The Sweetest Thing (2002)

A Disappointing Continuation

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

The Sweetest Thing should have been called The Sassiest Thing, as it's three leading ladies have more pisss-ant energy than a platoon of caffeinated squirrels. I've read reviews claiming that the levels of rambunctious mania these chicks work themselves up into stray into unrealistic delirium, but trust me, I've spent enough time observing girls in their groups and I can tell you there's no exaggeration to be found here. It's somewhat of a chick flick, with a super sexual, raunchy edge that would make the Farrelly Brothers proud, and the three stars lunge right into the sheepishly naughty material like girls sprinting from the limo to the club with designs on anything that moves within. Cameron Diaz seems to never have a shortage of adorably bubbly energy, playing a klutzy Christina, who along with her besties Courtney (Christina Applegate) and Jane (Selma Blair) head for a night on the town to ease Jane's guy-related depression. While Jane ends up bedding sweet, dimwitted Todd (tough guy Johnny Messner, hilariously playing against type), Christina surprises herself by meeting a guy she deems perfect, Peter Donohue (Thomas Jane, that chiseled deity). Only one problem: he leaves town to get married, prompting Christina to drag the other two rascals on a road trip to locate him and declare her love. Sound silly? It is, in leaps and bounds, but it's got that infectious feeling of fun thanks to the gals who don't let up with their riotous banter for a second, and carry the movie to comedic heights of hilarity. It's got a wonderfully perverse sense of humour too, throwing social taboos out the window in favour of shameless sex gags, facepalm inducing mischief and and that R- rated, unapologetic sensibility that all the best sex comedies have. It's also got wicked work from Parker Posey, Frank Grillo, James Mangold, Jonathan Schaech and Jason Bateman playing Donohue's brother in a performance so sleazy you'll be wiping his presence off your clothes after. It's light and airy when in needs to be, gets down and dirty in all the places that matter, and hums along at sexy pace set by the three leading ladies, all clearly having a blast.

Good comedy. It went full romantic in the end, but lots of laughs before that.Can't understand why people are down on this. It goes for love at first sight and sets as many obstacles as possible, with a good twist at the wedding.The three actresses create a good set of characters, and it's interesting to see the different personalities. Diaz carries it (although she can't dance), Applegate is razor sharp, and Blair is the beauty needing more screen time.The San Fran gay side goes over the top with the medical emergency blowjob, but anyone complaining about the vulgarity needs brain surgery. Through the eye. With a ... And the glory hole scene should have been trashier.

This is a great girlie-film, and rom-com, heavy on the com; Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate and Selma Blair were a great trio and committed to their roles 100% and were pretty brave about it! This is basically a girls-looking-for-love with a hint of the now common 'reading a rule book on relationships' and realising the disparity between what women want and what men want in relationships, or what girls want in relationships but are afraid to actually commit to.Cameron Diaz and Christina Applegate were brilliant, and their chemistry was flawless - they are both very talented comedic and physical actresses; Diaz shone and is very attractive in this role. As ever Jason Bateman was awesome (when is he not?) and Thomas Jane as the love interest was cute and believable. Selma Blair had some great comedic moments and her dry straight performance made her antics funnier too.Hilarious, non stop laughs, mostly at the expense of adult humour, this isn't one for younger viewers, not a family film, but great for couples, girls nights in and even guys viewing (there's plenty to keep boys interested!) Given the sexual nature of most of the laughs it's not gratuitous and the language isn't that bad either, and there's no nudity - if these things worry you. The dance number in the Chinese Restaurant (!) is one of the many scenes in which the comedy turns quirky and off the wall and is naughty so not for those who don't like reference to parts or sexual experience, but for the rest of you prepare to laugh and laugh A LOT. Surprised I liked this film so much, given I didn't have high hopes for it. In terms of content 6/10 but for entertainment and overall enjoyment 7/10 - would see it again.

The problem is the first scene - before the opening credits - is amusing, which lures you into the film. It is all watchable - if predictable - as the story develops in the first quarter, but then it becomes completely absurd. It is a collection of tacky, vulgar and anarchic ideas, many of which have been used so many times before in the last 50 years they are worn out. Their solution to this lack of originality was to imbue these scenes with as much verbal and physical sexual shock value as they could muster. It is as if they wrote it as they went along, a tenuous central storyline with a motley collection of disjointed, absurd and - too often - puerile scenes added in. It is not for adults, it is not really funny, it is schoolboy (girl?) humour for 12 year olds merely designed to show what you can get away with under the guise of being comic.