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ALEX & EMMA (PG-13)

Plot Summary: A troubled author hires a stenographer to whom he can dictate his new novel.

Reason for the Rating: Sexual content and some language

ALEX & EMMA is the story of a gambling, hypochondriac, never-lucky-in-love guy (Luke Wilson), who must complete the manuscript of his next novel within 30 days, or be killed by Cuban loan sharks. Due to a bad case of writer’s block (and the fact that the loan sharks destroyed his computer), he hires a stenographer (Kate Hudson) to write as he dictates in an effort to get the job done.  

Unfortunately for Alex, he hires a stenographer who is opinionated and feisty.  Emma doesn’t just type what Alex dictates, she questions every aspect of his novel, telling him what she thinks should or shouldn’t happen.  Of course, this creates good tension between the two, setting us up for them to eventually fall in love.

The story Alex writes is actually a horrid novel (although everyone in the movie thinks it’s amazing and he’s a genius).  It's set in the 1920’s, and tells the story of Adam Shipley (also played by Luke Wilson), a tutor hired to teach the children of the beautiful, high-society widow, Polina (Sophie Marceau). Due to financial troubles, she is bound to marry another man, John Shaw (David Paymer), a situation Adam cannot accept.  While smitten with Polina, Adam befriends Ylva/Elsa/Eldora/Anna (a character whose name and nationality are constantly being changed, all played with a wink by Kate Hudson).  As you can guess, Adam begins a relationship with Anna while he has feelings for Polina.  What is a man to do?   

Overall, the premise of the movie is cute: author hires stenographer and they fall in love; art imitates life as the book reflects the feelings and experiences of the author.  But it's also predictable, and therefore a bit bland. In fact, everything about the movie is predictable, from Alex and Emma falling in love to the return of the real-life Polina. And, for a romantic comedy, it’s really not all that funny. There were a few chuckles in the theater, but not the kind of laughter we had with While You Were Sleeping or The Princess Bride. Now those are romantic comedies. Still, this is definitely not the worst movie Rob Reiner has produced...but it’s no When Harry Met Sally either.

FamilyFans.com Recommends: It's always nice to see a light, romantic comedy, even if it is predictable. This one's a fine choice for mom & dad's "date night"--but it does have one scene where frantic sex is strongly implied through silhouettes in a window, so parents of young children will probably want to see this without the kids.

After the Show…If members of your family choose to view this movie, use these questions to spark discussion about it afterward:

---Alex and Emma had to become friends before they could fall in love. Do you think that's also true in real life? Why or why not?

---What do you think is the best advice the Bible gives about romantic relationships? How might Alex & Emma have been different if the characters followed that advice?

---If you had been the director, what would you have changed in ALEX & EMMA to make it less predictable?

Jill Wuellner

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