This movie is pretty bad. It tries to be like "There's Something About Mary" and countless others like it, but it doesn't work at all. The jokes seem forced, they're stupid, and they fall flat. I love vulgar humor, but it's gotta be funny, and as gross-out comedies go, "The Sweetest Thing" fails miserably. Where it works is with the characters, the dialogue, and some of the unexpected quirky moments. None of it is enough to completely save the movie, but at least it didn't make my 85 minutes watching the movie a totally unbearable experience.
I have a feeling that this is gonna be a short review. I just don't feel like spending a lotta time writing about this movie. This probably comes as a relief to most of you, since my reviews tend to be a little too long.
I liked the cast of this movie. Cameron Diaz plays the kinda character we're used to seeing her play (unless the only movie you've ever seen her in is "Being John Malkovich"), but I like the way she does her thing, so that's fine. Her roommate is played by Selma Blair (she got to make out with Sarah Michelle Gellar in "Cruel Intentions," which was directed by the guy who directed this movie"), and Christina Applegate (she was "Kelly Bundy" in "Married... with Children" ) completes the trio of buddies. All three are very likable in the movie, but it's Christina Applegate who steals the movie. I think that this movie is gonna really help her career, she's great in it. Thomas Jane (he was in "Boogie Nights" and "Deep Blue Sea") plays the guy Cameron Diaz is chasing after, and he's very good. Jason Bateman plays his brother. Do any of you remember Jason Bateman? He was the oldest brother in a TV show called "Valerie," though the title was soon changed to "Valerie's Family," and then finally "The Hogan Family." Also, he starred in the movie "Teen Wolf Too," which wasn't nearly as good as the original. Jason Bateman is very good, but it's weird to see him with a beard.
"The Sweetest Thing" was directed by Roger Kumble, who also directed "Cruel Intentions" (he got to direct Selma Blair making out with Sarah Michelle Gellar), and I don't know how I feel about him as a director. I thought he did a good job with "Cruel Intentions," but with "The Sweetest Thing"... I dunno, I guess he just doesn't have a very good grasp of how to direct a comedy. Maybe a TV comedy, but a feature film comedy, I don't think he's got it figured out. Maybe next time. The script was written by Nancy Pimental. She's a staff writer for the TV show, "South Park," and she's the Co-Host/Announcer on "Win Ben Stein's Money." I dunno. The jokes weren't funny to me. There were some strokes of genius, like the "movie montage" and certain dialogue scenes, and that's where her best work lies. But when it comes to big joke scenes, they don't work. She's obviously a gifted writer in certain areas, so she should take advantage of that.
I wanted to like this movie, and though I didn't really DISlike it, it coulda been much better. Fortunately, there were enough good things to make me like it a little. And Christina Applegate really impressed me. Not just 'cause she's hot, but because she's really good in the movie. But, I mean, she IS hot, I'm just saying that her acting is very good. Yeah. She really IS hot, though, huh?
Scale of 1-10: 6