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Nothing to object to in 'Laws of Attraction'
Thursday, Apr 29, 2004 - 11:00:01 pm CDT
BYL. KENTWOLGAMOTT
"Laws of Attraction" is a different kind of romantic comedy - at least by today's standards.
Aimed at an audience older than, say, 25, this picture is a throwback to the bantering of Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn and the romance of CaryGrant. So even when the story becomes a little farfetched, it stays grown up, avoiding the juvenile humor that drives much of today's comedies.
To pull that old style off required a central couple who can actually act. That couple is Pierce Brosnan, who can do sly comedy as well as he can be the suave 007, and four-time Oscar nominee Julianne Moore, who gets to show her funny side.
They play sparring New York divorce lawyers. Her AudreyWoods is driven and very corporate, bringing in plenty of cash for her firm with her relentless ways in the courtroom. But she's too busy to have a romantic life.
His Daniel Rafferty is the master of divorce, a best-selling author who stumbles disheveled into court and turns even the greatest lost cause into a victory.
In their first faceoff, that's exactly what happens.Rafferty exposes the flaws in her case, and she has no response.
But things get even more interesting when the duo find themselves on opposite sides of a nasty split between rock star Thorne Jameson (Michael Sheen), the charismatic, philandering leader of The Needles, and his fashion designer wife, Serena (Parker Posey), who initially talked to Audrey, then dumped her to go with Rafferty. To get vengeance of sorts, Audrey aggressively pursues Thorne and lands him as a client.
To settle the case, the two lawyers have to go to Ireland to figure out how to dispose of the couple's castle. Once there, they end up at a village festival and then find themselves in a real bind.
To say more would spoil the fun of "Laws of Attraction."But it is safe to hint that even though they compete in court, there's plenty of attraction between the pair - something that starts far earlier than the Irish adventure.
The script follows the standard romantic comedy formula, twisting and turning precisely at the right point to make the picture play in three acts. So it's not really surprising or all that fresh.But it is well crafted and provides enough substance that Brosnan and Moore can generate sparks.
That's not to say they're the Tracy and Hepburn of the 21st century.But there is enough chemistry between them to keep the picture continually involving and create some humor. We're not talking easy, bust-out laughs. Rather, the picture is filled with a consistent low-key humor that has some peaks but few valleys.
It is to the credit of director Peter Howitt that "Laws of Attraction" retains its old-style flavor from start to finish and holds together well enough to be pleasant entertainment for an adult audience. That alone makes it a rarity in these times, in which every movie seems to have to appeal to the 25-and-under set in order to generate that all-important first weekend box office.
"Laws of Attraction" won't debut at No. 1. But those who like romantic comedies as they used to be made will enjoy it and, in passing the word to their friends, are likely to keep it in theaters for awhile.
Reach L. Kent Wolgamott at 473-7244 or kwolgamott@;journalstar.com.
HHH
Director: Peter Howitt
Stars: Pierce Brosnan, Julianne Moore, Parker Posey, Michael Sheen
Rated: PG-13 (for sexual content and language)
Now Showing: Edgewood, Plaza
The Reel Story: Brosnan and Moore play dueling defense attorneys who find themselves attracted to each other in this well-done, old-style romantic comedy aimed at a grownup audience.
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