‘Love and Other Drugs’ loses steam halfway through

By John Soltes

Edward Zwick, the great director of Glory and The Last Samurai, was likely attracted to Love and Other Drugs for its commentary on the drug industry. Based on Jamie Reidy’s bestseller about his exploits as a Viagra salesman in the late 1990s, the story is one that lends itself to the potential of smart criticisms.

Unfortunately, the movie, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway, is more interested in the “love” part much more than the “other drugs.” It’s almost as if you’re watching one film get hijacked by another. Imagine if “Thank You For Smoking” all of a sudden found its conscience and became “Jerry Maguire,” because that’s the feeling of watching “Love and Other Drugs.”

Gyllenhaal plays Jamie Randall, a new Pfizer pharmaceutical rep whose dedicated goal is to make to the big leagues in Chicago. But his initial outings with his business partner, Bruce Winston (the always hilarious Oliver Platt), prove quite difficult. Other reps have already made inroads with the local doctors, and if he’s going to make any headway he’ll have to put on some charm.

That’s when he meets Dr. Stan Knight (Hank Azaria) and his new patient, Maggie Murdock (Hathaway). Jamie is smitten with Maggie’s sexiness and the doctor’s potential to become a big client. And so begins the chase.

Zwick, who wrote the screenplay with Charles Randolph and Marshall Herskovitz, has added some funny one-liners and clever scenes to Jamie’s journey. But when Maggie enters the picture, the film becomes a retread of every other romantic comedy in the marketplace. There’s an initial love connection (where Gyllenhaal and Hathaway are in various stages of undress), then the inevitable first fight, then the breakup, then the communion. Throw in some soul-searching and a montage or two, and you have a romcom for the ages.

Love and Other Drugs, based on a true story I’m assuming, had great potential as a vehicle for Gyllenhaal and Hathaway, two of Hollywood’s strongest young actors. They have great chemistry and are given a fairly decent screenplay to work with. But their characters, though unconventional, prove to be far too conventional in the end. They seem to live for our entertainment, rather than for each other.

One saving grace is Josh Gad’s hilarious turn as Josh Randall, Jamie’s brother. His buffoonery and crazy antics give the movie a much-needed freshness. Is it too early to christen him the new John Belushi?

If you’re into romantic comedies, Love and Other Drugs will suffice. If you’re serious movies with romantic elements, find your love and other drugs elsewhere.

Love and Other Drugs

2010

Directed by Edward Zwick

Written by Zwick, Charles Randolph and Marshall Herskovitz, based on the book, Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman by Jamie Reidy

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Oliver Platt, Josh Gad and Hank Azaria

Running time: 112 minutes

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some drug material.

Bubble score: 2 out of 4

Click here to purchase Love and Other Drugs on DVD.