Laws of Attraction Review
by Laura Clifford (laura AT reelingreviews DOT com)May 1st, 2004
LAWS OF ATTRACTION
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Audrey Woods (Julianne Moore, "Far From Heaven") is an uptight, successful NYC divorce attorney whose profession has made her an anti-dating advocate. Daniel Rafferty (Pierce Brosnan, "Evelyn") is a laid-back, unconventional divorce lawyer who is pitted against and piqued by Audrey upon his return to the Big Apple. As the sparring duo continually find themselves on opposing sides of the same cases, they spark media interest and something more as they debate the "Laws of Attraction."
Pierce Brosnan turns on his Irish charm in spades and Frances Fischer ("House of Sand and Fog") has a field day as Audrey's mom, a wealthy woman with more lust for life than her buttoned-up daughter, but an incompetent and obvious screenplay (Aline Brosh McKenna, Robert Harling ("Steel Magnolias")) derails "Laws of Attraction."
As Audrey prepares to enter the courtroom with her client to fight a multi-million dollar battle, she is alarmed to discover her opposing counsel has been replaced with an unknown quantity. After drowning her fears with Hostess Snowballs in a bathroom stall, Audrey, now all pressed professionalism, marches into court to discover Rafferty sprawled and asleep. Rafferty surprises, though, and turns tables on Audrey, winning a postponement. He further ruffles her feathers by correctly identifying the crumb in the corner of her mouth with an impromptu taste test, then addresses the media on the courthouse steps, saying she has a 'snowball's chance in hell' of winning.
The two begin a battle of wits and sexes that comes to a head during their highest profile case. Audrey and Daniel have come to something of an understanding during the negotiations between a British rock star, Thorne (Michael Sheen, "Underworld"), and his famous designer wife, Serena (Parker Posey, "Personal Velocity") until the couple locks horns over their Irish castle. The lawyers travel to Ireland separately to take dispositions from the castle help. After letting their hair down at a local, booze-drenched festival, Audrey is hysterical to discover herself next to Daniel in bed when she awakens the next morning. While this has happened before, earlier in the relationship, the Irish episode has a major twist - wedding rings on both of their fingers. Anxious not to appear a legal laughingstock, Audrey begs Daniel not to divulge their marriage while she works to have it dissolved. Upon their return to New York, though, they're outed by the New York Post, so Audrey decides it is better to display the appearance of wedded harmony.
Director Peter Howitt ("Johnny English," "Sliding Doors") never attains a fluid beat with this dishonest romantic comedy, instead delivering an episodic, bumpy ride that feels far longer than its ninety minute running time. Performance styles are also unevenly matched. Brosnan is delightful as the infuriatingly laid back lawyer, almost managing to obscure the obnoxious character flaws the screenwriters would have its audience forget with a masterfully placed furrow of brows. Moore, on the other hand, is an unnatural comedienne ("Evolution," anyone?). Her pratfalls look practiced, although she does well milking her character's insecurities. Fischer, a terrific casting choice for Moore's mother, includes us in the fun she has portraying a woman who seeks pleasure and youth with no apologies. Also amusing is Nora Dunn ("Runaway Jury") as the judge who continually finds herself in the middle of romantic tiffs masquerading as legal wrangling. Posey and Sheen both play over the top characters too broadly, however, creating cartoons instead of real people.
"Laws of Attraction" takes two very attractive people and in typical romantic comedy fashion makes them total opposites who fight their mutual attraction. But its screenwriters fail to offer real motivation to put them together. Daniel is such an obvious catch, yet he is single and instantly committed to a humorless drone. Audrey holds her ground until Daniel pulls an unethical dirty courtroom trick, then allows her emotions to take hold? All this and a twee trip to Ireland is just too much malarkey and "Laws of Attraction" is a major disappointment.
C
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