Just Like a Chick Flick

We wound up at another chick flick over the weekend. Our (Me and the Mrs.) attendance was the perfect storm of movie start time, time available to see a movie and theater (we like the new ShowPlace West 12). To be clear, I wasn’t looking for my second chick flick in as many weeks –it just happened that way. So, what the hell, here’s my review for those who aren’t inclined to go to these things but find themselves needing to go anyway.

We saw Just Like Heaven staring Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo. It’s a story of a young woman (Witherspoon) who is involved in a major auto accident and haunts/falls in love with the guy (Ruffalo) who rents here old apartment. Lots of relationship stuff blah, blah, blah, happy ending, blah, blah, blah.

So what’s in it for those with a general chick flick aversion (i.e. guys)? Well, Reese keeps all of her clothes on and there is only a brief scene where some horny hottie neighbor of Our Hero (Ruffalo) tries to come on to him. Of course Our Hero rebuffs her aggressive advances, even as she is naked in his bed, because he’s too devoted to his ghost and, presumably the memory of his dead wife (don’t ask).

What did appeal to me was the San Francisco setting. This movie made me want to go back to that city as soon as the movie was over (well, sooner but never mind). The haunted apartment in which much of the movie takes place has an awesome view and many scenes feature breathtaking San Francisco backgrounds. I really enjoyed this aspect of the movie.

Another other positive was the soundtrack. Good songs that usually had a direct connection with what was happening on the screen. It wasn’t until the credits at the end that the obvious was played, Just Like Heaven by The Cure, one of my favorite 80s tunes (it sounds like The Cure’s version in the movie but the soundtrack lists it as a cover by Katie Melua, whoever that is).

Oh, and there was one performance I really liked –Jon Heder of Napoleon Dynamite fame. He plays an employee (owner?) of an occult bookstore and shows up several times in the movie. He’s pretty funny.

Just Like Heaven also touches on, I think somewhat inadvertently, a political issue that I don’t want to get into because it gives away an important surprise in the movie’s story. It over simplifies and greatly misrepresents the realities of this issue. But this movie is too much fluff to take any message too seriously.

Anyway, he story is kind of dumb but at least it’s positive and has a good backdrop and soundtrack. It could be a lot worse.

By the way, I will continue reviewing the chick flicks I see as a public service. Guys, they're like prostate exams, not a lot a fun but sometimes necessay.