At the Movies

by Esther McCarthy

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LOVE HAPPENS (12A): Chemistry just not there

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Love HappensTHE STARS: Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart.

THE STORY: Self-help guru Burke makes a living advising others how to overcome obstacles in his life. But he's never moved
on from the death of his wife, and is forced to address this when he befriends Elouise (Aniston).

LOVE Happens is a movie every bit as clunky and unimaginative as its title. What a shame, as somewhere in this mess is a decent romantic drama trying to break out.

The main problem is the lack of a realistic chemistry between Eckhart and Aniston. Both actors have proved their capabilities - and likeability - in the past, but they're left all at sea by the awkward tone of this movie.

He's Burke, a showbizzy guru who's made a fortune from helping others make difficult breakthroughs in their lives.

But he's never dealt with the grief of losing his wife a few years earlier and is painfully aware that he should take some of his own advice.

That's brought to the fore when during a seminar in Seattle, he runs into florist Elouise. She's a quirky, no nonsense sort and his affection for her pushes him out of his comfort zone.

There's some good potential in Burke's dealing with his own demons and he's a deeply-flawed man. But the movie never finds a balance between drama and romance and ultimately falls short of delivering either in anything approaching a believeable way. Forgettable.

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