I can't really go into too much detail in this tiny box, but I'm leaving for the time being. Feel fr...
I can't really go into too much detail in this tiny box, but I'm leaving for the time being. Feel free to remove me from your CoT, alerts, etc. I'm having this account deleted in a few days but I'll still be over on 'the other side'! x
Member since:15.06.2003
Reviews:121
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Having read the other reviews of The Sweetest Thing, I had to stand up for it - it really isn't that bad. In fact, I'd go as far as to say I don't regret buying it on DVD! Alright alright, stop heckling...
THE STORYLINE
Christina Walters (Cameron Diaz) is not your usual thirty-something singleton. Unlike say, Carrie Bradshaw of Sex And The City, she isn't searching for Mr Right. She has left a trail of heartbroken men in her wake, and insists she will never settle down, although she seems unaware of her commitment-phobia and thinks her underlying fear of rejection is perfectly ordinary.
When her best friend, prim and sensible Jane (Selma Blair) gets dumped by her boyfriend, she and bitchy but well-dressed Courtney (Christina Applegate) take her out clubbing. While giving depressed Jane a pep talk, Christina demonstrates and grabs the arse of a blond man, and orders him to dance with Jane. He refuses, and a bitchy argument ensues. This man, Peter (Thomas Jane), tells Christina a few home truths about her behaviour and she is shocked at his accuracy.
She soon switches on the charm though, and feels they have a connection. Shaking it off, she puts it down to her alcohol-intake and tries to forget him, especially as he comes from a small town called Somerset, three hours away. But when Christina is still moping around the house, love-sick and miserable, Courtney realises that her best friend has fallen in love and whisks her off on a road trip to get to Somerset in time for Peter's brother's wedding. Cue lots of singing and dancing, nudity and slapstick humour. But hang on, there's some slight confusion over the identity of the groom...
THE
ACTING
I felt that Christina Applegate was the best out of the three actresses though, and was outshined by Cameron Diaz, who was playing her usual role as a ditzy but sweet-hearted airhead. Christina was an antidote to the impossibly sunny, sweet Cameron, and without her, I think I would have cracked up! That said, I don't think Cameron's poor performance will affect her career - she's too famous for one film to sink her high profile. The Sweetest Thing will simply vanish from her CV in a few years time, no doubt about it!
The characters are all very two dimensional and you don't really get to know them that well throughout the course of the film, but with films like these, knowing the characters well isn't necessary. Thomas Jane, who plays the love interest Peter, is the eye-candy of the film and although adequate, wasn't anything special. He's not very well-known, but was in Magnolia and The Thin Red Line.
The fact that Selma Blair was in it was surprising, as she'd always struck me as a serious actress who chose challenging, thoughtful roles which would prove her worth as an actress. Apparently she starred in it as a favour to the director, Roger Kumble, but she comes out of The Sweetest Thing relatively unscathed, so no harm done to her career! My favourite scenes usually involve Jane and the situations that her new-found sex addiction get her into. The script is very flimsy, yes, but the three lead actresses infectious enthusiasm really shines (either that, or they're brilliant actresses which I don't think is the case) through and perks up the film no end.
MY THOUGHTS
It could be a whole lot better but it could be a lot worse, too. In a sentence, The Sweetest Thing is a playful, sometimes outrageous romantic comedy filled with silly gags and toilet jokes. Sometimes they hit the mark and other times they're embarrassingly bad, but when it's funny, it's hilarious. It is a bit messy and the film feels like it's been knocked it in a rush to get it released on time, but overall, it wasn't as bad as I had expected!
Think Me, Myself and Irene mixed in with a bit of Road Trip (though not nearly as funny) and Sex In The City (without the sophistication), and you get the idea! If you like intelligent films that provide food for thought though, and can't stand romantic comedies or toilet humour, I'd avoid this like the plague!
There's plenty of female flesh on show - to attract the male viewers perhaps? It doesn't really do the film any harm, but I don't really need to see Cameron Diaz in very stringy underwear, grabbing her boobs and moaning about how they've zoomed south in the last few years, or watch Christina Applegate's plastic breasts being groped by an army of female admirers in a club ('They're so pert - come and have a feel!')!
Some parts of the film made me cringe - such as when Jane has an unfortunate accident involving a body piercing and her tonsils, and the 'You're Too Big To Fit In Here' group sing-song in the Chinese restaurant. Trying so hard to be funny just doesn't work and I was feeling pure embarrassment for all the actors and actresses involved! The humour does work on some occasions though, and there are a few laugh aloud moments - such as when Christina peeps into a hole in the public toilet wall, and when Jane takes a stained dress to the dry-cleaners.
Don't be put off - if you like films from the Farrelly brothers (There's Something About Mary, Shallow Hal), there's a good chance you will like this. If you fancy any of the three leading actresses, you'll like it even more as you'll see plenty of underwear scenes! It's very predictable, but generally quite a cute, enjoyable, very girly film. It's not for everyone's taste but if you like comedies, then give this a go - albeit with your brain switched off!
If all else fails, just look at the outfits that all three girls wear throughout the film. They're occasionally dodgy, but always beautifully accessorised and groomed, especially Christina Applegate. Her hair and make-up were perfect throughout the film, but perhaps more time should have been spent on the script rather than outfits...
Some may call it sexist and portraying women as heartless slappers who only care about one thing, but it's a change from the dreamy hopeless romantics who are usually the lead characters in chick flicks! I do suspect though, that a few men may be feeling a bit stung, insecure and unsettled by some parts of the film (The Penis Song for example)!
VERDICT
Overall, it's a mindless and trashy but enjoyable chick flick which also tries to appeal to men. Well, it depends whether you prefer to watch intelligent humour or a semi-clad Cameron Diaz appearing to perform oral sex on Christina Applegate! It does try it's best though, and doesn't deserve to be such a flop.
It is fairly short at an hour and twenty minutes, and is rated 15 - it includes swearing, nudity and very explicit sex scenes. The director was Roger Kumble, who's only reasonably successful film was Cruel Intentions.
Pictures of The Sweetest Thing (DVD)
Christina minus make up
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Director: Gareth Carrivick - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Kathryn Drysdale, Sheridan Smith, Natalie Casey, Will Mellor, Ralf Little
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
I loved this (but was on the white wine at the time!) how funny is the 'penis song'?!! katie xx
gobalino 02.01.2004 14:00
I didn't find this film too bad, i'd probably watch it again if it came on the tv (and if I had a tv - would help) although I wouldn't rush out and buy it. Great review : ) Mel x x
With chick-flick stalwarts like Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts and theSex and the Citycrew ... more
pushing 40,The Sweetest Thinglowers the demographic to the late-20s and stirs in some of that Farrelly Bros/American Pie-style gross-out stuff to liven up the usu...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Some funny moments, good chemistry between the female leads. Disadvantages: Gross-Out humour might not be to everybody's taste.
damncoldnightdotnet 04.05.2004 (04.05.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Sweetest Thing (DVD)
Advantages: Cameron Diaz flashing again, its a very short film (thank god), You get to see Christina Applegate (for fans of Married with Children) Disadvantages: Stupid! Crap! Not Funny! Its out on DVD
Advantages: Some funny moments, good chemistry between the female leads. Disadvantages: Gross-Out humour might not be to everybody's taste.
damncoldnightdotnet 04.05.2004 (04.05.2004)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Sweetest Thing (DVD)
Advantages: Cameron Diaz flashing again, its a very short film (thank god), You get to see Christina Applegate (for fans of Married with Children) Disadvantages: Stupid! Crap! Not Funny! Its out on DVD
![The Sweetest Thing [DVD] [2002]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78527184.jpg "The Sweetest Thing [DVD] [2002]")
Dec 28th, 2003
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