Uptown Magazine Online - Winnipeg's Online Source for Arts, Entertainment & News

Uptown Magazine - Winnipeg's Online Source for Arts, Entertainment & News

May 7, 2009


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2009-05-07

When actors go on autopilot...

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past is a tedious, poorly executed rom-com for moviegoers - and a paycheque movie for Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner

D-

Matthew McConaughey takes on another mindless role as a laid-back womanizer, content to let the chips fall when it comes to the trajectories of his relationships. He plays a stereotype of the non-committal man who can't be with one woman for too long - that is until he meets up with The One from his past and she sets him straight.

In this feeble reworking of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, McConaughey is Connor Mead, an updated Ebenezer Scrooge who has no problem with money, but has trouble maintaining relationships with women that go beyond sex. His chutzpah is considerable, and it's on parade most extravagantly when he breaks up with a trio of beauties during a conference call.

Connor returns to his hometown to attend the nuptials of his gawky brother Paul (Breckin Meyer), and his bride, Sandra (Lacey Chabert). There, he reconnects with Jenny (Jennifer Garner) - the ultimate Girl Who Got Away - despite her immediate revulsion to his cockiness and playboy ways.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past diverges from the standard studio rom-com formula by adding the otherworldly aspect of Connor's deceased Uncle Wayne (Michael Douglas), an unabashed man-whore who tries to steer Connor in the right direction by allowing the titular ghosts to scare some sense into him. The vengeful spirit played by Emma Stone (Superbad) proves to be the most amusing; her headgear braces and enlivening delivery brighten the picture during her brief screen-time.

McConaughey and Garner have very little charisma, even when the tide begins to turn and Connor develops a conscience. Both performances are so phoned-in that you may as well be watching Failure to Launch and Catch and Release - equally as tedious and forgettable fare from these two - side by side.

The writing team of Jon Lucas and Scott Moore favour high concepts with clichéd caricatures courtesy of two supremely famous lead actors (see: last year's Four Christmases), adding little substance in the process. The witty repartee once so common in the romantic comedy is absent here, and McConaughey gives us his smiling, shirtless US Weekly persona instead of actually attempting to flesh out a character.

With a worked-over premise that was done far better Scrooged, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past is mediocre on every level. It's another worthless McConaughey picture that's destined to become bland afternoon programming on TBS.
— Aaron Graham

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