If you ask me, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past was not Matthew McConaughey's best. It wasn't his worst either - not that I'm sure what his worst would be, it just probably wasn't this.Again, in the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that I didn't actually watch this movie in the past week. In fact, unbelievably, I did not watch any movies. I was out of town part of the week and then watching season premieres of various shows the remainder of the week... and, of course, football all day Saturday. However, I saw this when it was in the theater, so it still totally counts. So, since it just came out on DVD, here are my thoughts:
I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I don't think this was it. The storyline seemed pretty obvious just from the title. That part didn't disappoint. It just wasn't McConaughey-ish. Or maybe I'm just over the huge crush I had on him in the early part of this decade. I mean, he's still definitely in the "ruggedly handsome" category but I think the whole stoned bongo playing and bragging about not wearing deodorant has gotten to me. Yet, I loved Failure To Launch and thought he was really good in that. I guess I was hoping for something similar. I still can't really decide if it was him or the movie itself...
The story is about Connor (McConaughey)... a big-time photographer totally obsessed with his bachelorhood. As corny as I think the word is, he is best described as a player. So, when his little brother decides to get married, of course Connor tries to talk him out of it and then tries to find a way out of even going. Obviously, he ends up going and causing drama. The drama is compounded by the presence of his childhood best friend / brief girlfriend as an adult, Jenny. I don't fully understand how Jenny was connected to the bride, but she was a bridesmaid and I think she was assigned to Connor-sitting duties. Well, the night before the wedding, the ghost of Connor's uncle (and his role model in womanizing) visits him to let him know that 3 girlfriends will be coming to him to show him all the chaos surrounding his playboy ways. Then the movie starts jumping between past and present and felt a little hectic to me. In between visions, he manages to cause major problems in the present day that put his brother's wedding in jeopardy. I'll stop the summary here so I don't give away too much. It's a romantic comedy, so I'm sure the ending will come as a shock to no one, but still, I'll be polite.
All in all, there were some funny parts (like his first girlfriend - hilarious!) and I don't feel like I wasted the two hours of my life. I think this is a movie that will be better the second time I watch it. And I will watch it again. I liked it okay just not as much as I thought I would. I'll just call it average. And, in keeping with that, I give it a C.
I have The Rocker at home to watch at some point. I'm still debating if I will like the movie or if I'm only watching it because I hope Rainn Wilson will have some Schrute-like moments. Hmm. Not sure.
Theater-wise, I can't wait for Couples Retreat to open weekend after next. Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau wrote the movie and are in it!? I love it already. This just seems like the type of movie that requires you to go with a couple of couples... so who's in?
