Valentine's Day

A romantic comedy that seems more about celebrity spotting than storytelling, Valentine's Day offers glimpses into the lives of several Los Angelinos on the titular holiday. The film begins with florist Reed Bennett (Ashton Kutcher)—through whose shop many of the characters pass—proposing to his hesitant girlfriend, Morley (Jessica Alba). His unlucky-in-love schoolteacher best friend (Jennifer Garner) is sleeping with a doctor (Patrick Dempsey) but doesn't know he's married; she, in turn, is adored by a precocious fifth-grader (Bryce Robinson). Meanwhile, a workaholic publicist (Jessica Biel) shepherds an aging football star (Eric Dane) around with his agent (Queen Latifah), whose new receptionist (Anne Hathaway) moonlights as a phone-sex operator. And that's just for starters: also in the mix are an ambitious TV sportscaster (Jamie Foxx) and his producer (Kathy Bates), an airplane passenger (Bradley Cooper) fascinated by an Army captain (Julia Roberts), and two high schoolers (Carter Jenkins and Emma Roberts, Julia's real-life niece) planning to lose their virginity during lunch hour, while a pair of their classmates (Taylor Lautner, Taylor Swift) smooch on the playground. And if that's not quite enough, we also have an elderly couple (Shirley MacLaine, Hector Elizondo) trying to reconcile, as one of her past movies (1958's Hot Spell) flickers in the background. Directed by Garry Marshall, Valentine's Day boasts a few touching moments but mostly feels sappy and superficial as it meanders through Southern California landmarks including the Venice Canals, the Disney Concert Hall, the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, the Bistro Gardens, and the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Not a necessary purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes (15 min.) and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is audio commentary by director Garry Marshall, “The Stars Confess Their Valentine's Day Stories” cast featurette (7 min.), a blooper reel (6 min.), “The Garry Factor” on the director (5 min.), and the music video “Stay Here Forever” by Jewel, as well as bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid Blu-ray extras package for a so-so rom-com.] (S. Granger)