Love and Other Disasters (2006) Poster

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7/10
Fast-paced, lighthearted comedy ...
Vic_max5 May 2009
If you're looking for a pleasant, upbeat innocent romantic comedy - this will fit the bill. The tone, dialog, goof-ball misinterpretations and even rich colors are reminiscent of the 1950s. But - it's made for a modern audience too. For instance, we see Brittany Murphy rolling around multiple times virtually nude (won't have seen that 50 years ago!), we also have her surrounding herself with gay men (who are also looking for love) - and to boot, she shares a room with a gay man.

This is a fun movie and something is always happening. Murphy plays an "assistant" at a fashion magazine and tries to play matchmaker for her gay roommate. What she doesn't know is that one of the potential beaus is actually straight and really interested in her ... and the story progresses from there.

Brittany Murphy is at the center of the story. She's got her hair dyed black and has a distinctive, glamorous Spanish image. She puts in a strong performance as a kind-hearted but romantically averse do-gooder. There are more than a few laugh-out loud moments here, which makes it a wonderfully watchable movie.
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7/10
A feel good movie with a good laugh
deniz-desiree16 March 2008
For people who find romantic movies boring and inedible, here comes a movie you might be able to enjoy with someone who strives to watch a romantic comedy. Not only is the movie funny, but all in it's place: It dose not overly exaggerate, it includes the audience in the spectacle, keeps them in action and not to forget makes them end up with a smile on their face. Brittany Murphy played her part adorably well and catches the heart of the viewer, not to mention us wanting her to be happy and find the one "true love". I can only speak for myself when I say I dislike tacky romantic comedies, as mentioned before this was very much kept in limit. I will certainly watch it again and will further recommend it.
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7/10
Loved it!
phoenixfyrs1 March 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Yes, Brittany Murphy has a horrible accent in this movie. That however is explained half way into the movie when she reveals she was born in England, her parents died, she was shipped off to family that lived in the US, then returned to England. So she really doesn't have an English accent more of just a formal way of speaking. Yes the accents were horrible, but I love this movie though. Funny though that Matthew Rhys who was born in Wales and spoke Welsh for a good part of his life, does an American accent better than a London accent but just saying London accent is like saying an apple. If you've met 2 people from London you know none of them talk exactly alike.

Poking fun at the romantic comedy genre, every character in this movie is an emotional mess. Brittany's character breaks up with her boyfriend, only to continue dating him and having sex with him, but insisting they've broken up. The one guy she has a true emotional connection with in the movie besides Matthew Rhys' character, Paulo is because she thinks he's gay and she doesn't stand a chance. Matthew Rhys character is gay and falls in love with men until he actually gets to know them, then finds some flaw in them and sneaks out the back door. He spends most of the movie, trying not to be set up with the man of his dreams, only to find out he got the guys name wrong, actually goes out with the man of his dreams only to find himself bored to tears. Catherine Tate's character is an emotional train wreck with Sybil at the switch, and I absolutely love Stephanie Beacham as her mother.

This movie might not win any awards but it got some good laughs from me, kept my interest, and I wasn't bored.
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7/10
...makes you miss her that much more.
bjarias12 May 2015
Hers' was a very strange death.. and then her boyfriend goes and dies of almost the exact same causes a year later in the same house.. seriously very strange. Anyway, this film makes her loss that much more poignant, for this production is pure Brittany Murphy at her charming best, and it could very well be the best movie she's made. And Matthew Rhys matches her stride for stride... the two of them making this one of the most enjoyable rom-com's of the year. Sure it's the totally predictable formula, but it's fairly well written, and the overall cast is solid. You can watch a good number more films of any genre, and this will most likely be among the top for ease of enjoyment.
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7/10
Not that funny, but charming
wdllofzepia8 August 2015
I didn't laugh at all till at least half an hour in. I was expecting a full blown comedy. This is not it. At least not in the sense of a comedy which make you laugh and laugh and laugh. In total I laughed perhaps about 6-7 times. Not talking about full blown laughter either. So, if you want to laugh a lot, I wouldn't recommend this.

Having said that, this is a good movie. It is well produced, acted etc. The characters are like able and even the "villain" of the movie isn't a bad guy after all. It's a charming movie which just makes you want to keep watching. At least that's what happened with me. I wasn't laughing but I couldn't stop watching.

Mind you, it is a clever film. There is some very clever writing in there.

Do I recommend this movie? Absolutely. The main reason is what I mentioned earlier, this is so charming you just can't stop but liking it.
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7/10
Don't be a square
kosmasp25 July 2021
I totally get if someone thinks this is the best romantic comedy ever .. but also if someone does not like this at all. It is making fun of itself and the cliches it uses ... the way it is cut (with characters commenting on Notting Hill ... but also on what is happening in the movie they are in ...as a byproduct).

That is either clever (overall that is what I'd call it) or can feel obnoxious and/or annoying. Totally up to you. But what you can't deny, is how well the actors in this take care of even little bumps along the road. Brittany Murphy was taken away way too early from us ... but at least she left us with many movies to love her in, like this one.

And she is needed considering the amount of disbelief you have to have ... so many moments that could have gone entirely wrong ... and still may feel that way to some. But she and her costars make them work ... how can you hate them, when they are so lovely, while entirely clueless? Just sit back, relax and enjoy.
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1/10
No "Love" here... just "DISASTER!"
domenicarose27 July 2008
Ugh. I had the misfortune of renting this DVD and couldn't even get through more than the first 20 minutes of it before deciding it was an utter piece of crap, turning it off, and immediately ejecting it from my player. And I am usually the type of person who always finishes watching a movie. But with this one, I just couldn't bear to give it one more second of my time. I first became suspect that this film was going to be tedious when these words that described the main character--Emily Jackson, portrayed by Brittany Murphy (preciously nicknamed "Jacks")--came on the screen in the very beginning: "Jacks works at U.K. Vogue, and though technically British, speaks in a cross between an English and American accent that suggests a childhood spent in America." What was this, I wondered--some sort of disclaimer?!?!? I bet Keanu Reeves wished he'd had this sort of statement to excuse his awful performance as an Englishman in 1992's 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' or better yet... when Kevin Costner sadly attempted his infamous now-you-hear-it-now-you-don't British accent in 1991's 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.' I couldn't help but be wary and with good reason: her hybrid accent sucked anyway. Anyway, like I said--I couldn't even get through the first 20 minutes. It was absolutely excruciating to watch Ms. Murphy's blatant ripoff of Audrey Hepburn-as-Holly Golightly in the modern world. It's been sooooo DONE before, Sweetie. And done way better, for that matter (see Parker Posey in 1995's 'Party Girl' for a way superior and much more likable performance). And the plot? Merely seeming like just another version of Jane Austen's 'Emma.' Done, done, done. Tired, tired, tired. Plus, she is just trying waaaaaay too hard. Already, the dialogue lacked any true wit or originality and I didn't care one bit about the one-dimensional and dull characters. Plus, if I had to watch Brittany screw up her dumb-looking face into one more unattractive facial expression in her pathetic attempt to adorably(?!?!) EMOTE, I was going to roll my eyes up into the back of my head so far that I was afraid they wouldn't come back down to their normal position. Please do yourself a huge favor: avoid this waste of time at all costs. No "Love" here, folks... merely one big "DISASTER."
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9/10
Loved it!
jlv690718 September 2006
I saw this film at the Toronto International Film Festival over the weekend. I picked the movie and my fiancé gave me some grief over it while we waited to go in, but he ended up loving it!! Brittany Murphy is very entertaining, and the entire cast is enthralling. This is a very cute and funny movie. It pokes fun at itself and the one-liners just keep coming. The cameo appearances by Orlando Bloom and Gwyneth Paltro are brief, so don't go just for the glimpse of a favorite actor/actress, but they do add the the appeal of the film. The entire theater was laughing throughout the movie. I rank this movie up with Love, Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral.
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Offbeat rom-com that my wife and I enjoyed.
TxMike18 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This one is a real mixed bag, mostly quirky characters in a quirky movie. But it works. There is a little bit of "10" in it, where Dudley Moore chases Bo Derek and when he finally catches her he finds out she is not that desirable after all. It makes fun of all the stories where someone sees a cute person and decides that is the person they are meant to be with.

The movie starts with words being typed, as if a script were being written, then the scene is what was written. Brittany Murphy is Emily 'Jacks' Jackson, living and working in London. Her roommate and best friend is Matthew Rhys as the gay Peter Simon. Jacks keeps up a relationship with her recent former boyfriend because it is convenient, but mostly it is safe, to be with someone you KNOW will never be your long term partner.

Much of the movie involves Peter trying to find a person, a guy, who he accidentally ran into, literally, in a hotel entrance, assuming the other guy was gay and perfectly suited for him. When he finally catches him, much like Dudley Moore found out, you can't judge a book by its cover.

Santiago Cabrera is Paolo Sarmiento, assistant to a famous gay photographer, and Jacks assumes the young Paolo is a boyfriend, and treats him like all the other gay guys she knows, running around in her underwear or inviting him into the bathroom to talk as she is taking a bath. But we know right away that Paolo is not gay, and in fact is really interested in Jacks. There is much humor as that confusion plays out.

But in the end what the story comes down to is a very good one, and a very important one. Do we look for love in the wrong way? Do we keep waiting for that special person to sweep us up? Or, does true love begin right inside us? Is it a decision that we make, and that the other person makes, to really get to know each other and commit to a relationship? Jacks has to make that decision with Paolo and we think we know where it is headed.
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7/10
Easily a favorite.
eek50673 March 2010
I have seen many films in my short life of 19 years, and Love and Other Disasters proves to be a memorable one.

This movie has so much spunk and fresh ideas about love, it's infectious. Following Jacks and her friends on their search for love is a truly fun experience. My friends and I can't get enough of this movie! It combines romance with the most unique ideas of cross-cultural comedy. Not focusing solely on British or American comedy, it has something for both cultures. There are very few romantic comedies set in a foreign country that I consider a great movie. Most have overdone physical comedy and familiar story lines, but not this one.

I suggest this film to anyone to enjoys a romantic comedy that is different, new faces, and a fresh outlook on life and love.
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2/10
Not worth the time
oracle04-121 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I just saw it and regretted every minute of it.

Part of the opening titles is "Jacks is English but spent a big portion of her life in the U.S.A., which explains her accent" which means "we had to make up some sort of excuse for miss Murphy's God-awful English accent.".

I've never been her fan but I decided to give her a chance. That girl can't act and she proved it once again. I guess this explains the need for all the almost nude scenes. The rest of the cast were not that bad but they were not that special, either.

This is not a funny movie, nor is it an original one. Talula's poem was far from funny, so were the slaughtered pigs that were just hanging there to rot. (!?) And the "I'm in love with you and I'm not gay" idea has been done too many times in the past.

All in all, I'm glad I saw it when I had nothing better to do. I would have been even more glad if somebody had warned me about it but you can't have it all, can you?
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9/10
Metatheatric humor
veiled_stars30 June 2008
Love (and Other Disasters) is not a typical romantic comedy, primarily as it pokes fun at the various aspects of the genre - predictable plot, grand romantic finale, happy coincidences etc. It is a light-hearted tongue in cheek movie that has all the spunk of a good romantic comedy with enough self-effacing genre-specific humor to keep it fresh and non-cloyingly sweet.

Other viewers have noted that Brittany Murphy is stiff and unbelievable, and that other characters are overly dramatic. But as the film draws attention to its very fictitious, theatrical nature, the characters fall into place as humorous fabricated, sensationalized versions of human nature in this light satire.

Also worth noting is the film's lovely approach towards homosexuality. Admittedly Peter's love life is a side-line plot, but what is shown has a ring of sincerity to it and avoids sensationalizing or stereotyping homosexual characters. While this movie is unlikely to win any Oscars, it is definitely one of the best romantic comedies I've seen.
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6/10
A bit dated, but cute
HotToastyRag4 October 2020
Anyone want to see Brittany Murphy with an English accent? I always think of her as Tai in Clueless, so I was very tickled to see her in such a different setting. In Love and Other Disasters, she's a fun, flighty girl working at British Vogue and juggling all sorts of "disasters" in her personal life. But. . . no English accent. She's an American working in London. She looks absolutely adorable, though!

Her best friend and roommate is Matthew Rhys, and he's also afraid to enter into a relationship. They both try to have as much fun as they can without getting hurt - isn't that the human condition? If you think it is, you'll like this quirky comedy. Matthew's character is gay, and while there are quite a bit of gay jokes, (including a misunderstanding that's a huge part of the plot), there's enough humor to put you back in the 2006 mindset when everything was fair game.

If you don't usually like such fluffy movies, this one doesn't stand out so much in the genre to make you change your mind. It's pretty predictable, but it won't hurt you if you want to give it a shot. It's very girly, though, so either rent it for girls' night or only force your boyfriend to watch it when he really owes you one. Keep your eyes open for cameos by Gwyneth Paltrow and Orlando Bloom.
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1/10
Awful
HrutkaPal12 January 2008
This is one of those movies, what the world doesn't need to have. This movie is built up on a stupid misunderstanding, that in real life would've been cleared in 4 seconds. And all that "woopsie.I thought you are gay! Hahahaha" monologues were just horrible. Can't believe I hate Brittany Murphy now, even though she was in bras all the time, but this movie just ruined it. The ending was kinda nice with the cameo, but that didn't really help anything, except for a quick laugh.

Call me old fashioned, this "new-trendy-single-generation-gay" combo called movie was REALLY bad. Didn't enjoy this at all, as a matter of fact, I was very close of leaving the cinema
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2/10
Snorrrrr....
imspartacus119 January 2009
What a complete bore this film was. One dimensional characters with a bland script. I fell asleep half way. I sometimes wonder if anyone watches these films before they are released. This movie tries to be hip and youthful, funny and clever, and warm and heartfelt and fails dramatically at all of them. I reckon that all the cast went around telling everyone that they were in a film with Paltrow and Bloom except of course Paltrow and Bloom who must of stumbled across the set whilst looking for the toilet. They found it. The main character "jacks" was so annoying I found myself hoping that she would be hit by a London bus. Oh yeah, and where the hell do they think you can find an straight Argentinian who lets you think he's gay for more than 10 seconds...jeez. Dawn French, you really don't have to do this. Angus deaton, you do.
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8/10
A romantic comedy screen writing gem
napierslogs27 June 2010
"Love and Other Disasters" is just as the title says. It's about love and love-like disasters mistaken as love. It's not your typical romantic comedy because it's better than that. There's quite a few lines that are making fun of the genre but paying a sort of homage to it as well.

The late Brittany Murphy stars as Emily Jackson, 'Jacks', who takes her cues in life and style from Holly Golightly. The filmmakers as well have taken their inspiration for the look, feel and tone from "Breakfast at Tiffany's".

The best character in the film is Peter played by Matthew Rhys. In romantic-comedy-speak, he's the gay best friend, but again, he's better than that. He's very funny and in a much more realistic way than the other characters are, and his musings on love probably mirror those of the audience more than the other characters.

The film is very fast-paced, with witty dialogue, and a light-hearted manner. I recommend "Love and Other Disasters" for: fans of "Breakfast at Tiffany's"; fans of the dialogue of "Gilmore Girls"; fans of Matthew Rhys; and definitely aspiring-screenwriters - the filmmakers have made a number of inferences to the craft of screen writing that I think it becomes a must see.
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1/10
Value your life time. Do not waste for with this movie.
Borszczuk1 January 2008
I am probably not a best person to judge this movie, but "Love and Other Disasters" is one of these titles I felt pity about since it started rolling. After 20 minutes or nonsense scenes, idiotic situation and in general wooden dialogs and acting, I said "enough is enough". I'd probably do this sooner, but I was attempting to watch it with others, so first simply I just thought it's just me and the others may enjoy it that way or another or I may simply need more alcohol to for my brain to start tolerate this 'romantic comedy'. But no. Once I asked nobody was willing to continue the screening. Not even the ladies. No one. They just, as I did, thought that other may like it so they stayed quiet. So we wasted the whole 20 minutes of our lives just to find that out. Anyway I am glad we discovered that earlier than after the movie ended.
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10/10
A great romantic comedy
barrygoold20 July 2007
This movie had its US premiere last night at Outfest. I was at the screening and was enchanted with everything about this movie. It's an homage to romantic comedies that knows that a romantic comedy isn't anything like real life. The performances, including actors from TV's Heroes and Brothers & Sisters, are great. The script, by the director best known for "Truth or Dare", is funny and charming. This is definitely the best movie I've seen so far at Outfest this year. It may even be the best movie I've ever seen at Outfest, ever!

If you like Notting Hill, Four Weddings & A Funeral or any other romantic comedy of that style, you'll definitely enjoy this little gem as well.
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1/10
Excruciatingly Dreadful!!!
thejulies15 January 2010
Simply put, this is one of the WORST MOVIES I've ever seen. I am a big movie lover & I especially enjoy romantic comedies. In fact I love romantic comedies so much that I cut them a huge amount of slack. I also usually like Brittany Murphy. But this excruciating piece of garbage is so bad I'm hard pressed to think of a worse movie. I don't believe for a minute that all the positive reviews posted here by supposed viewers are all real. There's just no way this dreadful, tedious, completely unfunny film entertained more than a handful of strange people. (And I can't imagine who those people would be.) Just take a look at the professional film reviews for this filmed disaster & you'll see only bad reviews. I wouldn't even recommend this ghastly thing to people who enjoy watching & making fun of really bad movies. "Love and Other Disasters" has absolutely no redeeming value whatsoever! Avoid it like the plague!
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1/10
It's hard to believe kitsch like this is even a commodity, but I guess it is.
cheryllayne6 April 2010
This movie is completely trite and unoriginal. I should say "trite and hackneyed," because really it deserves only clichés for descriptors. Its feeble efforts at self-reflexivity fail every time. In the conversation discussing whether true love is a process or a lightning bolt, the screenwriter has the audacity to claim (through the mouth of a character) that this story tells us which it is. But it doesn't! At all! And no on-screen disclaimers are capable of explaining away Brittany Murphy's EMBARRASSING accent, nor can empty pseudo-self-referentiality redeem the film (in truth, the movie doesn't reference itself, it just mindlessly, impotently appropriates the concept of self-reference from movies past). Watching this movie is like spending an hour and a half staring at the tackiest lawn in town while filling your stomach with cheap greasy fast food and ignoring profiteers bulldozing civilization's entire cultural and artistic heritage in your peripheral vision. It's a cheapened reproduction of a reproduction of a reproduction. A simulacrum. A gaudy hunk of cubic zirconium that you can't wait to forget. The only penance this movie offers for the crime of its existence is this: it ends.
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8/10
funny, with brilliant dialogues
Precambrian_Rabbit26 August 2010
I hate romantic comedies so I didn't see this movie until very recently. I watched it on the advice of a friend and it was a good choice: the movie is smart and really funny and I could not stop laughing through the whole movie (especially i liked Tallulah character and her hash brownies).

Can't call this movie outstanding but it's definitely worth watching for the brilliant dialogues, non-vulgar British humor and self-irony. And for the hot Brittany Murphy, of course. I'm surprised to see it's only rated 6.2 here.. Guess those who prefer "unsexy" American comedies like The Proposal (Sandra Bullock), The Ugly Truth, etc won't enjoy this movie.
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romance in search
Vincentiu22 January 2014
not good, not bad. only nice. like many films of genre. without great ambitions, fresh and naive, complicated for a better entertainment, few characters in classic positions, not surprise - the recipes is same and it is not easy to give new pieces. but, it is not really a common film. Brittany Murphy does an adorable role and Santiago Cabrera is in perfect character skin. the dialog are not bad, the humor saves many scenes, the plot is so thin than seems be a shadow. short, inspired option for the romantic movies fan as reasonable portion of chocolate for soul. adorable or almost boring, it is difficult to define it more than part of a long commercial product series who must present the life in watercolors .
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5/10
Poorly done
kim_smoak22 December 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Poorly acted…very poorly acted. That is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of this movie. I usually like Brittany Murphy's movies…but this one…not so good. She tried to put on this obviously fake British accent…and it fails. I feel so bad for saying some of this, because I know that this was one of her last movies she made before she died. She didn't really go out with a bang like Heath Ledger did with Batman. I just wished there was more of a love story and a romance...maybe a spark...but there was nothing! Oh well, it's not a terrible movie...definitely worth watching once...but maybe just once.

For daily movie reviews visit: kimsmoak.com now!
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10/10
You need to see this movie
cbrandonj23 July 2016
Because

1. It stars the very pretty Santiago Cabrera (who looks just wrong without a beard and moustache) and the gorgeous and lost-too-soon Brittany Murphy

2. It's a story about a gay best friend which won't make you cringe, and actually puts him and his needs and his romance ahead of the female lead's

3. Tango!

4. Catherine Tate is hilarious, and her double act with Stephanie Beacham is a scream

5. It uses modern London as a backdrop very nicely (please to be excusing the blatant b*llsh*t about how Heathrow and registry office marriages work)

6. It includes the most accurate description of the stages of a relationship I've ever heard

7. It's funny enough to make you pee

8. It's just lovely
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4/10
Too bad - too sad
cekadah1 November 2013
This movie is charming, witty, and fun, all the way to the tango scene! That's where everything entertaining stops and it's a down hill slide all the way to the end! Truly you can see a complete change in the movie, character dialog, and the characters themselves. Everyone seem stalled into doing the same thing over and over.

After the Tango scene everything becomes repetitive, predicable, and linear. It's truly sad for the story because the viewer can see every stumble and bump before it happens. Emily constantly talks too much, and Peter has the same jeans on throughout the entire story. You know Emily will get 'her man' at the end, and the only light that keep me watching this mush of a flick was Dawn French and Catherine Tate.

What starts as a sweet story with engaging characters quickly becomes a run around of stereotyped people and situations! Too bad - too sad
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