Love Happens

Stars: Aaron Eckhart, Jennifer Aniston, Martin Sheen, Judy Greer, Dan Fogler, Sasha Alexander

Director: Brandon Camp

The title would indicate a romcom, but this sensitive piece is a more of a drama with romantic overtones - a romdram if you prefer. And it's more about death than love, as widower Aaron Eckhart battles to get over the passing of his own wife in a car accident, while trying to be a grief counsellor to others with similar problems.

Towards the back end of the film, he meets flower shop owner Jennifer Aniston, but this relationship, too, is hardly a bed of roses. A heartfelt performance by Eckhart keeps this just the right side of boredom (the rainy Seattle weather doesn't help), although the little twist at the end is pretty obvious.

Aniston is fine with what little she has to do, even if she looks now unlikely to achieve that breakthrough role that has always eluded her. But here she helps the more emotional moments towards the end of the (slightly overlong) movie hit their target. And watch out for a scene-stealing parrot!

David Quinlan

USA 2009. UK Distributor: E1 Entertainment. Technicolor.
109 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 12A.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 05 Oct 2009