Movie Monday Feb. 14: Down with Love

Happy Valentine’s Day! After a few weeks off two work on a few other projects, I’m back with another Movie Monday pick. In honor of Valentine’s Day, I decided to pick a rom-com and one that is just as heavily a comedy as it is a romance: Down with Love.

**Warning, mild spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t watched the movie yet, what are you doing?**

When aspiring author Barbara Novak (Renée Zellweger) writes the book “Down with Love” about how women don’t need love and commitment, the 1960s New York publishing world is scandalized. Barbara and her editor Vikki (Sarah Paulson) try to enlist the help of fellow writer and ladies man Catcher Block (Ewan McGregor), but he repeatedly blows them off. Women around the world love the book, making it a bestseller. Catcher then tries to meet Barbara, but she purposefully blows him off this time. While promoting her book, Barbara labels men like Catcher Block ‘the worst sort of men’, even though she hasn’t actually met him. Angry and determined to prove that she really does want love, Catcher goes undercover to seduce Barbara. He’s able to fool her, but in the process falls in love with her. When all the lies are eventually exposed and the truth comes out (including a secret of Barbara’s), can their love last or is it just fake?

I really enjoyed Down with Love. It harkens back to the 1960s rom-coms where sexual tension (without the sex) and cutesy romance dominated. It’s definitely a pastiche of those movies (there’s even an extended cameo by Tony Randall, a 1960s rom-com staple). The over stylized cinematography and constant references make the movie a fun watch. It doesn’t play out like a 1960s rom-com, however, but has a 21st century feminist approach to the ending.

I also adore the sets and costumes. It’s very much a walking stereotype, but it fits with the pastiche nature of the movie. As someone who lives in New York, I’d give anything for Barbara’s apartment. As a lover of 1960s fashion, I’d take her (and Vikki’s) clothes too.

Overall, I think Down with Love is a good choice for both the lover of romance and over the top comedies. It’s not so much a traditional choice for Valentine’s Day, but it’s still fun nonetheless.

One thing I loved: The almost meta 1960s aesthetic. I’m a sucker for a period piece, especially one that’s as self aware as Down with Love.

I’d give Down with Love 7.5 “1960s references” out of 10.