Valentine's Day: A Movie Review | Teen Ink

Valentine's Day: A Movie Review

February 18, 2010
By PaperPlanes BRONZE, Henderson, Nevada
PaperPlanes BRONZE, Henderson, Nevada
3 articles 0 photos 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Everything has beauty, but not everyone can see it." -Confuscious


"...Valentine's Day, it's about love, it's about romance..." The movie, Valentine's Day, recently came out Valentine's weekend this past February. Directed by Gary Marshall, who also directed the movies Pretty Woman, and The Runaway Bride, Valentine's Day tells the overlapping stories of twenty-one people and their eventful Valentine's Day experiences with those they love.

The film ultimately included the most featured, Ashton Kutcher, and also four Oscar winners (Jamie Fox, Julia Roberts, Kathy Bates, and Shirley MacLaine), two Oscar nominees (Queen Latifah and Anne Hathaway), an Emmy winner (Hector Elizondo), two Emmy nominees (Jennifer Garner and Patrick Dempsey), Grammy-winning pop star (Taylor Swift), and Twilight actor (Taylor Laughtner).

Valentine's Day raked in about 6.3 million dollars opening weekend grabbing the number one spot in the box office. The film also passed two other anticipated and high-profile openings. These openings included: 20th Century Fox's action fantasy Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, which debuted at number two with 31.1 million dollars over three days, and Universal's werewolf tale, The Wolfman, with 30.6 million dollars.

All in all, I felt the movie had some comical moments, but they were not good enough to out last the completely predictable star packed scenes. The fact the movie was filled to the brim with well known faces, seemed to me that director, Gary Marshall, had nothing better to attract viewers with.

In the movie, Ashton Kutcher plays a florist named Reed who owns a flower shop. Because it's Valentine's Day, Reed gets to serve almost all the people in a tightly packed Los Angeles neighborhood. Ironically, the movie made it seem as if all the citizens of L.A. go to the same floral shop. Before Reed begins his long day at work delivering flowers and taking orders, he decides to propose to his girlfriend, Morely (Jessica Alba). Mean while, Reed's best friend, Julia (Jennifer Garner), is trying to spend the day with her boyfriend, Harrison (Patrick Dempsey), who isn't as perfect as he seems to be. On the other hand, Alphonso (George Lopez), Reed's coworker, hands out advice to Reed about his relationships, while he himself seems to be the only character in the movie participating in a non-superficial relationship.

In addition, Julia Roberts and Bradely Cooper play two mysterious characters who sit next to each other on a flight home to Los Angeles. Julia Roberts, who's character is an Army officer on leave, seems to be coming home for just one day to see her special someone, while Bradely Cooper, playing a friendly flight passenger, appears to be overly flirtatious with Roberts. At the end of the movie the truth about Roberts's and Cooper's identities are revealed. In my opinion, I felt the stories of these two characters were about the most unpredictable, yet expected, aspects of the entire movie.

On the other hand, high school sweet hearts played by Taylor Lautner and Taylor Swift seem to fill in the spots of the movie where Marshall apparently thought there were not enough celebrities already.

Overall, this movie was okay, but not for me. If you're looking for a film just to view stars and not the actual roles they play, this is the movie for you. In the mood for a sugary and sappy chick-flick without very much relevant substance? No worries, this movie will also suit your needs. All in all, it ultimately depends what you're up for tolerating. I recommend for movie fanatics to see this movie for themselves, and if they find they enjoy the unrealistic yet slightly holding plot, they might want to keep in mind that Gary Marshall is possibly planning on creating a sequel to Valentine's Day called, New Year's Eve.



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This article has 14 comments.


WiseGirl said...
on May. 25 2010 at 7:43 pm
WiseGirl, Adams, Tennessee
0 articles 0 photos 64 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I think, therefore I am."
-Rene Decartes

Good job writing this.

on May. 12 2010 at 4:46 pm
--LoveHappens--, Fairfield, Connecticut
0 articles 0 photos 342 comments

Favorite Quote:
"A friend is someone who knows you, but loves you anyway"

I really liked your review it was simple and nicely critique. Personally I really loved the movie even though it was predictable I thought it was funny and amusing. You are right the characters on the plane had the most unpredictable stories and I was shocked at the end. I think the reason I did enjoy this is that I am a sucker for love stories. Good job and if you would please read The Pretty One and other of my work and leave a comment for feedback. Thanks

on Feb. 27 2010 at 10:04 am
jazzyt95 SILVER, Ozone Park, New York
8 articles 0 photos 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
"i want a relationship i can finally sink my teeth into" quote by Alexander Sterling

I'm supposed to see that movie today

on Feb. 25 2010 at 11:46 pm
jejouegenius BRONZE, Burke, Virginia
3 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
The greatness in life lies not in never failing, but in rising everytime we fall - Nelson Mandela

its a really down to earth review that isn't overly judmental like most reviews tend to be these days. so kudos

on Feb. 25 2010 at 5:40 pm
PaperPlanes BRONZE, Henderson, Nevada
3 articles 0 photos 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Everything has beauty, but not everyone can see it." -Confuscious

Thanks, I appreciate you letting me know what you think. I agree, next time I'll cut down the intro. :)

on Feb. 24 2010 at 5:22 pm
AnneOnnimous BRONZE, Peterborough Ontario, Other
3 articles 0 photos 146 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Saying 'I notice you're a nerd' is like saying, 'Hey, I notice that you'd rather be intelligent than be stupid, that you'd rather be thoughtful than be vapid, that you believe that there are things that matter more than the arrest record of Lindsay Lohan. Why is that?' In fact, it seems to me that most contemporary insults are pretty lame. Even 'lame' is kind of lame. Saying 'You're lame' is like saying 'You walk with a limp.' Yeah, whatever, so does 50 Cent, and he's done all right for himself."
— John Green

good review..you explained why you didn't like it so much, and gave enough information about the movie. My only quibble is that you waited a few paragraphs to get to the important stuff.

on Feb. 24 2010 at 5:10 pm
NerdGirlVictoria SILVER, Mena, Arkansas
8 articles 7 photos 37 comments

Favorite Quote:
I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.
- Susan B. Anthony

I like it very well constructed and u looked up gret detail info.

on Feb. 23 2010 at 3:18 pm
actorsarecool SILVER, Zanesville, Ohio
6 articles 0 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
"You can be happy, you just haven't found it yet."~ A random stranger.

I liked this artcle, I agree. This movie was more for seeing the "stars", the movie was overall like any other romantic-comedy. Good description of how you voice your opinion, the words flow very well.

on Feb. 23 2010 at 11:41 am
Just.A.Dream SILVER, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
7 articles 0 photos 430 comments

Favorite Quote:
Part of the J7X team. :)

This was a good review. :)

I haven't seen this movie, but by the sounds of it, I don't think I want to.

Good job describing the plot & not only reviewing it.

on Feb. 22 2010 at 6:40 pm
Nikiblue PLATINUM, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
20 articles 0 photos 137 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Stupid Is As Stupid Does." -Forest Gump (;
"No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude."

You did a good job summing up the movie, giving details of what each actor/actress plays in the movie. I haven't seen the movie myself, but I think I'll just wait until it comes out of DVD to see it. Doesn't sound like anything spectacular from how you described it.

on Feb. 21 2010 at 7:05 pm
PaperPlanes BRONZE, Henderson, Nevada
3 articles 0 photos 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Everything has beauty, but not everyone can see it." -Confuscious

Thanks very much!

on Feb. 21 2010 at 7:03 pm
SarClark BRONZE, NC, Connecticut
2 articles 0 photos 534 comments
I didn't know that (New years eve)!!! This review was really what I though too, though I did like it. Great review, it was perfectly honest and summed it up flawlessly!

on Feb. 21 2010 at 6:58 pm
SwordGirl SILVER, Apex, North Carolina
8 articles 0 photos 68 comments

Favorite Quote:
"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life."

-- Winston Chuchill

This review was great! I liked that you wrote about the movie, instead of just saying that it was really good or really bad.

on Feb. 21 2010 at 10:19 am
SmileyFace94 SILVER, Queens, New York
7 articles 0 photos 35 comments
this is very well written! you gave a very good movie review!