This film surprised me in a good way.

From the trailer and the posters to be found in many of the bus shelters of our town it would have been fair to have expected a routine rom-com. The pose struck by the leads Jake Gylenhall & Anne Hathaway on that poster just screamed "knock about rom-com,just like hundreds of others" It isn't though and that was a pleasant and engaging surprise.

Jake Gylenhall pulls off the role of super bright but super slacker son Jamie in a high achieving family well and is convincing as a magnetising presence that women find irresistible.

The absence of Anne Hathaway's character Maggie in the first segment of the film is the first suggestion that this will not be a routine paint by numbers romance and Maggie's introduction sets the scene for the complex character she successfully portrays.

This film covers a lot of ground and both of the leads are engaging and believable.

Issues such as serious illness, the workings of the big pharmaceutical companies and their attempts to influence the decision making of medical professionals, the struggle people have to pay for treatment and a believably complex love story are woven in without significant signposting or obvious plot twists.

Once again, the two lead actors were excellent and overall this made for an enjoyable and engaging film

I enjoyed the chemistry between Gyllenhaal and Hathaway quite a bit. It's definitely the selling point of this film and makes it watchable. The story involving pharmaceutical companies and the healthcare industry is interesting, as is the late 90s setting. The film ultimately falls into typical rom com conventions though. However, the chemistry of the two leads and the focus on the struggle of Parkinson's help make this one slightly rise above the pack.

Despite what some may say, Love and Other Drugs wasn't like other romantic comedies I've seen except in the most general of senses, in that it was a romantic comedy. I hadn't seen one set in the environment of pharmaceutical sales or with a main character who had Parkinsons disease, a setting which is very interesting as there are a lot of things wrong with health care and the system today. It gives one something to chew on while watching the rest of the movie.

There's a lot to like about the relationship between Jamie and Maggie. They have a raw intensity and passion for each other that was a bit much for some viewers, but in my opinion it was there to show how connected they were both physically and mentally. I thought their banter and teasing nature was cute. Nobody got wounded or sulked when teased but just laughed and teased back. The initial attraction between them started as an understanding of each other's loneliness and vulnerability that allowed them to feel like someone else finally got them after easily charming others with nothing more than a fascade. Their relationship had passion, love, and a roller-coaster of emotions.

There was a scene midway through the movie where Maggie tells Jamie that even though she may have many other moments like the ones that she shared with him that it will never be as special or mean as much to her and my heart wanted to swell because I knew exactly what she meant and what it is like to love someone that much.

As they grew together, both characters changed and let go of their issues with commitment and love. They tore down the walls they'd built to protect themselves and just let themselves fall. It was beautiful to me and I really enjoyed Love & Other Drugs.

Love stories are essentially the same -- it's a matter of how you dress them up. Many will see through "Love and Other Drugs" and count the romance clichés and formulaic characters, others will find the 1996 setting and the pharmaceutical angle refreshing. Both forces are hard at work in this film, but the tipping point goes in favor thanks to the leads, Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway. There's a reason most romantic films are judged based on the chemistry of their lead actors. When it comes to romance, it's not about how cleverly written the two characters are and how unique and special they feel to us. What counts is whether they can convince you of their attraction/love and get you to -- without blunt coercion -- invest in what happens to them. Gyllenhaal and Hathaway have what it takes to do just that in spite of a script that sometimes tries to lean too hard on conventional tactics of boys meets girl. Gyllenhaal plays Jamie, an expert salesman who lands a gig as a pharmaceutical sales rep for Pfizer, right before Viagra hit the market. He's also adept at landing any woman he desires. He epitomizes a Don Juan and he's plays the type well, but when you can predict that he'll end up in bed with the next attractive woman that shows up on screen, the writing has taken it a bit far. As good of a filmmaker as Edward Zwick is, his best credits include "Glory," "The Last Samurai" and "The Blood Diamond" -- not exactly romance. He co-wrote the script (based on Jamie Reidy's memoir) with longtime collaborator Marshall Herskovitz and thriller writer Charles Randolph ("The Interpreter"), so no real romantic comedy prowess exists among them, hence the tendency to stick with genre conventions. One such convention is Jamie's brother (Josh Gad), who plays the little brother crashing on Jamie's couch who has a porn addiction and makes clueless statements, usually to the tune of no laughs, but he does help break the tension. Enter girl. Jamie meets Maggie, a bit of a free-spirited cynic who (in a unique twist) has way early onset Parkinson's. Many will be quick to jump on the "diseased girl" archetype, but don't judge Hathaway's prowess that quickly. As completely pathetic as Maggie's self-esteem might be and how strictly anti-commitment she is, when her character caves in to the romance as they all do, Hathaway gives Maggie a believable fragility rather than a melodramatic tone. Jamie's motives for wanting to spend more time with Maggie and not simply continuing his streak of banging all who possess lady parts are reduced to the reason of "she's playing hard to get," which is not the best of reasons. The same can be said about Maggie constantly accusing Jamie of having pity sex with the diseased girl. However, watching these two charm each other and overcome the cliché has a definite appeal. The two spend a lot of naked time together, making "Love and Other Drugs" the best date movie this holiday season. But on a serious note, the drug angle and the "recent past" setting give us something else to chew on, which is nice. Zwick never truly marries that story line with the romance except "Jamie sells drugs and Maggie has a disease that lacks an effective one." The thematic ties are not quite there despite the plot coincidences and the fitting title. "Love and Other Drugs" is hardly the cure for the common romantic comedy, but the consistent dosage of its two stars by and large pushes away those symptoms. ~Steven C

Jamie Randall (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a womanizing stereo salesman who got fired for sleeping with the bosses' girl. He's the black sheep of a successful family, and turns to selling pharma for Pfizer in 90s Pittsburgh. During a visit to a doctor, he meets Maggie Murdock (Anne Hathaway) who is suffering from early onset Parkinson's.

The backdrop of pharmaceutical sales may not be the best for a comedy. There are attempts at jokes especially some Viagra montages, but it's more eye opening than funny. Jake Gyllenhaal is a great actor who is trying to give humanity to this relatively unlikeable guy. Anne Hathaway adds on a layer of cynicism and anger. It's not an easy silly rom-com. Although I try to like this movie, the tone changes are just too difficult to take.

On the surface, Love & Other Drugs appears to be a typical romantic comedy that follows the tried-and-true formula of a ladies' man, Jamie (played by Jake Gyllenhaal), falling in love with his latest hookup, Maggie (played by Anne Hathaway). However, what sets this movie apart from its contemporaries is its poignant exploration of Maggie's struggle with Parkinson's disease.

The movie can be divided into two halves: the first is a typical rom-com, complete with witty banter and charming flirtations between Jamie and Maggie. However, midway through the film, the tone takes a dramatic shift as the focus shifts to Maggie's struggles with her illness. The movie becomes intimate and shockingly raw as Jamie tries to cope with the future struggles he and Maggie will face together, while simultaneously portraying Maggie's struggle to let someone in and take care of her. This story really works and brought tears to my eyes near the end.

While the direction is pretty bland and lacks any real sense of style, the performances are strong. Both Hathaway and Gyllenhaal have excellent chemistry and play off each other perfectly. However, the real standout performance comes from Josh Gad, whose comedic timing is brilliant and whose scenes had me laughing out loud.

One aspect of the movie that detracts from its overall impact is the excessive use of nudity. Hathaway is shown topless in almost every scene, to the point where it feels quite predatory. While I am not sure if the choice to include this excessive nudity was made by the director or writing team, its frequency detracts from the intimacy of the characters' interactions and feels quite gratuitous.

Overall, Love & Other Drugs is a solid romantic comedy that attempts to do something a little different, which I can definitely appreciate. Its exploration of illness and its effects on relationships adds a layer of depth and emotion that the typical rom-com formula usually lacks.

Score: 70% 👍 Verdict: Good.

In 1996, the womanizer salesman Jamie Randall (Jake Gyllenhaal) loses his job in an electronic store after shagging her coworker. Jamie is hired by Pfizer to sell Zoloft with his colleague Bruce Winston (Oliver Platt) and he uses his charm to seduce the receptionists and reach the doctors to convince them to prescribe Pfizer's drugs.

When he meets the twenty-six year-old Maggie Murdock (Anne Hathaway), they have sex on the first date. Maggie is a free spirit that has stage one Parkinson's disease and does not want to have a steady relationship. However, after a period, they both have a feeling that they have never felt before: love. But Jamie is promoted and need to move to Chicago and Maggie is afraid of her degenerative disease.

"Sex & Other Drugs" is a pleasant romance where the former Disney movies' actress Anne Hathaway shines with a bold role of a young woman that loves sex having to deal with Parkinson disease. Her character is very hot and her love scenes have a high level of eroticism. The bitter criticism to the pharmaceutical industry and corrupted doctors is unusual in American films.

Jake Gyllenhaal is a good actor in action films but he has a wooden performance in the role of a wolf that uses his appeal to be an efficient salesman. Josh Gad is annoying and his inconvenient character is never funny. Oliver Platt has a minor participation. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Amor e Outras Drogas" ("Love and Other Drugs")

The movie starts out as a generic and even pedestrian romantic comedy and appears to be headed in the typical cliché driven direction but, fortunately, evolves in to something more. Jake Gyllenhaal's character and his alleged "funny" fat side kick are established almost purposefully as illustrations of what's wrong with most romantic comedies. It's Anne Hathaway's character that is the catalyst for the transformation from two dimensional rom-com to something deeper and more enjoyable. As she is fleshed out (pun intended because the more Anne Hathaway nudity the better) her character forces both Gyllenhaal's character and the film itself to grow (almost Viagra like). What follows is a deep, sometimes moving and genuinely interesting film. Commentary about battling illness, life and enjoying the moment are all relevant and poignant. Even supporting characters are given moments to shine. Oliver Pratt's drug rep has a wonderful scene delivered over dinner and there's even a smart drunken ramble explaining what is wrong with being a doctor and a commentary on the state of the Hippocratic Oath. From an emotionless and even tedious start, this film surprised me and is worth the price of a ticket.

Set during the rise of Viagra, "Love and Other Drugs" follows Jamie (Jake Gyllenhaal) trying to sell drugs and trying to bed women. Women are easier.

Gyllenhaal has the finesse to turn a womanizing pharmaceutical sales rep from a cliché character into an astute and caring man with actual depth. Anne Hathaway more just likes to prance around naked. Hathaway's Maggie suffers from early-onset Parkinson's disease, and has closed her heart to love. There's not much more to her character probably just because she has the body to shoot sex scenes.

"Love and Other Drugs" suffers from an inability to turn its dramatic scenes into poignant ones, and the many drug and sex jokes into thoughtful commentary. And most of the minor characters, all played by stellar actors (Hank Azaria, Oliver Platt, etc.), remain in supporting roles without further advancement in who they are. Despite these problems, at its heart it is just a story of boy loves girl and Gyllenhaal and Hathaway portray that beautifully.

This is one of those movies that have a weird marketing campaign, the studio wants to sell it like a romantic comedy when its more like a drama with complex and real characters. Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyleenhaal have good chemistry on screen and secondary characters help to bring equilibrium to a movie that other way could turn to be a little depressing. I also think that this movie doesn't deserve the R rating just because it deals with sex ( I live in Mexico and here we have something like PG-15)hopefully people don't feel to uncomfortable with the sex scene because it gives more credibility to the story.In the end the film works better than others of its genre and its worth a look ( probably not for a first date) but if you are already on a relationship it will give you something to think and talk about.

If you're familiar with the names of writers/producers Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick from their TV output of "Thirtysomething", "My So-Called Life", "Relativity", and "Once and Again", you may know their reputation of creating characters that are complex and therefore not always likable enough to completely relate. That's the case with this movie that they're also responsible for. Basically, Jake Gyllenhaal plays a drug executive who's always been good with the ladies at least until he meets a patient played by Anne Hathaway who sees right through him. I'll just stop there and just say how nice to see these veterans of Brokeback Mountain have more of each other to play against compared to the previous film's story-dictating of some separations. And despite some character flaws, the characters they play do have some remarkable good chemistry due to both the actors and some of the script/improvisations. But despite some good laughs, Herskovitz-Zwick do provide some rough edges that almost threaten to cast some pall over the proceedings. Still, having said all that, Love and Other Drugs is a worthy adult dramady for all involved though I do have one real caveat: Why put George Segal and the recently departed Jill Clayburgh here and just have them have one dinner table sequence where neither gets to really show their stuff?

Here's a recipe to make a romantic comedy about an annoying couple:

01) Jake Gyllenhaal's butt. 02) Anne Hatthaway's tits. 03) A lot of sex scenes to attract men audience that are there just for their wives/girlfriends that wanted so bad to watch it because, you know, men are sexual. 04) A lot of drama scenes to attract their wives/girlfriends that, until that moment, wasn't interested about Anne Hatthaway's tits because, you know, women are sensible. 05) An infamous discussion about love, leading to nowhere. 06) A very uncommon disease but not cancer, because cancer is now cliché, so... let's talk about Parkinson's Disease, that happens 99,9% of the time into old people population, but they decided to make a movie about the 0,1% of young people that can be affected because, you know... 27 years old Anne Hatthaway with Parkinson's Desease is now prettier than 81 years old Clint Eastwood. 07) A (un)funny-fat annoying ugly character to make comedy time effective. 08) Some unnecessary war between sexes for later discussions. 09) Some lack of rationality. 10) Confident-hard-as-rock characters that are able to hurt each other but deeply they have sensible souls. 11) And finally: the birth of love no matter its obstacles.

That's it. You just have to mix it all and the success is granted and then the movie is able to receive unbelievable 7.3 of general ratings.

Awful movie using the same awful formula for an awful easy money return. Not even Jake Gyllenhaal's legs can save it.

Love and Other Drugs (2010)

*** (out of 4)

Director Zwick will probably always be known for his big-budget epics but this small comedy-drama is actually a return to the likes of his earlier films like the underrated ABOUT LAST NIGHT... Jamie (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a pharmaceutical salesman who just wants to build his career and ride it as high as he can. Maggie (Anne Hathaway) is a free-spirit suffering with Parkinson's who doesn't want to be tied down or have anyone actually help her. The two meet up, become sex buddies and soon other emotions start to sneak in. LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS isn't a classic movie and it's certainly far from a good one. I was really shocked to see how many issues there were in this movie including the fact that the first hour is pretty much a raunchy comedy and then out of no where we get thrown head first into a very deep drama. I don't mind movies that jump around from laughs to drama and then back to laughs but the first half of this thing really don't lead you to believe we're going to get some heavy drama so when it comes and then stays you really wonder what happened in the screenplay and why such a drastic change comes out of no where. This is an incredibly uneven movie but at the same time the two lead performances are so great that you're willing to overlook the flaws because their characters are just so irresistible. There's no question that the main reason to watch this film would be for Gyllenhaal and Hathaway who are both fabulous and you can't help but feel with any other actors this film probably wouldn't have worked at all. I really thought Hathaway was the stand out here as she dives head first into this troubled character and I thought she nailed every aspect. She has no problem playing the loose, free-spirit and she doesn't have any issues when the character is suffering from her illness. The way Hathaway goes through her emotions was very believable and she made you feel as if this was a real character with these real problems. Gyllenhaal is just as good in his role as he's the one who plays the immature guy who eventually gets a dose of medicine and has to wake up from his little play world. I thought the actor handled the raunchy stuff extremely well but he was also believable during the more dramatic moments. The two stars have a lot of chemistry together and they really do come across like a real couple. Oliver Platt and Hank Azaria are both good in their roles but the screenplay doesn't offer much for either of them. The same is true for Josh Gad who plays Gyllenhaal's brother who has a porn addiction. Gad's performance is just fine but his character and his issues really seem out of place and especially when the drama aspect of the story hits. The film takes place in 1996 just as Viagra was about to take off and this drug war has a big part to do in the screenplay but this here is just another aspect that felt tacked on and in the end it really wasn't needed. The film is very uneven and there are many flaws but I think the performances make it worth viewing and the non-stop nudity by the two stars will probably make it a high rental for years to come.

7/10 - Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal shine in this modern romantic classic that delicately walks the line between drama and comedy, making you laugh while in your feels.

A fairly standard romance. Jake Gyllenhaal plays a representative (i.e., salesman) for Pfizer who meets up with Anne Hathaway in a doctor's office and falls for her. At first he just assumes she's a prescription medicine junky (which he obviously doesn't look down on, since he's pretty much just a pusher). It turns out, though, that she really does have Parkinson's disease and is refusing to let him get closer to her because she doesn't want to hurt him (or be hurt by him if he runs away when things get too rough). The film does work, though, mostly because Hathaway is excellent. Gyllenhaal's pretty good, too. You also get some good supporting performances from people like Hank Azaria, Oliver Platt and Judy Greer. One big negative aspect: Gyllenhaal's fat, obnoxious younger brother played by Josh Gad. I think they wanted to cast Jonah Hill, but he was too big a star for such a role. Gad is a lookalike with about half as much talent. But, really, the flaw is mostly in the writing. The guy's a pretty poor excuse for comic relief. He does completely unbelievable things (like masturbating to a sex tape starring his brother and his brother's girlfriend, then, when getting caught, asking his brother how his penis got so big?!?!), and his joke lines are completely unfunny.

I must say that "Love and Other Drugs" is clearly one of the better films I've saw in awhile. For a variety of reasons for one the chemistry between Gyllenhaal and Hathaway is in perfect form as the two worked together before(as a couple in "Brokeback Mountain"). Second it's an emotional story that involves sickness and finding unexpected love. And finally what can I say the film has plenty of passion, lust and hot steamy love scenes so plenty plenty of sex! So aside from those reasons this picture can best be summed up as a kind of old fashioned romance falling in love story that touches your emotions as you feel the couples(Jamie and Maggie)growing pains of trust, sickness and feel good pleasure. Still the sex overshadows those ingredients leaving a happy and feel good side effect for a viewer like me and it helps because I'm a big Anne Hathaway fan and with this picture you get to see plenty of her skin.

Set in the mid 1990's when the economy was booming you have Jamie(Jake Gyllenhaal)who's a young playboy from a well to do family and his biggest love in life is going to bed with hot young females. Then Jamie decides to get a little bit more power hungry when he becomes a pharmaceutical sales rep. he's taken under the arms of an ego driven boss Bruce(Oliver Platt)and the catch and sale of the game is for Jamie to use his charm and good looks to help sell medicine like Zoloft and Viagra(remember the wonder pills of the 90's!). Plus his connection with a cocky Dr. Knight(Hank Azaria)helps his climb and profile in the drug selling world too! Now that Jamie has became a hotshot pharmaceutical rep. he now meets his match in one of Knight's patients that being the sassy and witty sharp tongued free spirited sexy Maggie Murdock(Anne Hathaway in her best and most sexy role of her career)as you can see a lot of adjectives to describe her. Only blemish with the beautiful Maggie is that she has stage one Parkinson's disease. Never mind these hot young attractive singles hit it off perfect as this quickly becomes a relationship of no strings attached lust bedroom making very hot passionate sex(I must say the bed and love scenes were very hot for an R rated film). And this is what both enjoy lots and lots of sex.

Yet as the charms of Jamie continues to go both for Maggie and his business he unexpectedly starts to have feelings for Maggie has he finally meet his match can he charm the stubborn sex magnet Maggie? The film is blended well with both comedy and drama as Jamie's slob geek overweight brother Josh(Josh Gad) provides laughs trying to score and it's fun seeing he's addicted to watching internet porn and sex tapes. Plus the scene of Jamie's boner from taking the Viagra pill was down right funny. Still Maggie is a serious go getter by traveling even to Canada to Parkinson support groups in the search for new cures and ways of living with the disease.

This film thru it all is wonderful as the sex and hot lustful passion make it a tasty treat to watch and enjoy as the strong chemistry of Jake and Anne is great as Hathaway is sexy as ever. Those factors alone make it one of the better films I've seen. And adding the sickness theme of Parkinson's makes it depressing to some still it proves that anyone can be loved and that it's unexpected and everyone needs someone. Most of all it proves that sex and hot passion can easy lead to strong emotions of feeling and yes you guessed it as this film proves love. Love & Other Drugs is a feel good film that's enjoyable it touches emotions leaves you happy and you don't feel any side effects only love in the end.

The first part introduces us to Jamie Randall (Jake Gyllenhaal), a good looking schmuck who gets his way around women always, possessing an irrepressible charm that make them all feel weak in their knees. Being kicked out of his job at an electronic store for his amorous ways, he soon finds himself applying his innate ways with women into his selling routine, now working as a sales rep in the medical industry for Pfizer, which when he joined hasn't created the magical blue pill called Viagra yet.

I'd always wonder whether Pfizer was totally OK with the use of their branding, just like how Up in the Air featured Hilton. After all this section of the film relentlessly pummels you with their sales strategy, arguments and counter-arguments where some aren't really flattering, or even ethical to begin with. It's like a statement of how numbers and quotas are being chased no matter the cost, and their sales training made for some comedic fodder. And to make matters worst, it puts up front how the use of freebies can open up doors which are closed, and to Jamie it also means manipulating women to get at what he wants, especially an account with Dr Stan Knight (Hank Azaria) who in one scene opened up and blabbers about how corrupt the entire industry could be in demolishing one's medical ideals.

So I suppose it's fair game for Pfizer since the story, or at least this part of it, is based on the book "Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman" by author Jamie Reidy, himself a former Pfizer sales rep, because at least it gets itself everywhere in the film by virtue of Jamie's job. Besides the lessons learnt and applicability in the corporate world, I totally agree with how being good looking puts one at a certain advantage because people like aesthetically pleasing things and beings, or try as hard to deny that such things exist. Things work, appeals work, and just about everything one touches turn into gold, or you get a leg up in your mission in life. This entire part on the bubbling new career of Jamie's I enjoyed and had a huge chuckle from for its bold portrayal of things that cut close to real life.

Then there's the romantic portion of the film that kicked in once Anne Hathaway's Maggie Murdock comes into the picture, piquing Jamie's interest when she revealed a boob and caught him ogling. The love between the two is anything but simple (and I touch on this in a while) since she wants to keep her emotional walls up to prevent from getting hurt again. They reach an agreeable compromise in establishing a relation that's built on purely physical terms, and try as hard as they can to avoid falling into the usual relationship trap. Through their interactions we learn a lot more about their characters, and in these moments come the expansion to prevent them from lapsing into caricature mode.

Both Gyllenhaal and Hathaway score in their respective roles, so much so that it earned them a Golden Globe nomination each. Gyllenhaal's Jamie develops from schmuck to an all round nice guy, something which love does of course since it forces you to care about somebody else, while Hathaway has to mimic an early stage of Parkinson's for her Maggie role, and brings to light some basic understanding of sufferers for the disease in which there's still no cure. After all, modern medicine seems to be interested in developing products that have mass market demand (like Viagra) appealing to the primal desires of men (and women too) which automatically translates to profits. Needless to say having been on screen together (sans clothes too in Brokeback Mountain) meant some natural chemistry already established and which they shared

But the third part to the film was the home run for me. It defines the concept of unconditional love, other than the innate one that a mom will always possess for her kids. You'll know someone is right for you, and there's no point denying it anyway, when they choose to stick by you when they know the going will get tough, that things will turn out quite the nightmare and disadvantageous, but decide to do so nonetheless. It takes the concept of "in sickness and in health" and weaves a strong emotional narrative around it in this film, where a couple not yet bounded by matrimonial vows, decide to adopt its concept implicitly. One is a sufferer from an incurable, long term disease, afraid to get too close to someone in fear of being pitied upon, or unfairly bogging down and clipping another's wings when the other half has opportunities to take off and fly.

But no, the film isn't that sombre in mood always, and contains plenty of comedy also courtesy of Oliver Platt as Jamie's sales manager, and that of Josh Gad playing Jamie's uncouth brother Josh, a one time internet paper millionaire until the dot com bubble burst, having to live on the couch in Jamie's apartment, the details of his shenanigans best left for you to find out from the film. The strength of Love and Other Drugs come from the development and transformation of characters and their relationships with each other, which dialogues that reminded me of, of all films, Jerry Maguire, set against an historical backdrop of developments in the medical industry that shook up the whole world. As I said, it's smart and all encompassing for a film like how Zwick likes his films to be, and I'm sure has elements that you'll identify with and enjoy.

I'm firmly putting this in my Highly Recommended list, and an early shoo in as one of the best of this year, even though it's early. Now excuse me as I go practice my Hey Lisa routine!

Love & Other Drugs could've been a standout movie. In fact, it probably could've been two. What starts as a light hearted rom-com starring Jake Gyllenhal quickly turns into a dark character study on what it's like to fall in love with someone who's ill. The first part of the movie is great. The second part is too. But when both plot lines blur together in the middle, the film turns into a quiet game of cat and mouse, leaving the audience a little confused as to whether they should laugh, cry, or simply sit in the theater in silence.

Love & Other Drugs tells the story of Jamie Randall, a med school drop out who happens to be one hell of a salesman. After losing his job on the sales floor at a local entertainment store, Jaime decides his next step should be pharmaceutical sales. Next thing you know, he's working for Pfizer, selling Zoloft, and eventually Viagra to doctors in the Ohio area. These scenes are fun, filled with a lighthearted energy and charisma from Gyllenhal. He's the man we want to be, selling his way to the top, or at least trying not to be at the bottom.

One day Jamie meets Maggie, an independent girl who happens to be a patient at one of Jamie's frequented offices. He finds out early on that she has Parkinson's disease, a disorder of the central nervous system that impairs motor skills, cognitive processes, and other functions. They sleep together, they grow apart, they sleep together, and they fall in love. Little does Jamie know, dating someone with an illness isn't an easy task. Just when things seems to be great, they fall apart, and it leaves both parties physically and mentally drained.

Love & Other Drugs asks a lot of deep moral questions. That's the good stuff in the script. It tackles questions head on that most people don't necessarily think about when falling in love. What if the one you love is ill? Would you take care of them for the rest of your life? Wouldn't it just be easier to walk away? The scenes that deal with this subject matter are some of the strongest I've seen this year, but when one scene begs these questions, and the next deals with an unwanted (and unending) erection, I can't help but feel like there's an elephant in the room that is clearly bordering on inconsistency.

Overall, I just can't help but label Love & Other Drugs as a collection of wonderful scenes that when brought together just doesn't quite work. It's sweet, romantic, and the on screen chemistry between two A-list actors will be enough to entertain, but overall, I just really wish this film could've been something better. I wish it could've stayed a rom-com, with Gyllenhal sleeping his way too the top only to realize that it's one of the girls at the bottom that truly makes him happy. Even moreso, I wish it would've started as a drama, with Gyllenhal working as a representative for a Parkison's research fund that just happens to meet Maggie at a convention. The rest of the story would be a sad one, with both parties falling in love only to come to the realization that there would be no cure, but their love alone could pull them through. Instead, it's a hybrid, an unfortunate meeting of the minds. Regardless, the two halves are solid, but as a whole, I'm left entertained but underwhelmed.

On a side note, there's one scene where Maggie and Jamie attend a convention with other individuals who have Parkinson's disease. It's one of the most powerful scenes I've seen this year. The emotion, truth, and subtext present in this scene is what could've made this movie a standout. Instead, we're left with an assortment of funny, sad, cute, and cuddly that hits a number of notes, just not necessarily the right ones.

Michael Buffa Editor, Popcorn Jury http://popcornjury.com