Experiment based on the differences of men and women.
Herbert H. Nowell | College Station, CT | 07/11/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The title of this movie is literally what it is: he said, she said. If you look closely at the credits the movie has two directors and two writers as well as two leads for a reason.Basically the movie is two mini-films telling the same story of a couple meeting, competing, coupling, and spliting twice. The first half centering on Kevin Bacon was written and directed by men and the second half, centering on Elizabeth Perkins was written and directed by women. Not only do they use the same basic plot, but they use the same scenes, each shown not only from the POV of a different character, but a different gender.Each mini-film alone would be a passible romantic comedy, but what makes the movie really work is the contrast. After seeing his side: what was important, what was stupid, what was good, what was bad we see hers and realize how something that is absolutely nothing to one is the most important thing in the world to the other. Most importantly the differences reflect generally common wisdom on the topic. Once has to ask if this is intentional or the natural byproduct of the differences between men and women.Bacon is, as usual, himself (Kevin Bacon, much like John Wayne, plays himself in most movies and certainly the ones where he is at his best). However, the everyman Bacon is the perfect choice for this role. Perkins is very good as the self-assured but still vulnerable woman from the first generation of post-feminist revolution career women who has feet in both the feminist (career) and pre-feminist (marriage and family) world. She is as fully realized as her later sisters such as Ally McBeal and Bridget Jones. Add in Sharon Stone as the tramp (and a more interesting one than Basic Instinct for my money) who realized she was in love but too late, Nathan Lane as the perfect mix of caring boss, and stir in good writing in pacing and the result is a funny and insightful romantic comedy and an above average movie."
50's Romantic Comedy
John A Lee III | 02/06/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Very cute movie ...Doris Day, Rock Hudson type romantic comedy. I loved it ..Elizabeth Perkins is very sexy ...."
The Truth Hurts...But Its Good for Laughs
John A Lee III | San Antonio, TX | 04/02/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Men and women look at things differently. These differences are significant enough that the world is thereby gifted with multitudinous opportunities for comedy. This movie takes advantage of many of those opportunities. It is a riot.
The story centers around a pair of young journalists. They are competing with each other for a newspaper column. In an act of spineless cravenness, the editors decide to run both columns and treat the pair as rivals. The formula works well for the newspaper and for the young writers. It also brings them closer together.
To begin with, they did not much like each other. As they spend time together, however, they fall in love. This is a big step for both of them. For his part, he willingly gives up having sex with every hottie in town. For her part, she needs to trust him and not push him too hard. Each tires very hard and but each has a talent for pushing the other's buttons and hacking the other off.
The film opens at the point where the newspaper has metamorphed into a TV spot. Right after he gives his opinion, she beans him with her coffer cup. The rest of the movie is a series of flashbacks as they each relieve their memories. Being a man and woman, they have very different memories of the same events. It is absolutely hilarious.
Check it out. Better yet, buy it.
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