal assistant. Flash-forward a few years later, and George is dependant on Lucy, calling her at 2:30 a.m. to ask her stupid questions. He even calls her away from the middle of a wedding because he can't figure out what pants to wear.
But the film's two stars are enjoyable in their roles. I don't really care for Hugh Grant much, but I think he was pretty good here. His characters are usually exactly the same; this one is different. Lucy is typical Sandra Bullock.
The script actually has a clever basis; unfortunately the plot itself starts to lose...well...itself half way through. It skips ahead a year, where we are supposed to imagine Lucy being bossed around, but I think the idea of showing them every two weeks in two-minute segments would have been hilarous. It would have allowed for many more gags, not to mention that we could identify with Lucy a bit more after that. The film just skips around a bit too much.
Many people upon the film's release complained of predictability. But honestly, if I told you there was a new movie with Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant, would you ever believe for a second that they don't first hate each other, then start to like each other, catch each other cheating with another employee (when the cheater was really kissed by the employee real quick and it appeared to the one who stumbled upon them as if they were making out, like what happens to Jim Carrey in "Bruce Almighty), and then kiss as the credits role? I didn't think so.
Aside from the negative matters, however, the film is quite enjoyable. If you liked "While You Were Sleeping" (where Sandra Bullock's character was also named Lucy), you should have a fun time watching this movie.
|
|
|
