As a writer myself, albeit poetry rather than screenplay, I must say that this is a script so beautifully crafted. Jeremy Leven is the writer of "Alex and Emma," a story about falling in love within a story about falling in love. I have listened to Rob Reiner, the director, talk about the movie as he watched the entire viewing. He himself marvels at the script. Luke Wilson plays Alex, a skilled but blocked writer who needs to complete his second novel to earn enough to pay off loan sharks from whom he has borrowed money for the dog track. If not completed in thirty days, short and sweet---they kill him! His words cannot flow from his notepad, and they surely cannot flow from his computer, which was destroyed by some of the thugs he is indebted to as a reminder of what will happen to Alex unless.... He hires Emma,a stenographer (Kate Hudson), to record his dictation. At first, she doubts his veracity, thinking he only has advertised to get a woman into his apartment. She leaves when she learns of his predicament, but she returns to get the scarf she has forgotten. Obviously, there is something about Alex that urges her to return. It isn't long before the dictation begins. He is pleasantly surprised and encouraged that she is willing to stay, and soon his words flow. He tells a story of a man during the 1920's who has taken a job as a children's tutor on a ficticious island off the coast of New England. The man is smitten by the mother of the children, and so begins the love story. Every character presented in the story seems reminiscent of actual people in Alex's life, including Emma herself. As the movie shifts from Emma taking dictation to the ficticious island of St. Charles, we see the two stories meshing. What further makes this so delightful is that Alex and Emma are falling in love, despite her bickering at so many of Alex's storylines and references which cleverly influence Alex to alter some of his writing. She unknowingly is the image of much in the story on St. Charles, with Kate Hudson playing roles of au pair and cook for the wealthy family as is Alex playing himself as the tutor. Emma finally begins to suspect that the love of the tutor's life might very well be a real woman in Alex's life. As the movie shifts from fiction to reality and back numerous times, it all makes sense in a very unforced manner. Every transition is so natural and smooth. Every romantic comedy has a hook which makes us watch. After all, we strongly suspect from the outset that Alex and Emma will fall in love, but it seems impossible to happen, given their early-on relationship. We also are privy to them falling before Alex and Emma even realize it. The fun is watching their love develop as a story within the novel as well as watching it as Alex dictates to Emma. Carl Reiner was responsible for the casting, and he made the perfect selections for the lead characters. (He himself even plays a role as Alex's publisher.) Luke Wilson and Kate Hudson look so young, so fresh, so attractive, and they have just the right combination of perkiness, sarcasm, and sensitivity to make this movie a delight.Read full review
Great love story was worried about watching this movie because it's an older film but loved it super glad I bought it
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I love Kate Hudson and Luke Wilson and they really make a good team in this movie. It is how Kate goes and sees Luke everyday and as she goes each and every day she falls deeper and deeper in love with him and he hates to tell her that he doesn't have the money to give her for her work. But he falls in love with her too. It is a must see movie. And it is a love story.
Just okay. A cute comedic story line with well-known actors. Drawn out cheesy sex scene I didn't want to see.
This is a very good funny movie. It is a romantic comedy starring Kate Hudson and Luke Wilson. My husband and I both liked it very much and he doesn't usually care for romantic comedies.
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