How did a concussion injury become a romantic comedy cliché? Following What Men Want, this is the second movie this year in which a woman’s life suddenly improves after she suffers a brain injury. Natalie (Rebel Wilson) is an architect who designs parking garages. While her awkwardly admiring co-worker Josh (Adam Devine) believes in Natalie, the firm’s new real estate magnate client, billionaire Blake (Liam Hemsworth), barely notices her. Her supportive, sentimental assistant (Betty Gilpin) loves romantic comedies, but cynical Natalie stopped believing in that kind of fantasy years ago, after her mother (Jennifer Saunders) told her that plus-size girls who look like her don’t experience the kind of sappy romance found in Hollywood’s dream machine. But one night, after thwarting a mugger, Natalie smashes into a metal beam in a subway station and is knocked out, and when she awakens, she’s in her own delusionary rom-com. The ER doctor flirts with Natalie; her dingy, dilapidated apartment has become swanky, spacious, and sanitized (sporting a closet filled with superbly tailored clothes); and, best of all, debonair Blake is suddenly smitten, whisking Natalie off for dinner on his yacht. Meanwhile, Josh, who has never had a girlfriend, is set to marry a seductive swimsuit model/yoga ambassador (Priyanka Chopra). And for the icing on the fantasy cake, there are a couple of Bollywood’ish flash-mob production numbers. Although formulaically directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson, it’s also amiably silly and satirical. A strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include an “I Wanna Dance!” behind-the-scenes featurette (5 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are deleted scenes (7 min.) and bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a small extras package for a moderately entertaining rom-com.] (S. Granger)
Isn’t It Romantic
Warner, 88 min., PG-13, DVD: $28.99, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $35.99, May 21
Isn’t It Romantic
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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