Valentine's Day
2010 · Directed by Garry Marshall
Original language: English
- comedy
- romance
The story
Intertwining couples and singles in Los Angeles break-up and make-up based on the pressures and expectations of Valentine's Day.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated daylight and glossy, sun-washed Los Angeles streets give this ensemble comedy the look of a greeting card come to life, with red and pink accents bleeding through florist shops, hotel lobbies and crowded apartments. The camera stays brisk and conventional, cutting between a dozen small stories with quick two-shots, reaction close-ups and wide establishing shots of the city, while a bouncy pop soundtrack and cheerful incidental score keep the energy moving. Its vibe is light, chatty and warm-hearted, the sort of thing to put on for a lazy February afternoon, a holiday-season gathering, or a comfort watch when you want romance without any real weight. The pacing is brisk and episodic, each thread reaching a neat resolution, with characters who are wary of love, romantically stalled or nursing old hurts slowly softening toward a kinder version of themselves. Intensity is minimal: mild sexual innuendo and a few suggestive jokes, some crude humour, but no violence, gore or real peril. It suits people who want an easygoing, feel-good romcom with plenty of familiar faces and no emotional heavy lifting.
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