Set during the rise of Viagra, "Love and Other Drugs" follows Jamie (Jake Gyllenhaal) trying to sell drugs and trying to bed women. Women are easier.
Gyllenhaal has the finesse to turn a womanizing pharmaceutical sales rep from a cliché character into an astute and caring man with actual depth. Anne Hathaway more just likes to prance around naked. Hathaway's Maggie suffers from early-onset Parkinson's disease, and has closed her heart to love. There's not much more to her character probably just because she has the body to shoot sex scenes.
"Love and Other Drugs" suffers from an inability to turn its dramatic scenes into poignant ones, and the many drug and sex jokes into thoughtful commentary. And most of the minor characters, all played by stellar actors (Hank Azaria, Oliver Platt, etc.), remain in supporting roles without further advancement in who they are. Despite these problems, at its heart it is just a story of boy loves girl and Gyllenhaal and Hathaway portray that beautifully.
Gyllenhaal has the finesse to turn a womanizing pharmaceutical sales rep from a cliché character into an astute and caring man with actual depth. Anne Hathaway more just likes to prance around naked. Hathaway's Maggie suffers from early-onset Parkinson's disease, and has closed her heart to love. There's not much more to her character probably just because she has the body to shoot sex scenes.
"Love and Other Drugs" suffers from an inability to turn its dramatic scenes into poignant ones, and the many drug and sex jokes into thoughtful commentary. And most of the minor characters, all played by stellar actors (Hank Azaria, Oliver Platt, etc.), remain in supporting roles without further advancement in who they are. Despite these problems, at its heart it is just a story of boy loves girl and Gyllenhaal and Hathaway portray that beautifully.