Could well be the most contrived film of 2003.
Rating: 3/10
Running Time: 116 minutes
UK Certificate: 12a
From its ridiculously far-fetched premise to its even-worse-than-expected climax, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” could well be the most contrived film of 2003.
Kate Hudson plays Andie Anderson, a journalist working for a Cosmo-style magazine staffed entirely by disgustingly attractive types. She badgers her editor about getting to write articles on politics and religion, yet seems surprised at the recurrently negative response given the type of magazine it is, what exactly does she expect? Anyway, having volunteered to write a feature piece on what not to do in dating, she sets about doing her best to get dumped by unsuspecting ad man Benjamin (Matthew McConaughey). The catch? She's too busy being clingy, giving his private parts embarrassing nicknames and taking him to Celine Dion concerts to realise that he's only going out with her as part of a bet to prove he can make a woman fall in love with him. You'd feel sorry for them if they weren't both equally as shallow as one another.
Hudson shows some unexpected comic talent, but the script gives her precious little to work with. As for McConaughey you'll wonder how he lasts the entire picture without getting punched in the face more often than he actually does. Then again, that's generally the case in all of his films.
We're all well enough versed in the workings of these formulaic chick flicks to work out where it's all heading, which makes the wait for the predictable (and shockingly bad) ending seem to last forever. These unlikely events might take place over a 10 day period, but it feels like much, MUCH longer.
It's Got: Predictability written all over it.
It Needs: To take some risks and give us something we havent already seen a hundred times over.
Summary
Poorly-scripted below average rom-com.