Customer Reviews

Two Weeks Notice (Spanish Subtitles) [VHS]

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(68)
3 star:		(41)
2 star:		(28)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

Good, Light Romantic Comedies are few and far between as are actors capable of pulling them off. The days of Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe, Katherine Hepburn, Carole Lombard, etc are long gone. Once in a while though, moviemakers come up with a good one and "Two Weeks Notice" is one of them: substantially helped along with the Charisma, Charm and talent of Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant.
Even though I was a fan of Bullock's "Murder One," most want to see her only in these light comedies as in her hit last year with "Miss Congeniality." And Bullock has the business-savvy and intelligence to hire the best writers and directors as in Marc Lawrence here.
The story of "Two Weeks Notice" is a trifle: filled with witty repartee between Grant and Bullock and involving a love/hate relationship standard in this type of genre film. With so many of last year's films turning out so deadly serious, this is a relief and a palliative to all that earnestness. Ditto with J-Lo's "Maid in Manhattan."

"Two Weeks Notice will provide you with an hour-and-a-half of smart, funny dialogue performed by two of the best practitioners of this difficult art. And whereas many current comedies require that you leave your brain parked outside at the curb, this one requires that you bring it in the theater with you.

This is a throughly enjoyable, light as air movie that you should go to see when you just want to relax, smile a lot and spend some time watching Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock have fun. No serious message, no real surprise twists and turns; but despite being totally formulaic it was a traet and we and the rest of the audience were often laughing out loud.

Sandra Bullock is Lucy, a dedicated environmental lawyer following in the "do good save the world" footsteps of her parents. Hugh Grant is the rich shallow playboy developer whose project she wants to halt. He shocks her by offering to hire her; they strike a deal to save her beloved Coney Island neighborhood center from the wrecker's ball in return for her becoming his counsel. Of course, she soon becomes his indispensable aide, eventually becomes disillusioned, and gives her TWO WEEKS NOTICE. Her relacement invokes jealousy in Lucy, the community center is about to be demolished due to George's brother's (and partner) efforts to make their project profitable after cost overruns, and Lucy heads back to her former life in her parent's cramped apartment.

Of course, what the moviegoers have always known is by now dawning on George and Lucy. Namely, they may be as different as day and night but will be miserable without each other. And, so, in the tradition of such feel good films, George overwhelms Lucy with the grand romantic gesture and after some initial confusion and ambilavence she eventually overcomes her doubts and recognizes her true feelings for him.

The pace is right, the jokes mostly work, and the supporting cast is more than adequate. So, go see this when you are in the mood for fun rather than adventure, drama, tension, action or deep meaning. It is about on par from the usual work of Bullock and Grant, but if you are a dedicated fan of either don't expect it to measure up to their best work; the material just isn't stong enough.

I will begin by issuing a disclaimer. Like probably a million other heterosexual American men below the age of 65, I have a bit of a crush on Sandra Bullock. To paraphrase the line from "Jerry Maguire," she had me from hello, or at least when I first saw her in "While You Were Sleeping."

So, I eagerly went to see "Two Weeks Notice." I had fairly high expectations given the charisma of Bullock and Hugh Grant. By and large, I wasn't disappointed. It was not side-splittingly funny, but there were a number of moments where I chuckled or laughed out loud. The other people in the audience seemed to enjoy it too. I thought that Sandra Bullock did her trademark performance very well, that of the lonely girl next door that steals our hearts. Hugh Grant came across as a sympathetic and charming rogue. As a couple, I thought they looked good together.

Where I felt the movie was weak was a little on plot. I'm not picky, like movie critics who seem to spend their careers sneering at airy little pieces of fluff like "Two Weeks Notice." If you go to see a romantic comedy, you shouldn't go expecting brilliant plot twists. No, instead you go to watch a "feel good" story that's very predictable: Boy and girl meet cute. Boy and girl fall in love. Obstacles arise, but movie ends with boy and girl together.

This being said, there were a couple plot elements that didn't work. I for one did not buy Sandra Bullock as a compulsive over-eater. If she ate the volume of Chinese food we see her ordering several times in the movie she'd be a whale or bulimic, and her character was neither. I also thought that the scene where she got in a cat fight with her romantic rival was a wee bit implausible even for this kind of a film.

I think my favorite part was fairly early in the movie when we saw how dependent Grant's character had become on Bullock's. They really seemed cute and plausible together.

I'll close this by saying that I hope, as it is rumored, that this is not Sandra's last outing as a heroine of a romantic comedy. She does it so well, and even though she's no longer a kid, she still looks as lovely as ever. But perhaps I shouldn't worry. From what I understand, her next project is "Exactly 3:30," a movie about a woman who is chronically late who seeks therapy from a psychiatrist so she will be on time for her wedding. Naturally, she falls in love with the good shrink. That sure sounds like a romantic comedy to me. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

This movie is hilarious and Sandra Bullock takes it a cut above the usual romantic comedy. Handsome Hugh Grant and quirky Sandra Bullock make up this thoroughly enjoyable movie, from Lucy (Bullock) ordering huge portions of Chinese and laying under wrecking balls in protest, to George (Grant) and his little boy attitude. A delightful watch. Enjoyed this movie as much or more than "While You Were Sleeping" also starring Bullock. A must see for a Sandra Bullock fan (me)!!!

Favorite Quotes:

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Lucy Kelson: You are the most selfish human being on the planet!
George Wade: Well that's just silly. Have you met everyone on the planet?
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George Wade: Well, we obviously can't leave you alone with that stapler.
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Helen Wade: Would you like anything?
George Wade: I could really go for some Milk Duds.
Helen Wade: We don't have any, I could send out for one.
George Wade: Oh no, don't be ridiculous. If you're going to send out, get a whole box.
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Lucy Kelson: Please don't tell me you called me out of a wedding to pick out a suit!
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Enjoy the movie! You'll love it, promise!

~ProvGirl~

In the new romantic comedy "Two Weeks Notice," Sandra Bullock plays Lucy, a very busy attorney with no free time whatsoever. After getting tired of her self-centered boss George (Hugh Grant), she decides to call it quits. As she searches for her own replacement, George thinks he may have feelings for Lucy. The movie is very funny with witty dialogue and slapstick humor. Sandra Bullock is funny, charming, and very fun to watch. She and Hugh have great chemistry. It's kind of romance-flick, but the frequent humor makes it smooth and successful, and definitely noticeable.

Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock are two of the most charming and amusing actors working today. These same characteristics resonate through their movie, Two Weeks Notice. A throw back to the screwball comedies of the 1930's and 1940's, Two Weeks Notice is so much better than most of the movies being passed off today as romantic comedies. There is some very witty and intelligent banter between the characters. Effort is made by the writer/director Marc Lawrence to make the viewer understand why George (Grant) has never lived up to his potential and why Lucy (Bullock) the overachiever, still falls short in the eyes of her mother. As with any opposites attracts movie, the two are destined to collide and bring out the best in each other. This is not a groundbreaking movie, but in this day and age when movies seem to be increasingly reliant on special effects, it is a pleasure to be entertained by a movie that is instead carried by the chemistry between its two leads.

The DVD version of Two Weeks Notice gives the viewer the opportunity to get a glimpse of the affection shared by Bullock, Grant, and Lawrence for each other and the fun they had making the movie. Much like the commentary Bullock and Lawrence did for Miss Congeniality, the Two Weeks Notice commentary, although not particularily insightful about the making of the movie, does offer a peek at how funny and engaging these individuals are in real life. The Two Bleeps Notice feature that can be enabled while watching the movie is wonderful as it allows the viewer to see some hilarious outtakes in the context of their placement in the movie. The DVD also contains a HBO Making Of promotional piece, the theatrical trailer, and two deleted scenes, one of which is the alternate ending (wedding). This may not be a movie and DVD for everyone. But, if you like romantic comedies or are a fan of either actor, you will find yourself enjoying the pleasure of their delightful company.

TWO WEEKS NOTICE is one of my favorite movies. There. I said it. Read on to see why I love this movie.

TWO WEEKS NOTICE is the story of Lucy (Sandra Bullock), a very. . . It's hard to describe her. She aspires to be a great lawyer - and in truth is - but she settles to work at Legal Aide and do pro-bono work instead of going and making money. Until she meets George Wade (Hugh Grant!).

George Wade is a multi-millionaire businessman, the face of Wade Corporations. He hires Lucy while he is in need of an assistant. They make a bargain - she'll work for him and help him get his building built, but he must keep the Coney Island Community Center. This works - for a while.

Lucy finally gets fed up with George's late night calls and strange demands and his lack of R-E-S-P-E-C-T (see movie for joke). So she gives him her two weeks' notice. But the thing is, Lucy is in love with George, but is too prideful to admit it.

This movie is so well written and well done overall. Hugh Grant does a wonderful job as George, whether you want to admit or not. He and Sandy Bullock may not have perfect chemistry, but they are so funny together. There are moments in the movie that make me laugh out loud. And I rarely laugh out loud.

LUCY: I think you are the most selfish person on the planet, George.
GEORGE: That's just silly. Have you met everyone on the planet?

See this movie. It's genuinely funny.

Sandra Bullock's still got a cute and winning screen personality, and Hugh Grant plays a charming-enough scoundrel. You know going in to the movie what to expect, for the two of them will battle yet fall in love. But I liked this movie a lot more than I thought I was going to, for the screenplay is given moments of true inspiration.

Bullock plays Lucy, a liberal-minded activist lawyer, educated at Harvard, who gets tricked into believing that she'll help her humanitarian causes by becoming assistant to Grant's George, a self-centered mogul with money but no ethics. He mainly hires her so that he can, at first, compromise all of her beliefs while, at the same time, annoying his family, who don't like women lawyers for some unexplained reason.

But, as they interact, George finds that all Lucy's quirks, difficulties and opinionated stances make her sorta charming and invaluable to him. He finds over time that he cannot make a decision without her, which leads her to give her resignation.

So George has two weeks to make Lucy stay, and she has two weeks to determine whether she really wants to go ... or if she kind of likes being under someone's confidante.

And that's when the actors' chemistry starts to work for them. The plot, though obviously formulaic, does manage SOME rare moments of ingenuity, particularly in the characterization of Lucy's brilliant, activist mother, played very well by veteran character actress Dana Ivey.

It's not a gem of a movie, but it's not a complete dud. Still, after Grant's great work in "About a Boy," it's a shame he had to do something so trite.

I went and saw 'Maid in Manhattan' last week and couldn't believe how unreal the story line was. I decided to give '2 Weeks Notice' a shot because I love Hugh Grant. It was the only movie (besides Die Another Day) that I've seen in the past month that actually deserved my $6, and I wasn't disappointed.

It was a great story line, and Sandra Bullock played a great characted. Ms. Congeniality is one of my top 5 movies, and I was happy to see her playing her usualy weird/humorous self and i was also happy to see sheryl from rhode island (lol) in the movie as Lucy's best friend.

Hugh Grant played an amazing character who had me laughing throughout the whole movie. Who couldn't help but fall in love with those dreamy eyes?

The movie went step by step, unlike maid in manhattan which saw the rich famous guy fall in love for the poor maid in less than a week. If you're going to go see 'Maid in Manhattan', reconsider, trust me, you'll be much more satisfide with '2 weeks'.

Starring Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant you know this one will be good...
Another romantic comedy set once again in New York (apparently the town where all the action is), Bullock and Grant take their stab at the ever-so-popular romantic comedy to good results.

THE STORY:

Lucy Kelson (Bullock) is an activist/environmentalist/all-around defender of the little guy lawyer who takes a job as the corporate attorney for billionaire playboy/nice-guy-but unintentional capitalist pig George Wade as an attempt to save the community center that is condemned in favor of a development project by Wade's huge conglomerate. Naturally on opposite sides of the fence at first, as the year goes by both Lucy and George slowly find themselves becoming interdependent on one another for everything as the sparks slowly but surely start to fly between them.

THE ANALYSIS:

This is NOT your connect-the-dots type of love story which really appeals to me (being a connoisseur of the genre). Yes of course you know how the movie ends and yes some of the inevitable plot twists occur but it's the little things that set it apart that make this movie stand out from others in the genre. Bullock's rival for George is actually a pretty decent gal and not the stereotypical you-know-what. Plus, the "little things" that occur during George and Lucy's relationship as it develops are actually well played out. One scene that stands out in my mind is the little "lunch business meeting" the two had which was strictly business and professional but well played out as to give that "they're gonna hook up" vibe. Overall you should come out of this movie pleased.

BEST SCENES:

1. Stuck in the bathroom

2. "Gotta go and it's rush hour"/trailor home

3. The aforementioned lunch business meeting

4. Extreme Tennis

5. Chinese take out

VERDICT:

Overall, you'll get a nice kick out of Grant and Bullock's take on the romantic comedy. This movie of course works best for couples on a date or the younger crowds looking for a flick to spend the night or weekend away on. You should come out of this saying, "that was cute" or "that was a good one." Besides, it's Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant so you know it's good.

Highly Recommended