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Sweet November (2001)
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Genre: |
Romance/Drama |
Director: |
Pat O'Connor
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Rating: |
PG-13 |
Running Time: |
117 Minutes |
Release Date: |
February 16, 2001 |
Official Website: |
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Movie Trailer: |
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Discuss and vote: |
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Cast: |
Keanu Reeves
Charlize Theron
Jason Isaacs
Greg Germann
Frank Langella
Liam Aiken
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Pickup Line: Sweet Movie!
Quickie: A fast-paced, no-nonsense ad exec experiences a sudden life change when a life-loving, perpetually perky blonde asks him to move in with her for the whole month of November so she can change his life.
The Long Review:
If you've seen "Autumn In New York," then "Sweet November" will be somewhat of a case of 2 hours "been there, done that". But if it's going to make you feel any better, "Sweet November" is a helluva lot better than "Autumn In New York." The acting is fresher, the plot more interesting and less predictable, and the dialogue more real. This movie tells the story of Nelson Moss (Keanu Reeves), a very successful and unemotional ad executive whose whole life is turned upside down when a pesky, perky, perty blonde, Sara Deever (Charlize Theron) challenges him to move in with her for one sweet November so she can teach him how to live life. "Geez! If only it were this easy to get a hunky guy to move in with me! Maybe I'll try out Sara's tactics and perhaps I'll have a juicy spring fling!" (-guru mumu)
What's very interesting about the plot is the whole 30-day stipulation thing. Wouldn't it be nice if all relationships could go by the same rules? "We're together right now. But after a life-altering month, it's bye-bye for you! We've got 30 days. Nothing more, nothing less." Yeah, yeah, the odds of this scenario unfolding in real life is just about as great as that of a blond bombshell begging a guy off the streets to move in with her. But for the sake of Hollywood, let's pretend, shall we? It's a challenge for Sara, a commitment for Nelson. But what the two don't count on is the possibility that they will want to stay together forever.
Although this movie has "DANGER: TOO SAPPY FOR THE CYNICS" written all over it, it doesn't fall into the same trap as the rest of those tear-jerker movies. Charlize Theron, with her contagious charisma on the screen, makes sure that the movie lifts people instead of drags them. And what do you know? Keanu isn't half-bad! He actually brings some humour in the movie, particularly in one scene involving a dinner at Sara's friend's (Chaz, played by Jason Isaacs) apartment. Charlize and Keanu (Okay, more Charlize than Keanu but like we said, he isn't half-bad so we'll give him a break) give a sense of realness to their characters that saves the movie from being categorized as another of those cheesy, all-sap, no-substance movies ala "Autumn In New York." The candid dialogue helps a lot, too. Strong performances by Jason Isaacs and Liam Aiken (as a fatherless kid that Sara has a close relationship with) also add spice and soul to this romantic tale.
Not to say that this movie doesn't contain the scenes that make you squirm at its utter sappiness. It has a few zingers that are sure to make the women go "Awwwww" and the men go "Aw, c'mon." But Sara's wacky antics and the quirky, entertaining moments she shares with Nelson just may be enough for you to forgive the sappiness. After a while, you begin to care for these two and you just want them to be happy, golly gosh darn it!
We also very much appreciate the fact that this movie doesn't deliver a cliché ending. We won't tell you anymore lest we ruin anything for you. Overall, it's a pretty sweet movie. It tells a touching story without being too touchy-feely for comfort. Sure, you may have seen it all before but this time, it's different: It's actually good. Roger Ebert vehemently disagrees, saying, "Sweet November" passes off pathological behavior as romantic bliss. It's about two sick and twisted people playing mind games and calling it love." But what does he know? He's just jealous. When is he ever going to get a sexy babe begging him to movie in with her? 'Enough said.
In Two Minutes:
Did you know?
- Keanu is able to demonstrate his two loves during this movie: ballroom dancing and performing. Go see for yourself.
- Charlize Theron got a lesson in drama at a very young age: Her mother shot her dad in self-defense (her father attacked her mother so the latter shot the former) when she was 15. Her father died but her mother was not charged.
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