In these challenging times, we could all use the light-hearted escape of a romantic comedy. From When Harry Met Sally to the under-rated Then She Found Me..it's great to sit back and enjoy the battle of the sexes while having a rooting interest in the outcome. Then there are those romantic comedies like this one: a shrieking mass of marketing signifying nothing but ripping you off for your time and money while hoping the product placement will further the cause. Cameron Diaz, who has shown talent in the past in movies like In Her Shoes and Being John Malkovich..and can even summon up charisma in Charlie's Angels, this time plays a hyper young woman who has just been dumped by her boyfriend. The underwhelming Ashton Kutcher is a slacker so inept he has just been fired by his own father. In a trite and tired formula, they end up together in Vegas, drunk and married. Now they have to play out the mariage, and we are supposed to connect in and care about the "will they or won't they" charade. Their shrill overacting and sadistic or plain silly dialog doesn't help. From Thelma Ritter to Tony Randall, side characters have always showed up in romantic comedies to add to the fun. Here two more obnoxious, unlikeable people (Rob Corddry and Lake Bell) as the best friends only make the movie more painful and depressing. Product placements like Budweiser Beer, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the slot machine industry are the winners, the paying audience comes up with the losing hand. No hats.
