Good start, but then it gets ruined

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

This movie was entertaining. It had several hilarious zingers by Hugh Grant. The story was good and the plot had drama, comedy, and romance rolled into one.

Stories about writers who are having difficulty putting pen to paper are a dime a dozen, but I found this one charming. Hugh Grant plays the fallow screenwriter who follows the adage, "Those who can't...teach." His life is a total failure on all fronts, but he manages to survive thanks to a droll wit and his refusal to lay down and die.Marisa Tomei plays the object of his distracted attention with her usual aplomb. Without committing to anything, she becomes the rudder to his floundering ship, with insight and a tender recognition for his hidden value. But it is Grant who makes this film something special, imbuing every scene with an honesty that makes the story enjoyable. Here he is not so glib as he is dealing with the trials of every moment.This is a sleeper I must recommend.

Yes, I liked it. More than I thought I would; much more. I am not the hugest fan of Hugh Grant, but this film played well to both his strengths and weaknesses as an actor and, well, to the background of his life, shall we say. I salute his ability to accept his strengths and weaknesses in accepting the part. The film suggested that, apart from the louche aspects of English writer Keith Michael's life, the part he plays, the chap has a heart and deserves redemption. He just needed the right girl to awaken it and also to awaken his inspiration. He deserved that filip both as character and person. Marisa Tomei was never lovelier than in her girl-next-door role. It is a pity we haven't seen more of her on screen in the meantime. So Hollywood but I love it! There is this dismissive attitude to feel-good movies, as they are called. But I love 'em. Those that succeed,as this does, have this pleasant, positive and life- affirming aura about them. Hollywood's greatest invention, along with the Western. Shakespeare's King Lear is for manic-depressives!In this film, miracles can happen in middle America, that great space in middle of the country that the elites of both sides of the country fly over without caring about it much. But this is the engine of the American economy and the American soul. And writing this review at this time, there are additional political resonances here, are there not?This is a light but philosophical comedy and there is nothing wrong with that, I say. But, to its credit, it does suggest the harsher, harder side of Hollywood. The film didn't have to lay it on the line but I liked that it suggested. at least, the more abrasive quality of reality, particularly the reality of a Hollywood writer who fears he may be past his best. But also, as I said, that the American dream prevails, in the artistic imagination if not always in real life, is an important proposition of the genre. And I say that as someone not American but someone who speaks with Hugh Grant's accent if, enviously, not being quite as good looking as him!Film, or movies, if you prefer, is still the vibrant artistic genre of our time. Modern Western music, architecture, sculpture and painting, seem to be in decline. We needs must take our comfort where we may.Two hours emphatically not wasted.And not to forget Alison Janney, the adversarial mid-West professor, I love her from The West Wing. Pity we haven't seen more of her on- screen in the meantime.

Keith Michaels (Hugh Grant) is a sharp-tongued Oscar-winning screenplay writer of the popular "Paradise Misplaced". That was 15 years ago and he has fewer options now. His agent gets him a job teaching a screen writing course at Binghamton University in upstate New York. He sleeps with college student Karen before even starting his class. Dr. Lerner (J.K. Simmons) is the department chairman and he's fighting with Jane Austen expert Professor Mary Weldon (Allison Janney). He doesn't believe in teaching writing, and picks mostly hot girls with a couple of nerdy guys for his class. He is hounded by single mom Holly Carpenter (Marisa Tomei) who really wants to be a writer.Hugh Grant is having a bit of fun spreading his charm around whether it's wanted or not. He reunites with Marc Lawrence but the writing could be sharper. It is filled with quips from Grant but not all of it sticks. Tomei is lovely and I wish the movie concentrated on her more. In a rom-com, she needs to have more screen time. Also she is too nice and perfect. It doesn't lend itself for outrageous fun. She's kindly charming. The movie has a great cast and they keep the middling material chugging along.