Film Review

03 December 2008 05:06 BST

What Happens in Vegas...

Directed by Tom Vaughan, out now in cinemas, starring Ashton Kutcher, Cameron Diaz, Rob Corddry, Lake Bell, running time 99mins.

In a nutshell...

Chick flick with a few laughs

What's it all about?

When work-obsessed New Yorker Joy McNally is dumped by her fiance, she uncharacteristically heads to Las Vegas to let her hair down with her best friend in tow. When a room mix up results in her meeting newly-fired Jack Fuller, also in town with his best mate, an alcohol-fuelled night ends with a marriage between the two.

After resolving to get an annulment the morning after, everything changes when Jack wins $3 million at a slot machine with Joy's quarter, leading her to demand half as his wife. The pair are forced by a judge to live as a married couple for six months before the issue can be settled.

Who's in it?

The director of University Challenge-inspired 2006 film Starter for Ten presents a film with two chick flick/romcom seasoned professionals Kurcher and Diaz in the lead roles.

Diaz, who made her name in 1998 with her title role in There's Something About Mary, has since gone on to star in a range of films of the same ilk, including In Her Shoes and The Holiday, as well as voicing Princess Fiona in the smash-hit trilogy Shrek.

Demi Moore's toyboy husband Kutcher is also no stranger to playing the goofy male love interest in a rom-com, although he made his name in hit US comedy That '70s show and won acclaim for his role in 2004 thriller The Butterfly Effect.

As an example...

"Whatever happened to what's mine is yours, baby?" - Joy

Likelihood of a trip to the Oscars

This will undoubtedly not be making a trip anywhere near the prestigious Academy Award hall of fame, standing alongside the growing numbers of chick flicks that have fallen by the wayside after mildly entertaining cinemagoers.

What the others say

"Something about their sparring, which gets violent and involves dirty tricks in the bathroom, has the feel of a catfight over who gets top billing, but it's entertaining all the same." - Tim Robey, Telegraph

"A bland comedy punctuated by the odd witty moment." - Anna Smith, Time Out London

So is it any good?

What Happens in Vegas does what it says on the tin, which is labelled chick flick in big red letters. Although it offers no surprises and, like many films these days, any surprises there may have been were outed in the trailer, it is a fairly enjoyable, easy to watch film.

Despite actual laugh-out-loud moments being few and far between, a number of scenes do inspire a light chuckle and the characters are likeable enough.

The love between Joy and Jack isn't the most convincing piece of acting seen this side of the 21st century, but the scenes where they are working to force each other off the rails and into the arms of another so they can win the money are played out pretty well.

Furthermore, the storyline is even mildly original and is perfect for those who just want to go to the cinema to stare at the screen without thinking for 99 minutes.

6/10

Rachel Rouse

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