How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Starring Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey Directed by Donald Petrie Rated PG-13 for some sex-related material **3/4 out of **** Stars, Movie Grade: B

Theatrical Release: February 7, 2003
Running time: 118 minutes

by Kevin Lang

From Donald Petrie, the director of 2000's "Miss Congeniality," comes "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," a film that offers a unique approach to the romantic comedy by avoiding the same rehashed formula that most of them use. It utilizes a good idea that was executed well, but nowhere near perfectly.

Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) writes for Composure magazine, and her latest assignment for her column is to write an article on how to lose a guy in 10 days. Basically, she is going to meet a guy, and try to do everything that girls do wrong to send guys running in the opposite direction. Enter Benjamin Berry (Matthew McConaughey), an advertising agency employee vying to head a campaign for the biggest diamond seller in the world. At a business meeting in a restaurant, Benjamin bets two female coworkers that he can make any woman they choose fall in love with him in ten days. Of course Andie just happens to be at the restaurant, and one of the female coworkers with Benjamin just happened to talk to Andie earlier that day and learn of her story. But it's fiction, and the story would have gone nowhere without these coincidences that are easy to ignore.

Benjamin and Andie begin dating, while each has their own agenda for the relationship. Benjamin tries to do everything that he can to please Andie and make her fall in love with him, and Andie tries to do everything that she can to get Benjamin to never want to see her again, which includes causing him to miss the end of a Knicks game, redecorating his apartment, crashing a poker game with the guys, and even naming his, well…you know. Early on these scenes are amusing, but they go on a little too long and eventually Andie's act starts growing old, onscreen and with the audience. The humor is funny but not hilarious, so one can only take so much of the same routine.

The saving grace of this overplayed scenario came by way of the enjoyable chemistry between the two leads, Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. They convey convincing attraction for one another, which leads to one of the more enjoyable scenes in the movie, in a bathroom at Benjamin's parents house. In these scenes and in others near the end, Hudson looks stunning. Her attractiveness adds to her charm, and she seems to have a natural feel for the romantic comedy, even if her craziness started to drive me crazy as well at times. I guess I can understand why Benjamin had trouble breaking it off.

In the end, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" is a slightly above average romantic comedy with a fresh storyline. The comedic moments are hit and miss, but when they are on they echoe classic screwball comedies like "His Girl Friday." I just wish that they could have been on a little more. The film is more enjoyable than other recent romantic comedies like the mediocre "Two Weeks Notice" and the not much better "Maid in Manhattan." Here, there is actually an original story idea and two actors who actually have significant chemistry. If you like romantic comedies, then "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" shouldn't disappoint.

"How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" Review written February 6, 2003, CTF.

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