First off, I really, really like "The Devil Wears Prada," which I've watched repeatedly. This is the same writer.
"Your Place" to me is just facile and lazy writing. During the first hour, I kept debating whether to stick with it. Since there was nothing else on, and I was tired from the workweek, I did. When Jesse Williams (from Grey's Anatomy) showed up, I perked up because, well, it's Jesse Williams! The movie did start to move a little faster then. Faster but not better.
There's no real tension in the movie until the last scene, which feels tacked on just so there can be a climactic "I hate you, no - I love you!" scene. Everyone gets what they want effortlessly. Want a top NYC editor to read your friend's book? Both he and his assistant read it overnight and of course, want to publish it. Debbie/Reese is taking a graduate class but never has to study. Want your friend's kid to be on the hockey team? Even though his mom hasn't let him play hockey, he makes it on the first try.
It's a lot of telling, not showing. We're told they've had this 20 year best friendship, but we don't see anything that would lead us to think that. We're told they fell in love the first night, but we don't see it.
I think because I already have good will towards Reese and Ashton, I automatically root for them from the top to the extent that I care, which isn't much.
Zoe Chao is the one really funny character, but that may be more the actor than the writing. I was happy to see Steve Zahn but then his character was just dumb. The young actor playing Jack was very good. I didn't like it, though, when Jack was given preternatural insight for his age.
There's no actual comedy, except for Zoe Chao. Maybe if the writer had rewritten it a bunch of times and made the dialogue better. I can't remember one line standing out or making me laugh.
I know the writer can do much better, given she also wrote "Devil Wears Prada."
"Your Place" to me is just facile and lazy writing. During the first hour, I kept debating whether to stick with it. Since there was nothing else on, and I was tired from the workweek, I did. When Jesse Williams (from Grey's Anatomy) showed up, I perked up because, well, it's Jesse Williams! The movie did start to move a little faster then. Faster but not better.
There's no real tension in the movie until the last scene, which feels tacked on just so there can be a climactic "I hate you, no - I love you!" scene. Everyone gets what they want effortlessly. Want a top NYC editor to read your friend's book? Both he and his assistant read it overnight and of course, want to publish it. Debbie/Reese is taking a graduate class but never has to study. Want your friend's kid to be on the hockey team? Even though his mom hasn't let him play hockey, he makes it on the first try.
It's a lot of telling, not showing. We're told they've had this 20 year best friendship, but we don't see anything that would lead us to think that. We're told they fell in love the first night, but we don't see it.
I think because I already have good will towards Reese and Ashton, I automatically root for them from the top to the extent that I care, which isn't much.
Zoe Chao is the one really funny character, but that may be more the actor than the writing. I was happy to see Steve Zahn but then his character was just dumb. The young actor playing Jack was very good. I didn't like it, though, when Jack was given preternatural insight for his age.
There's no actual comedy, except for Zoe Chao. Maybe if the writer had rewritten it a bunch of times and made the dialogue better. I can't remember one line standing out or making me laugh.
I know the writer can do much better, given she also wrote "Devil Wears Prada."