Alex & Emma

Alex & Emma (2003)
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Starring: Kate Hudson, Luke Wilson

Alex & Emma is the story of a novelist (Alex, played by Luke Wilson), who is told by some big, beefy Cuban mafia guys who he borrowed money from, that unless he finishes his novel in thirty days and gets paid for it (thus paying them back) they will kill him. Pleasant, huh? Oh yeah, he hasn't started the book yet and they destroy his laptop, so he hires a stenographer (Emma, played by Kate Hudson) to type the book out on some little stenography machine while he dictates it to her. Got it?

The film is mainly set in Alex's grungy Boston apartment (great piece of set), but as he is dictating the story to Emma there are fantasy pieces from the story he's writing. Or dictating. Whatever. These are set in the 1920's, and Alex and Emma play certain characters in it. Over time we see how the real world begins to echo the story, and the story begins to echo real life as well.

It's all very cleverly plotted, and extremely well-written. There were lots of very funny lines and I loved the whole story and plot. Wilson and Hudson, the two leads, were also very good indeed. They are both actually genuinely talented actors. Basically, what more can I say? I loved it. I might buy it, actually. It is a really nice, interesting romantic comedy. Sure, it's not going to win any Oscars but if you think about it, has a romantic comedy ever won an Oscar? Hmm. Anyway, just see it.

A

Talliestar

Emma: Alex? If you think you're having a heart attack and you're going to die, call me first, okay? No use wasting money on the bus if you're just gonna be dead when I get here.