By EmilyM
When I first saw the previews for “Love and Other Drugs,” I was interested for many reasons.
One: Jake Gyllenhaal (how can any woman resist?)
Two: I wanted to see exactly how director Edward Zwick could bring Viagra to the big screen. (It seemed like a rather “hard” thing to do – yes, pun intended and yes the movie is full of Viagra humor)
Three: I am a sucker for a good romantic comedy.
Four: As someone who works in the industry, I wanted to see how accurately Pfizer and Viagra were portrayed.
Last night, I finally went to satisfy my curiosity and despite the rather unfavorable reviews this movie has been receiving, I really loved it. It was quirky, jumped around a lot and had tons of nudity – and these just made the plot and characters even more likable.
When the movie opens, you immediately get a feel for what kind of character Jamie (Gyllenhaal) is. He is the ultimate salesman – charming, handsome and great with women. While it is just stereo equipment he is selling in the first scene, we get a glimpse of what is to come for Jamie – especially when he is caught having sex with a coworker in the back room and is then chased out of the store while trying to get another girl’s number…
The black sheep of the family, Jamie comes from money but refuses to follow in the footsteps of his family, who have all made a buck in the medical industry. As the story unfolds, I found myself changing my opinion of Jamie, as I am sure Zwick intended. When his computer-nerd-turned-multimillionaire younger brother hooks him up with a job as a pharmaceutical rep for Pfizer, the plot takes the turn we are all waiting for.
His sleazy/charming ways transition well to yet another sales job. Here is my only criticism on the initial introduction to Pfizer. It’s hard to ignore Zwick’s thoughts on the pharmaceutical industry as he portrays the new hires as an array of gold digging women, horny men and Pfizer as more of a pimp then as a reputable company. That part aside, I thought the training process was very entertaining. Overflowing with sexual tension, scheming to get women in bed and cocktail parties, we also get to see the difficult training that is involved.
Next, enter Maggie (Anne Hathaway).
Through a chance meeting in a doctor’s office (that Jamie has weaseled his way into) he meets Maggie, who we learn has stage-one Parkinson’s. Jamie sees her as a spirited and attractive conquest. As the plot continues, the love story begins and so does the much talked about nudity. Anne Hathaway broke away from her normal sweet, dorky, girl next door Disney channel character and looked completely comfortable playing this tough, sexy, yet troubled 20-something.
Though the two decide to keep their relationship strictly to sex, no emotions, we already know that this plan will never work.
Meanwhile, Viagra enters the scene. While Jamie has not been meeting any of his quotas for Zoloft and other Pfizer drugs, when Viagra hits the market it’s big money for a man who has no trouble selling his sex appeal. While I believe these few scenes are a bit over dramatic (to say the least), they are both funny and entertaining.
Men and women alike beg Jamie for samples of the now widely popular little blue pill. He is throwing samples to crowds of excited employees in one hospital after the next. Do I think this is the way things really happened when Viagra first came out? No – but it makes the movie very entertaining. In fact, Jamie’s run in with the infamous, rare “four hour erection,” is humorous and is a great comedic relief from the unfolding drama of Maggie’s battle with Parkinson’s.
Perhaps predictably, after attempting to keep emotions separate from sex, Maggie and Jamie fall helplessly in love. After pushing him away throughout the whole movie, the two realize that they can be happy with all their imperfections.
To sum it all up – this movie is cute, funny, unique and is worth going to see. An interesting mix of tragedy, tons of nudity and comedy. Sound like a strange combination? It is, but somehow it plays out perfectly.