Romantic comedies tend to make a habit of pitting would-be lovers initially against each other. What most romantic comedies- good ones, anyway- do not tend to do is interject a flow of events so utterly incomprehensible they might as well wear red signs that read “plot device.”
Unfortunately, “Laws of Attraction” does just that. Saddling light, enjoyable material with a string of silly debacles that include multiple visits to a foreign country (Ireland), Aline Brosh McKenna’s screenplay turns an already flimsy concept into chemistry-less mishmash. The most disappointing thing about “Laws” isn’t the lack of sparks between leads Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore- or the failed attempt at recreating incomparable screwball comedies from the 1940’s. It’s that the completely unnecessary scenes in Ireland are, by far, the most entertaining moments in the movie.“Laws of Attraction” stars Moore as Audrey Woods, a brilliant divorce lawyer with a predilection for junk food (hastily eaten pre-trial in a bathroom stall), and an even stronger aversion to dating. Supposing that mutual self-absorption and plenty of alcohol are sure formulas for romance, the screenplay introduces Daniel Rafferty (Brosnan) a charming, if slightly rumpled, fellow lawyer representing Audrey’s client’s soon-to-be ex. Audrey’s never lost a case, but then again, neither has Daniel. As Moore’s neurotic character struggles to maintain her composure, Brosnan’s takes it upon himself to charm her silly.Directed by Peter Howitt (of the much more ingenious “Sliding Doors”), “Laws of Attraction” starts out strong, introducing charismatic characters with quirks aplenty, and setting them up for an instant, hearty fight. When Audrey and Daniel abruptly have sex and even more abruptly get married, the film swiftly goes downhill, losing sight of its nimble direction and resorting to juvenile gags (the least funny involving Daniel flashing Audrey’s underwear in court.) After Daniel’s client wins, an infuriated Audrey is left whining to her mother (Frances Fisher), who is far more interested in her daughter’s love life than in law. Things take a spin for the absurd when divorcing celebrity clients (Michael Sheen and Parker Posey) hire the reluctant lovebirds and send them packing off to Ireland, where Daniel and Audrey accidentally tie the knot. Why Ireland? The couple, grungy rock star Thorne Jamison (Sheen) and spoiled clothes designer Serena (Posey) both insist on custody of a “fairy tale castle” nestled in the Irish countryside, and their respective lawyers dutifully fly to record depositions from the castle’s staff.There are several problems with this. 1) Lawyers would NEVER be allowed to argue a divorce case, of all things, after marrying each other. Yes, it’s a film and clearly fictional, but this is a bit much; and 2) Why do they have to go to Ireland to “interview the help”? Whatever happened to a telephone? The scenes in Ireland are, admittedly, a lot of fun to watch, and Moore and Brosnan look marvelous against the sprawling countryside. But this is such a darn unsubtle plot device it makes the screenplay lose all credibility. Moore, a two-time Oscar nominee, and Brosnan, perhaps the classiest male movie star alive, are far too accomplished for the shallowness of this material. They seem to wander through their scenes on autopilot, adding none of their usual uniqueness to increasingly one-dimensional roles. While Moore is brilliant in dramas like Louis Malle’s little seen “Vanya on 42nd Street” and the recent “Far From Heaven”, comedy isn’t her strong suit. Channeling Thomas Crown, Brosnan fares better, but their bicker-banter antics are more annoying than amusing. Several laugh-out-loud moments- mostly involving Fisher’s portrayal of Moore’s exercise-obsessed, collagen injecting mother, as well as Sheen and Posey in top form as the fickle celeb couple- serve more as misplaced randomness than as relevant jokes.Ultimately, “Laws of Attraction” is a harmless but forgettable would-be Hepburn/Tracy comedy that tries, with minimal success, to spice things up in several Ireland sojourns. I’m hoping that the chance to visit pubs and four leaf clovers were the sole factors enticing all involved to sign on to this fluffy, unmemorable affair.Grade: CEM ReviewBy Jenny Halper