New Year's Eve (2011)
Infrequent coarse language
Director/producer Garry Marshall brings together an stellar ensemble cast to celebrate love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and fresh starts in intertwining stories told amidst the pulse and promise of New York City on the most dazzling night of the year.
| Status: | QuickPick |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 120mins |
| Origin: | UNITED STATES |
| Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 |
Should old acquaintance be forgot?
by Simon Miraudo, 7/12/2011 11:30:00 AM
These movies must be really easy to write. You know the kind. They've got a countless number of tangentially-related stock characters portrayed by typecast actors (saves time normally spent on characterisation!) who make eyes at each other, profess their love in the most clichéd ways imaginable, and, on occasion, clumsily fall over and spout the “wh-wh-whooah” sound effect on their way down. The only thing simpler than scripting such a film would be penning a snarky review with a 'bah humbug' attitude to the time-proven and much-loved cinematic stereotypes. So, in the spirit of new beginnings, snark is what I shall try to avoid in my critique of Garry Marshall's New Year's Eve. Also, I'll stop calling it a 'critique', because this piece ain't gonna get deep anytime soon. New Year's Eve is...
These movies must be really easy to write. You know the kind. They've got a countless number of tangentially-related stock characters portrayed by typecast actors (saves time normally spent on characterisation!) who make eyes at each other, profess their love in the most clichéd ways imaginable, and, on occasion, clumsily fall over and spout the “wh-wh-whooah” sound effect on their way down. The only thing simpler than scripting such a film would be penning a snarky review with a 'bah humbug' attitude to the time-proven and much-loved cinematic stereotypes. So, in the spirit of new beginnings, snark is what I shall try to avoid in my critique of Garry Marshall's New Year's Eve. Also, I'll stop calling it a 'critique', because this piece ain't gonna get deep anytime soon.
New Year's Eve is something of a spiritual sequel to Marshall's Valentine's Day, in that it similarly takes place over 24 hours, follows numerous romantics, and prominently features Hector Elizondo (see also: every Garry Marshall movie). The sheer number of individual plot-threads are too voluminous to recall, but let me spit at you the most notable ones in a manner that is only slightly clumsier than the way in which it is done in the pic: Hilary Swank plays a lovelorn woman charged with organising the midnight ball-drop at Times Square; Josh Duhamel is travelling across the country to fulfil a year-long promise of a rendezvous with a mystery lady; Ashton Kutcher and Lea Michele wind up stuck in an elevator together; flaky Michelle Pfeiffer asks for courier Zac Efron's help in completing her New Year's resolutions; Sarah Jessica Parker frets about her daughter, Abigail Breslin, growing up too soon; Jessica Biel and Seth Meyers compete with Sarah Paulson and Til Schweiger to give birth to the first baby of 2012. And so on into infinity.
Though the screenplay is inane - some of Katherine Fugate's dialogue is abominable - New Year's Eve coasts on the easy charm of its stars. How can one not enjoy the company of Efron and Pfeiffer? Sarah Jessica Parker and Abigail Breslin's storyline is engaging because it's pretty much the only one with any dramatic thrust. Also, there's an inherent pleasure in seeing Saturday Night Live's Meyers go head to head with Inglourious Basterd Schweiger, just because it's so very strange. Finally, I must admit I welled up during the revelatory conclusion of nurse Halle Berry's side-story; it's cloying, but dammit, the scene gets the job done.
Still, would it have been too much to ask that Marshall and Fugate provide us with a couple of surprises? Each mini-tale feels undercooked; that's what happens when everyone gets about five minutes of screen time (and why Robert Altman's brilliant Nashville is three hours long). Every groan-inducing joke feels so lazily constructed. I'm not sure why the personality-free Marshall has become the go-to-guy for these ensemble flicks. Is he the only one in Hollywood who knows how to cut together a kissing-montage to a Pink song? Does he hold the patent on old ladies with foul mouths? Could nobody else convince a screen legend like Robert De Niro to star in a lightweight rom-com? Oh yeah, Robert De Niro's in this too. So is Katherine Heigl. They have been left at the end of this review for a reason.
2.5/5
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Member Reviews (58)
58 Member
Reviews
chookey
says
For such a lot of great actors it is a poor movie. Not their fault. Boring story lines.
says
Fab Movie
says
Boring boring boring
says
Predictable girls flick. But nice easy entertainment.
RNEW
says
I cant believe a film with so many big names could be so bad...nothing happens! Glad did not pay money to watch at the cinema.
Daisy
says
Enjoyed this movie. Lots of big names. Lighthearted. :)
Heather
says
You can play 'spot the celebrity', there are so many well known and not so well known stars in this movie.
Cairo49
says
Kinda watchable but really corny and very obvious. A waste of a lot of good talent and there are better movies out there.
Wifey83
says
This is your run of the mill feel good movie and much like Valentines Day and even has the same actors/actresses in it LOL. its a fun feel good movie, easy to watch. More of a chick flick than a guy movie though, nonethless enjoyable for both sexes. a nice, florty movie where everyones dreams come true on the stroke of midnight :-)
says
Easy viewing, some funny parts, but lacked the charm of "Love Actually".
Sharon
says
Great cast but light on depth of story line - great ending - but no Love Actually!
Stanarosa
says
We enjoyed the movie.
John
says
Argh, this one was so-so. It's entertaining but its not great.
Matthew B.
says
Typical Garry Marshall ensemble does well.
says
Good movie
says
We did like this abit like valetines day. Enjoy it.
Sarah
says
This is a feel good movie..... Ffull of super stars which give it its appeal because honestly, its no epic but a good movie none the less. if your after a bit of light veiwing. go for it. Its a nice tale!
justice
says
Worst movie ever!!!! Waste of time, so many actors in it and they must have been making it up as they filmed it, total shocker. Predictable, unrealistic and bad.
Amelia of the North Shore
says
How can there be so many positive reviews here for what must pass as one of the worst, most banal, sickly, sentimental piles of rubbish ever to see the light of day? Is it frustrated Zac Efron fans or blokes still wistfully recalling Michelle Pfeiffer when she actually had some credibility? This film is farcical. Cheesy, childish dialogue, no plot, no idea...just a walk on, walk off project for a list of good actors that know better. Even the idiot Mayor of New York gets a gig. Do yourself a favour - turn back while you still can.
Bruce
says
Kinda cute, and sorta watchable. Doesn't try to anything that it's not.
Kaz
says
Huge cast. Enjoyable movie.
Case
says
Pretty boring and I love these sort of movies usually, fell asleep the first two times I started watching
juliekym
says
If you liked Valentines Day this is the sort of movie you would like.
Kath
says
Not that impressed with this movie....lack lustre!
says
Valentine's Day was better than this disappointing movie. As others say, too many stories, not enough time to develop them. And what was Michelle Pfeiffer's character about? The movie didn't seem to set up her character let alone develop it. The only good bit was seeing Jon Bon Jovi, who is aging well, and why Halle Berry's character is dressing up for the evening.
And SJP was the "amazing" woman that Josh Duhamel was thinking of the whole year? Good grief, she couldn't light a gnome's fire, much less a good-looking - and in this movie well-to-do - hunk like Duhamel.
Very lacklustre despite all the names.
Nik
says
waste of time
Barney
says
The trouble with squeezing so many individual stories into one movie is that the viewer gets shortchanged on character development. This was another Hollywood RomCom by numbers. Basically don't bother. Michelle Pfeiffer and Al Pacino tried their hardest but had their legs cut out from under them by the weak and predictable screenplay. I warn you now - you won't ever get those lost two hours back. Instead I'd advise you to go and give Love Actually another viewing - the Brits did it so much better.
Goldie78
says
Enjoyable, warm and fuzzy movie. I was expecting it to be as disappointing as I found Valentine's Day but enjoyed this movie.
Km
says
An American take on Love Actually! Heartwarming, packed with celebs!
Ash J
says
Not too bad, expected more coz there were so many celebrities in it.
OlgaA
says
not bad 3.5 star
Purplesue
says
Not bad, along the same lines as "Valentines Day", so if you've seen that one, you've really seen this one as well. Heaps of stars make for an ok storyline, nothing too taxing so you can just sit back and enjoy.
Jojo
says
Nice movie - not great but not really bad either (in my opinion) was an enjoyable Friday night movie for us - don't go into it expecting too much and you won't be disappointed. Credit roll with bloopers / set ups was funny.
Gus Johnson, Haris Park NSW
says
Happy New Year thanks to Nivea, TDK and Toshiba! One long advertisement from start to finish. Why stars lower themselves to this plotless trite dialogue re-hash of a movie I don't know, but you could learn your lines in a one-morning bath, do the scenes in a day and pay your bills for a year. Easy on the eyes good actors and visuals except for the wretched ads... Oh and did I mention our brave soldiers serving our needs for cheap resources in Afghanistan? Support our troops! We live in the best country in the world where all our dreams can come true and usually do...amazing!
sue
says
I liked this film full of stars, it was well done.
michele W
says
New Years Eve is a touching film and tells the stories of a broad range of people including pregnant mothers, long lost daughter, single mums and basically anyone who is lonely, confussed or bored on New Year Eve. This film takes a while to get started, but once the characters are established its a heart warming and funny film and in this viewers case, there was a tear or two. Enjoy!
Tara
says
Great feel good movie to watch, I didn't have high expectations, so was easily pleased while watching. Endless list of
"A "actors and Zac Efron is sexy as.
Tina
says
Enjoyed this movie, good light-hearted entertained with fun cameo appearances . No problem recommending this one.
Colin
says
Wasn't expecting anything, so was pleasantly surprised to find this watchable. Avoid if you don't like romantic comedy, otherwise go in with low expectation and it'll be OK. Gets 2 stars from me because it was set in New York, one of my most favourite cities to visit.
YM
says
Good chick flick. Great cast. Enjoyed it.
Marg
says
Fun, enjoyable film and wasn't expecting the twist near the end!
sue
says
good funny film
Lisa
says
A good movie with a great cast but there really wasnt that much of a storyline
Nat
says
enjoyable
Kelly
says
Only OK. It's easy to watch, but nothing brilliant.
Kratos
says
A total waste of time... Can someone tell me what the cop was doing in the movie???
rhonda
says
Loved it Loved It Loved.
A light feel good movie
great for when you want to escape
Turbo
says
It is not worth watching. Very disappointed with this movie.
Lisa
says
I thought it would be similar style to Love Actually but was nowhere close to being that good. Too many stories to actually develop an interest in any of them, bad acting, ever character was a stereotype of some kind and totally predictable movie. I cant believe I watched it to the end, I just kept hoping it would get better but it didnt
Faye
says
Similar to "Valentine's Day", ok but could have been alot better. Movie had too many storylines so did not touch or engage me the way "Love Actually" did. Needed more time devoted to each couple's love story, rather than relying on the great line up of stars to lift its ratings.
Mandz
says
Average movie. I really liked Valentine's Day but didn't enjoy this as much.
Tayla
says
AMAZING MOVIE! me and my sister watched it and we loved every second! If you liked valentines day you'll love this movie :) defiantly get it!
moggidoggi
says
a good cheer up movie with plenty of familar faces in intesting roles. Lots of contrasts light humour and a little bit of positivity without the preach. Good fun!!
Ann E.
says
Great movie, I can see why it has been compared with 'Love Actually' & 'Valentine's Day' as it also has several story lines and couples throughout. main theme is 'love' in all it's different forms as the couples interweave between each others lives for various reasons as they all approach New York's Time Square and the dropping of the New Year's Eve Ball. A brilliant line up of stars that just keep coming and it is fun just to 'spot the star'.
A good evenings viewing light viewing with a little touch of everything love, happiness, sadness, compassion, Jon Bon Jovi is always great to hear sing and Zac Efron is so very 'easy' to watch. . . yummm!
heathermcn
says
Great 'chick flick' and one to watch for entertainment value with interesting twist at the end
Margit
says
Nice movie, chick flick.
melzy
says
I don't know if I am giving it 4 stars because it was a good movie? or if it was because it was like an easter egg hunt for a little kid .... constantly keeping your eyes peeled for the plethora of stars that seemed to be hidden in it...
Anie
says
If you like Love Actually you'll enjoy this film. Lots of big name stars along the same kind of story line, but I really enjoyed it. A relaxing way to spend the afternoon.