{"id":1649,"date":"2011-12-08T16:09:30","date_gmt":"2011-12-08T16:09:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=1649"},"modified":"2011-12-08T16:16:36","modified_gmt":"2011-12-08T16:16:36","slug":"new-years-eve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/rom-com\/new-years-eve\/","title":{"rendered":"New Year’s Eve *"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>You have to worry when a film\u2019s musical medley finale is far more entertaining than what you\u2019ve just sat through. Another snag for the filmmakers of the equally disappointing Valentine\u2019s Day<\/em><\/a> last year is their biggest star, Robert De Niro<\/a>, is woefully miscast in the sombre role, when his true comedic talent is apparent in the end sing-song.<\/div>\n
–<\/span><\/div>\n
You\u2019ve guessed it: it\u2019s nearly ball-dropping time in Times Square, New York City, and a bunch of characters have all sorts of New Year\u2019s resolutions to make and keep, all to do with some form of love: forgiveness, compassion, opening their hearts to a different point of view etc. We follow the 24 hours before the \u2018greatest reset button in life\u2019, New Year\u2019s Eve and the big countdown.<\/div>\n
–<\/span><\/div>\n
Director Garry Marshall<\/a> and writer Katherine Fugate<\/a> haven\u2019t learnt their lesson from last time, it seems \u2013 or they\u2019re under contract to see this limp franchise through to the bitter end. The problem isn\u2019t attracting an impressive cast \u2013 as that\u2019s what the film\u2019s main draw is, what with De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer<\/a>, Hilary Swank<\/a>, Zac Efron<\/a>, Sarah Jessica Parker<\/a>, Halle Berry<\/a>, Jessica Biel<\/a>, Katherine Heigl<\/a> and even Jon Bon Jovi<\/a> on board: One could cynically argue that it\u2019s the easiest money they\u2019ve earned all year, so of course, they\u2019ve signed up. Perhaps it\u2019s their collective love for the Big Apple at this time of year, too?<\/div>\n
–<\/span><\/div>\n
What is highlighted is too much of a good cast, without proper mini plot development in each scenario just produces a damp squib, with characters we don\u2019t much care for, even if we enjoy seeing the famous faces together in one film. Their characters\u2019 trials and tribulations amount to padding until the countdown, with some great musical numbers from Bon Jovi intermixed for fans. Hence, when the big moment finally comes we should be right there with them all, feeling that renewed hope of a great new year ahead, rather than wishing to reset our own time button to two hours earlier.<\/div>\n
–<\/span><\/div>\n
We see De Niro wasting away \u2013 both in body and mind with such a character; Heigl as the usual \u2018bridesmaid and never the bride\u2019 \u2013 again; Berry like a worn out extra off ER; Swank running around and mounting her own personal crusade \u2013 complete with the ever perfect curl in her hair; and Pfeiffer trying to convince us she\u2019s really plain Jane and uninteresting \u2013 well, the latter part is true in this film, even with Efron and his cheeky charms trying to inject some life into her and their scenario of completing her wish list, as though she\u2019s going to snuff it at midnight.<\/div>\n
–<\/span><\/div>\n
And no film set in New York would be complete without Jessica Parker running around in killer heels, like she\u2019s doing a small SATC<\/em> Carrie cameo, and forgotten she’s actually playing a concerned mum to teen Hailey (Abigail Breslin<\/a>) who just wants to be kissed. Valentine\u2019s Day<\/em> star Ashton Kutcher plays disinterested New Year\u2019s loather Randy in this, rather than over-enthusiastic flower man Reed in the 2010 film. He\u2019s really only there to set up a singing scene for Glee<\/em>\u2019s Lea Michele<\/a> in a knockout red number, and gets to slob it out in PJs, like he’s just got out of bed to make a lacklustre appearance in this.<\/div>\n
–<\/span><\/div>\n
As a result of too many characters and not enough investment in each, New Year\u2019s Eve<\/em><\/a> also suffers from a frustrating lack of explanation, such as what\u2019s Claire Morgan\u2019s (Swank) deep bond with cop friend Brendan (Chris ‘Ludacris<\/a>‘ Bridges), and why is she estranged from her father, Stan (De Niro) \u2013 among others. To be honest, should we really care?<\/div>\n
–<\/span><\/div>\n
Apart from Bon Jovi rocking the house and a great vocal performance from Michele, Sof\u00eda Vergara<\/a> \u2013 who\u2019s like an annoying Cheeky Girl at the start \u2013 makes things hot and steamy in chef Laura\u2019s (Heigl) kitchen, as well as steals the only comedic moments as man-crazy sous chef Ava from Heigl, rendering the latter\u2019s usual comedy presence void.<\/div>\n
–<\/span><\/div>\n
There are a number of other actors and situations going on, one or more of which ought to strike a chord with whoever is watching. Although the filmmakers\u2019 intentions are all good, the execution results in contrived, groan-inducing morality and over simplicity in parts that just undermines the candour of the lessons learnt. Let\u2019s hope there\u2019s not another date in the Western calendar that Marshall and Fugate can get\/have got their hands on \u2013 even if it means they keep a few big names in easy work.<\/div>\n
–<\/span><\/div>\n
1\/5 stars<\/strong><\/div>\n
–<\/span><\/div>\n
By @FilmGazer<\/div>\n
–<\/span><\/div>\n
Follow on Twitter<\/a><\/div>\n