We never wrote a review for Galt Niederhoffer’s The Romantics at Sundance this year. Our writer Kristen Coates was unimpressed and the film had no plans for release. Now, with a distributor, release date and first trailer today she sent me her quick thoughts.
The film stars Katie Holmes, Josh Duhamel, Anna Paquin, Elijah Wood, Malin Akerman, Adam Brody, Jeremy Strong, Rebecca Lawrence, and Candice Bergen. Check out our mini-review below and the trailer and poster via Apple.
Kristen Coates’ Sundance mini-review:
The Romantics feels like a cross between a soap opera and a modern day St. Elmo’s Fire, with an assortment of characters and all the baggage they bring to a wedding/reunion weekend. However, this genre film remains light on substance and high on drama, leaving the viewer ultimately unsatisfied. The main story focuses around Laura (Katie Holmes), who is attending the wedding of her former lover (Josh Duhamel) and supposedly best friend (Anna Paquin). The chemistry between Duhamel and Holmes is very unconvincing, making it very difficult to root for. Paquin delivers the only memorable performance, but emerging too late to redeem interest. There are a number of other characters and side-stories, but they are so under-developed, that they are completely forgettable. As they wander off together in various hook-ups, we don’t know enough about them or their past to know what is at stake, and as a result, we just don’t care what happens to them. If you’re looking for something light, with a good-looking cast and strong soundtrack, this may be the film you’re looking for. If you’re looking for an interesting story with depth and character development, keep looking.
The Romantics hits theaters Sept. 10th, 2010.
What do you think of the trailer? Are you excited for the film?