Movie: Isn't It Romantic

This Review Reveals Minor Details About the Plot.

Wake-up Call

Plot Overview

Lardy, impressionable 12-year-old Aussie lass Natalie (Alexandra Kis) is warned by her mother (Jennifer Saunders) that the romantic break that befell Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman” is “not for us.” It was “just a movie.” Twenty-five years later Natalie (Rebel Wilson) is an under­appreciated architect for the New York firm of Langley and Byron. She designs parking garages for their buildings. At their meetings she's “the coffee bitch.” In the office she's the go-to girl for errands nobody wants. Her loyal assistant Whitney (Betty Gilpin) doesn't exactly hop to it. Even her dog Baxter shines her on. Mean­while, she's “friend-zoning” a co-worker Josh (Adam Devine) who has asked her to join him at a nearby bar for karaoke night.

Her world is turned upside down when she suffers a concussion at a mugging. To the “Theme From a Summer Place,” New York is editing itself into a PG–13 film with romantic possibilities (“This is some kind of parallel universe.”) In a pinch-me-so-I'll-know-this-is-real way, Natalie the cynic engages in running commentary about how the real world doesn't work this way while Natalie the romantic enjoys all the attention. You can take the girl out of the romance, but you can't take the romance out of the girl.

Ideology

Whitney, her assistant, is helpful and up on office politics, but she has a predi­lection for watching feature films all day long at her work station. It's a perfect illustration of the truism, (Eccl. 10:1) “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.”

(Eccl. 10:2) “A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.” At one point Natalie takes charge of her life and opens it to possibilities. It is a definite improvement.

(Eccl. 10:3) “Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.” Natalie walking down the street of a tidy NYC is at a loss for processing the upgrade, but she decides to go along with the acknowledged foolishness.

(Eccl. 10:4) “If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.” When she is summarily dismissed at the architects' meeting, she sticks to her presentation showing their rich client Blake (Liam Hemsworth) that her parking garage design is just the ticket for what he wants for his hotel.

(Eccl. 10:5-7) “There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.” Josh's wedding to gorgeous, swim­suit model Isabella Stone (Priyanka Chopra) is celebrated by the in-crowd despite its inadvisability; she is oblivious to marrying down. Unable to stop this travesty of a wedding Natalie departs in the only car available: a sports car sporting confetti, Just Married signs, and a string of tin cans tied on the rear bumper. Who knows how the newly married couple is going to travel to their honey­moon destination.

Production Values

“” (2019) was directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson. Its writers were Erin Cardillo, Dana Fox, and Katie Silberman. It stars Rebel Wilson, Liam Hemsworth, and Adam Devine. The acting was uniformly pretty good. Wilson is adorable and gives it her all. She and Devine had great chemistry together.

MPAA rated it PG–13 for language, some sexual material, and a brief drug reference. It borrowed from several recognizable romantic comedies. It had fine costumes, marvelous sets, a terrific script, and industrious direction.

Review Conclusion w/ Christian Recommendation

“Isn't It Romantic” was fun to watch despite all its cheesiness, predict­ability, and over the top acting. The music was well suited to the story and to humming along with. Definitely an uplifting experience. Better than I expected.

Movie Ratings

Action factor: Decent action scenes. Suitability for Children: Suitable for children 13+ years with guidance. Special effects: Well done special effects. Video Occasion: Good Date Movie. Suspense: A few suspenseful moments. Overall movie rating: Four stars out of five.