'Alex & Emma' defies term 'romantic comedy'
By ADRIENNE FRANK
Get Out
June 19, 2003

Early into Alex & Emma, dopey novelist Alex (Luke Wilson) muses that he wouldnt recognize Ms. Right even if she were sitting right in front of him.

Thats precisely what makes this Rob Reiner romantic comedy the cinematic equivalent of a root canal. Clearly, the perfect woman for Alex, mousy stenographer Emma (a de-glammed Kate Hudson), is sitting right before him but it takes him an excruciating 90 minutes to figure it out.

In addition to being the author of Love Is Always Having to Say Youre Sorry, Alex is also a compulsive gambler. When two Cuban gangsters (who are more flamboyant than ferocious) show up at his crummy Boston apartment demanding their money, he promises them twice as much money $100,000 if theyll wait another 30 days for payment. In that time, he figures, he can churn out his next book and have his publisher (Reiner) write a check to the Cubans. Obviously, thats how all great authors work.

The only problem besides buying Wilson as the literary type is that Alex has a nasty case of writers block.

Enter Emma, a stick-in-the-mud stenographer whom Alex hires to take dictation of his book. Apparently, thoughts come more clearly to Alex when he doesnt have to hunt and peck his way around a keyboard.

Which leads us to problem No. 2. Alexs novel the story of a tutor who travels to the fictitious island of St. Charles for the summer and falls in love with French gold digger Paulina (Sophie Marceau) is just plain stupid. Set in the 20s, the whole thing is very Gatsby- esque; only thing is, its not half as interesting or well-written.

Eventually the novels main character, Adam (also played by Wilson), finds himself torn between the truly unlikable Paulina (whom Adam only likes because shes good in the sack) and the maid, played by Hudson. Meanwhile, back in the real world, Alex and Emma despite the fact that they quarrel all the time an homage, perhaps, to Reiners far more charming When Harry Met Sally also are falling in love. Of course, we know this is going to happen before we even settle in with our popcorn and Junior Mints, but theres no hint of why they fall in love, as neither of them seems very lovable.

In the end, Alex makes his deadline and, even more predictably, finds he has to choose between Emma and the real-life Paulina, both of whom for some strange reason love him.

Despite an obvious chemistry between Hudson and Wilson, Alex & Emma which is neither romantic nor comedic is an example of writers block at its worst. The best part of the whole film? The end.

'Alex & Emma'

Starring: Luke Wilson, Kate Hudson, Sophie Marceau, Rob Reiner
Playing: Opens Friday throughout the Valley
Rating: PG-13 (sexual content, profanity)
Running time: 1 hour, 36 minutes
Grade: C-