Last night four of us went to the Hollywood Theatre to see the double feature. It seemed an odd pairing and to be honest I really wasn't that interested in Must Love Dogs. Well, except that it did star Diane Lane. (Like fine wine, she keeps getting better with age.) Since I was already committed to the idea of seeing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the prospect of seeing a predictable romantic comedy had two things going for it - it was free and there was eye candy for me. Donna was also motivated by eye candy, but it came in the form of Johnny Depp in the first film.
Eye candy, it turns out is just where the similarity ended.
A reviewer wrote, "I was charmed by "Must Love Dogs" (the title is Internet-date shorthand), and it was mostly because of Lane and Cusack - though it was also due to writer-director Gary David Goldberg (1989's "Dad"). His script is full of complex and lively love patter..."
It is a lie. It isn't just bad. It is barely tolerable. If I had been rip roaring drunk, I think I would have still seen the 'twists' coming. I'll admit that Lane and Cusack are talented actors and that they, at times, were able to distract us from the painfully formulaic script. But no amount of talent could have bridged the awkward gaps in plot or breathed life into the tired obvious story.
On the other hand, the G rated Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tells us a story that we had all heard before and somehow makes it fresh and new. Johnny Depp does carry the story through his charm, intensity, and relentless commitment to the character of Willy Wonka. Tim Burton, the director, doesn't leave him stranded. He finds, in the factory, a perfect platform for his wild and wonderful imagination. Delightful, charming, and twisted.
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