There are a few reasons why I gave up listening to film critics a long time ago. Movies like New Year’s Eve is one of them.
I love Love, Actually and Valentine’s Day, and knowing New Year’s Eve would be in that style (multiple intersecting story arcs and a large, star-studded ensemble cast), I decided to give it a try despite the somewhat blistering reviews it received. And guess what? I loved this one, too!
Okay, okay. Honestly, it is basically Valentine’s Day all over again, just on a different holiday. A noticeable chunk of the cast was even the same. But then again, what could we really expect when the two flicks have the same writer and director? I don’t think it counts as a rip-off when you’re obviously not even bothering to try to hide the similarities. I prefer to think of it as a sort of Chapter 2. Coming in 2012, Chapter 3: St. Patrick’s Day! Just kidding. Although it is probably true.
One nice flavor that sets it somewhat apart from Valentine’s Day is the more diverse array of relationships explored in New Year’s Eve. Valentine’s Day is all about lovers, after all. But New Year’s Eve can include much more than that, like parent-child, lover-lover and friend-friend. Same equation, different formula, if that makes any sense. Math was never my forte.
The cast of this movie was one of the things that drew me in, since it’s one of those movies that people would say “has everyone in it.” And that’s not too far off from accurate, either. To name the main folk (and for the sake of my sanity I’m only going to list names): Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Zac Efron, Michelle Pfeiffer, Katherine Heigl, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Sofia Vergara, Hilary Swank, Hector Elizondo, Ludacris, Robert DeNiro, Halle Berry, Sarah Jessica Parker, Josh Duhamel, Abigail Breslin, Cary Elwes and Seth Meyers. Phew.
New Year’s Eve follows multiple storylines in the style of its predecessor, with the various characters all interconnected in some way. Some of the stories include a pregnant couple hoping their baby will be the first born in 2012 (Biel and Meyers), a woman who hires a bike messenger to help her fulfill her New Year’s resolutions (Pfeiffer and Efron), a caterer at odds with the rock ‘n’ roll star who broke her heart (Heigl and Bon Jovi) and two neighbors who are trapped together in an elevator (Kutcher and Michele). There are a couple more, but those are my personal favorites.
The movie was full of laughs, smiles and “awwws,” at least from me. I loved the climax, when storylines started coming together more quickly and with more urgency and I got swept up in the guessing of who will end up with who, and will it all work out for everyone. Because they keep a thing or two secret til the very end.
If I had to pick my absolute favorite “relationship,” I think I would have to pick Biel and Meyers’ pregnant couple. They were very cute and funny together, going through all sorts of antics to desperately try and get their baby to come out at the right time. You see, whoever has the first 2012 baby in their hospital gets $25,000. The two of them end up in a hilarious competition with another pregnant couple going for the same payday. The other father-to-be is played by Inglourious Basterds’ Til Schweiger, who looks just about as scary as he did as a Nazi-killer. He’s probably a perfectly nice man, but I don’t think I would ever want to compete with him for pretty much anything. Ever. I’d be too afraid he’d snap and go all Hugo Stiglitz on me.
Favorite character on their own, however, goes to Zac Efron. I must be all girly for a moment, please excuse me. DAMN, baby boy grew up good! Hard to believe it's only been five or so years since High School Musical, but Zac seems to be growing into a big ol’ muscular heartthrob, and his acting chops aren’t half bad, either. His snarky bike messenger has a real sweet side, as evidenced when he agrees to help an older woman (Pfeiffer) realize some dreams of hers. Their story arc is one of the few not centered around a romantic relationship, but it’s still delightful, if at times slightly cougarish. And Zac’s dancing at the very end of the movie is nothing short of awesome.
Grab a date, grab a friend or go alone, but go see New Year’s Eve if you’re in the mood for a fun, sweet uplifter. Critics blasted it for being sappy. Yeah, it kinda was, but you know what? I like sappy. I don’t go to the movies to see realistic romances. Real-life romance is barely romance at all. I walked out of the theatre with a smile on my face, and I’m going to put New Year’s Eve on my shopping list for when it comes out on DVD.
Can’t wait for the next installment. I’m pulling for a St. Patrick’s Day-themed movie next. Thanksgiving is probably more likely. Or maybe the Fourth of July. Heck, they could make a movie like this about Labor Day and I’d probably still go see it.
And like it.
Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Zac Efron, Michelle Pfeiffer, Katherine Heigl, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Sofia Vergara, Hilary Swank, Hector Elizondo, Ludacris, Robert DeNiro, Halle Berry, Sarah Jessica Parker, Josh Duhamel, Abigail Breslin, Cary Elwes, Seth Meyers
Directed by: Garry Marshall
Written by: Katharine Fugate
Rated PG-13
2011
