Love & Other Drugs

Set in 1996, this raunchy, romantic dramedy--based on Jamie Reidy's memoir, Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman--revolves around a smooth, seductive Pfizer pharmaceutical rep who unexpectedly falls for a free-spirited artist/coffeehouse waitress. When fast-talking Jamie Randall (Jake Gyllenhaal) pitches his wares to doctors, he's in his element—hailing, as he does, from a family of overachievers, including his crude software-millionaire brother, Josh (Josh Gad). Reporting to a demanding boss (Oliver Platt), Jamie is highly competitive and not above seducing a receptionist (Judy Greer) or sabotaging a Prozac-peddling rival (Gabriel Macht). So when Pfizer introduces Viagra, Jamie has no problem convincing Dr. Stan Knight (Hank Azaria) that the little blue pill is, indeed, a wonder drug. Meanwhile, Jamie has become involved with Maggie Murdock (Anne Hathaway)--an early-onset Parkinson's patient—and while their pillow-talk reveals that neither is initially interested in a long-term commitment, the reality of their future together poses undeniable questions. Facing adversity, will this charming cad rise to the challenge? Directed by Edward Zwick, Love & Other Drugs could have been as sharply satirical as Thank You for Smoking or as revealing as Up in the Air—but it's neither, as the film never plumbs below the surface of Maggie's pharma-incurable illness, nor offers more than a peek into the loose ethics, excesses, and corruption within the medical establishment. Optional. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes (8 min.), “An Actor's Discussion” featurette (8 min.), the character segments “Reformed Womanizer: Jake Gyllenhaal is Jamie” (4 min.) and “Beautifully Complex: Anne Hathaway is Maggie” (3 min.), a “Selling Love & Other Drugs” production featurette (3 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a bonus digital copy of the film, and the BD-Live function. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an uneven film.] (S. Granger)