America's Sweetheart's (2001)

John Cusack Film Fest Movie #4

Synopsis: America’s shallow, self-absorbed turds.

Blurb From the VHS Jacket: “Gwen (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Eddie (John Cusack) are AMERICA’S SWEETHEARTS – the country’s favourite couple, on-screen and off. But when their very public romance turns into a very private breakup, only veteran press agent Lee (Billy Crystal) and Gwen’s assistant Kiki (Julia Roberts) can help Gwen and Eddie show some love while they promote their last film together.”

What Did I Learn?: If you’re asked a difficult question, a good reply is: “life is a cookie...”

You Might Like This Movie If: You know that nobody kisses ass quite like Billy Crystal.

Really?: 1) So, Gwen and Kiki are sisters? Leaving aside the lack of resemblance, I had a hard time believing sibling rivalry wouldn’t get in the way of Kiki taking the amount of shit that she does. I could understand that relationship if Kiki really needs the money, or wants to work in Show Business (see: Swimming With Sharks), but there’s no way a woman would cater to her sister’s every whim without at least a smartass remark or two. 2) What happened to that restraining order? 3) I had a bit of trouble believing Lee would coax a very fragile Eddie into attending the movie premiere and then leak a tape to the press of Eddie supposedly jerking off in some bushes.  

Rating: With so many big-name stars, I expected a lot from America’s Sweethearts, and it failed to deliver. The laughs are (very) few and far between, we’re never sure what to think of Billy Crystal’s character (he’s a loveable trooper...no wait, he’s a scumbag! No, wait...), you can see the eventual Cusack-Roberts romance develop all the way from Bloor Street, and it’s not a smart spoof of Hollywood culture. Save it for a Sunday afternoon. 5.5/10 stars.  

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265029/