Product Details

• Actors: Ewan McGregor, Renée Zellweger, David Hyde Pierce, Sarah Paulson, Rachel Dratch
• Directors: Peyton Reed
• Writers: Dennis Drake, Eve Ahlert
• Producers: Arnon Milchan, Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks, Paddy Cullen
• Format: PAL
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Run Time: 101 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (176 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00008W64G

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The bright, glossy world of Doris Day and Rock Hudson sex comedies gets a self-aware brush-up in Down with Love. Pillow-lipped Renée Zellweger (Chicago) plays Barbara Novak, the author of a bestselling book called Down with Love that advises women to focus on their careers and have sex à la carte--just like a man would. Determined to prove that Novak is just as vulnerable to love as any woman, dashingly chauvinist magazine writer Catcher Block (ever-charming Ewan McGregor, Moulin Rouge) pretends to be a courtly astronaut who wouldn't dream of putting his hand on a woman's knee. This piffle of a story seems like nothing more than an excuse for ironic double-entendres and dazzling production design, until a sneaky plot twist suddenly raises the stakes for the movie's end. As he always does, the brilliant David Hyde Pierce (Frasier) scores the most comic points as Block's fussy editor. --Bret Fetzer

From The New Yorker

A lo-cal attempt at no-sex romantic comedy, a genre that was hardly substantial in the first place. Ewan McGregor plays Catcher Block, a writer for Know magazine in 1962. Renée Zellweger plays Barbara Novak, a mannequin lightly disguised as a best-selling author. The plot stitches them loosely together, as Catcher, the unreconstructed Lothario, tries to force Barbara, the scourge of soft hearts, to fall in love with him. It is hard to divine the purpose behind this pastiche: is the director, Peyton Reed, making sport of the innocent froth that passed for romance in a more innocent era, or is he aiming to revive it as a straight exercise in retro style? Can one simply drop an outdated genre into the laps of modern moviegoers and hope that it still works? The gags wander between the sweet and the unconsciously filthy, and the project's principal appeal will be to devotees of early-sixties hemlines. Indeed, given the blinding array of colors on show, the movie may be viewed most fruitfully under the influence of early-sixties pharmaceuticals. With David Hyde Pierce as Block's editor, who really isn't gay. -Anthony Lane
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Doris and Rock--with a Twist!, November 10, 2003

By 

Wendy Kaplan (Houston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Down with Love (Full Screen Edition) (DVD)

"Down with Love" is a little gem of a movie that pays homage to the vintage 60s Doris Day-Rock Hudson films that were considered so witty in their day.

Although director Peyton Reed explains in his excellent commentary (more about that later) that the film was based on a montage of many of the 60s movies, the plot most resembles "Pillow Talk"--and Renee and Ewan are absolutely perfect.

From the clothes to the sets to the photography to the color to the split-screen "talking on the phone" scenes (much more suggestive than the originals!), this perfectly choreographed, beautifully written romp is just a blast, as we would have said back then. There is just enough of a "wink-wink" to let you know that the actors know that YOU know that it's all tongue in cheek"--but even though the satire is broad, it never spoils the fun.

David Hyde-Pierce is superb as the neurotic friend of Ewan (the old Tony Randall role), and Tony Randall himself makes a cameo appearance that is simply the icing on the cake. The acting is a work of art, just right, making everything seem effortless.

But when one watches the director's commentary, one realizes just how tightly each scene was choreographed to achieve that "effortless" look--unlike most DVDs, I found the director's comments actually added to my enjoyment of the movie, and I watched it again after finishing his explanation of how things were done.

All in all, I recommend this movie highly. I truly hope they are successful enough to parody ALL the Doris-Rock movies. I'll be there to watch them if they do!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure, Unadulterated Fun!, May 6, 2006

By 

Amy Wong - See all my reviews

This review is from: Down with Love (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

This is one of the cutest chick flicks I've ever seen. Romantic comedy? Well, sort of. Our heroine, feminist writer Barbara Novak (Renee Zellweger) is out to change the world. How? By getting women to say "down with love," and adopt a more male life style--complete with sex a la carte!

Novak's plans are jepordized, however, when playboy journalist Catcher Block (Ewan McGreggor) is abadoned by his usual ladies. He is determined to stop Novak once and for all--using some very sneaky methods...

As other reviewers have pointed out, this movie is certainly lacking in substance. But who cares? You wanted a comedy, right? What this movie does have, in delightful abundance, is that old theatre charm. The acting, the comedy, and the special effects are all WAY over the top. But hey, not every movie is meant to be some deep, insightful masterpiece. If you do look beneath the surface, however, you will find one very important lesson: people are not always what they appear to be.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a delight!, May 13, 2006

By 

G. Jennings "G. J." (Outside) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Down with Love (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

Admittedly, I was hesitant to rent this movie, thinking it would be a cheap knock-off of a 60s re-make, but I was completely surprised. I don't see how this movie lacks in substance. It has the same wit and whimsy as the Doris Day/Rock Hudson sex comedies, except with a slightly jazzed up version of the 60s. Nothing ever replaces the classics, but Down With Love certainly holds its own with charm, suggestive humor and a clever script with a slinky little twist.

Costumes are amazing, acting is superb on all accounts (most especially by the sublime David Hyde Pierce). It's made of the stuff that Hollywood used to be about, and sometimes it's nice to have that nostalgic break in the current trend of controversial politico-religious films.

Renee and Ewan's chemistry is so on par that it takes the Hudson/Day connection to another level. This is a must see romantic comedy about the battle of the sexes. Men and women alike will love it.