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Alex & Emma could be called a cute movie. OK, this may be the kiss of death to a film, but with Daredevils, Hulks, and X-Men around, a quiet romantic comedy may be just what the audience needs. Alex & Emma stars Kate Hudson (How To Lose a Guy In 10 Days) and Luke Wilson (Old School). With Rob Reiner’s direction, there is a certain sweetness to the movie even though product endorsements abound. 

The story has Alex as a novelist whoi s in debt to his eyeballs to the so-called Cuban Mafia. After the henchmen hang him out of his window twice, he decides to finish his book in 30 days and pay the tough guys back. Into his life comes a stenographer (yes, this is a viable occupation) by the name of Emma. After the usual disorganized first-meeting, she decides to type the manuscript as he dictates. During the course of his dictation/her arguments, we have flashbacks of the actors portraying characters in his novel. Thus Alex becomes the lead and Emma takes on several personas as he changes his mind about where the book is actually going. This can be amusing when the character of a Mr. Shaw changes from a burly man to a shorter, quiet man (David Paymer) in a second, different moustache and all. Another amusing moment concerns the spelling of Ylva and just who this person should be, German? Spanish? American? Even the Cuban henchmen come back as part of a dance team. Sophie Marceau is another love interest for Alex with an eye-popping bedroom scene. A dentist with the name of Dr. Art Grecco runs through the film. 

This film actually looks like a play that has been adapted for the screen, though it is an original concept. This results in too much talking in Alex’s loft (why do all writers have lofts?) and enough close-ups for a calendar of Kate Hudson and Luke Wilson. When in doubt, zero in on the face. Alex and Emma take a break from writing and spend a day walking through Boston and she is in boots with three-inch heels.

The theme of Alex & Emma deals with commitment (fear of) and intimacy (fear of.) Alex is running scared and it shows through in his writing. His first novel was a success, but can here capture the magic? This is something writers revel in and dread at the same time. As played by Luke Wilson, Alex has enough charm and physical comedy to carry off the role. Kate Hudson does Emma as a sometimes over-acted person and her accents are so deep as to be incomprehensible. Sophie Marceau is there strictly for window-dressing as are Paymer and Rob Reiner (Alex’s agent.) In the long run, as a film with two major leads on screen most of the time, Alex & Emma runs on two cylinders instead of four. Hudson and Wilson aren’t quite there yet. Alex & Emma is a training film.

Copyright 2003 Marie Asner
Submitted 6/22/03