Love and Other Catastrophes

First off, there are no great Love scenes or passionate obsessions here, only tentative amorous advances, and there are certainly no significant Catastrophes in this relatively plotless movie that simply traces the minor ups and downs of a group of college students in Sydney, Australia. While it does give viewers a glimpse of the fashions and attitudes of youth culture Down Under, Love & Other Catastrophes doesn't deliver many laughs or offer much captivating drama. The unusual sexual situations (lesbian love triangles, etc.) come off as cheap shots to wow viewers and the film's often inappropriate humor results in dramatic confusion, while leaving many questions about the characters unanswered. Even the quotes used to introduce each scene lack imagination and verve. Trying too hard to be hip and hilarious, Love comes off as nothing more than a banal attempt to appeal to the twenty-something generation. (A. Glover)