Laws of Attraction

Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Julianne Moore, Parker Posey, Michael Sheen, Frances Fisher, Nora Dunn
Director: Peter Howitt
Writer: Peter Howitt, Robert Harling, Karey Kirkpatrick, Douglas McFerran, Aline Brosh McKenna
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Rated: PG sexual references, low level coarse language
Running Time: 90 Minutes

Love Always Has The Last Word

Synopsis:
High-powered New York divorce attorneys Daniel Rafferty (Pierce Brosnan) and Audrey Woods (Julianne Moore) have seen love gone wrong in all its worst-case scenarios - so how bad could their own chances be?

At the top of their respective games, Audrey and Daniel are a classic study in opposites. She practices law strictly by the book: he always manages to win by the seat of his pants. But soon they're pitted against each other on opposite sides of a nasty public divorce between famous clients (Parker Posey and Michael Sheen), with the case centring on an Irish castle, which each future divorcee has their sights set on. Audrey and Daniel travel to Ireland to chase down separate depositions, yet the two lawyers, who have slowly been developing a mutual attraction that neither wants to acknowledge, find themselves thrown together at a romantic Irish country festival. Naturally, after a night of wild celebrating, they wake up the next morning as man and wife. Now they have to return to New York to carry on with their surprising new situation and the ongoing court case.

Maybe getting married first is the best way to fall in love?

My Verdict:
Pierce Brosnan looks right at home as the attorney Daniel Rafferty in this very lightweight romantic comedy and along with Julianne Moore as Audrey Woods, the two display some great comedic timing when opposites attract. Pierce has adopted a laid-back attitude for the role, whilst Julianne is perfect as the wise attorney, Audrey, who quietly goes about her job with the support of her mother, Sara Miller (fabulous Frances Fisher). The very wealthy Sara is always advising Audrey on men, marriage and the many mistakes she has made, which in a way makes Audrey decide to do the opposite - in fact, she's never going to get married, or so she says.

The fun really starts the first time Audrey lays eyes on Daniel in the courtroom, where Daniel has fallen asleep before a case is due to begin. She is aghast at his attitude and shocked at some of the tactics that he uses in order to win cases. Meanwhile, you can smell her curiosity the more she discovers about Daniel. Meanwhile, Daniel is just as curious about Audrey, and quite taken by her, he unashamedly pursues her. They are further pitted against one another when they take on the divorce case of leading rock star Thorne Jamison (Michael Sheen) and his wife Serena (Parker Posey). Unfortunately, both of these roles are drastically underused and it would have made for a more diverse, interesting film if they had more screen time, as both Parker and Michael have so much to offer. Daniel and Audrey then travel to Ireland, both trying to secure a castle for their clients, get married and suffer the consequences of their impulsive drunken actions.

'Laws Of Attraction' won't win any prizes for an intelligent script as it's a strictly by-the-numbers effort but does that really matter if you can actually score a laugh or two - the preview audience was having a ball at the screening I attended. Sure, much of it is very predictable, but when its intention is to entertain, it manages to achieve that adequately. 'Laws Of Attraction' is a very fluffy, very light and a very average yet watchable romantic comedy.

Rating : B-

Christina Bruce