'The Romantics' review

Josh Duhamel and Katie Holmes (Credit: Paramount Famous Productions)

["The Romantics" premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. The following is an excerpt from Metromix's coverage of the festival.]

Katie Holmes produces and stars in "The Romantics," a movie that will remind people that yes, Mrs. Tom Cruise can act.

Directed by longtime film producer Galt Niederhoffer, and based on her novel of the same name, "Romantics" unites a group of friends known for their messy romantic entanglements. Now two members of the tribe (Anna Paquin, Josh Duhamel) are getting married, but the focus is on the maid of honor (Holmes) who shares a romantic history with the groom and an uncomfortable friendship/rivalry with the bride.

Much of Niederhoffer's dialogue wrings false, or simply feels overwritten, but she also creates quite a few interesting moments, especially in the central love triangle. Even though she doesn't have an entirely sure hand, Niederhoffer remains committed to her characters and exposing their strengths and insecurities. The film has echoes of "Rachel Getting Married," without the overblown family crisis or self-indulgent focus on Things the Filmmaker Likes.

Holmes finally proves she's completely capable of carrying a movie, while Paquin lends excellent support and Malin Akerman and "Glee's" Dianna Agron have the best moments among the film's expansive but underwritten secondary cast. The men are afterthoughts, with Duhamel handed a blank role, Adam Brody around just to crack wise and Elijah Wood given the least of all. But one of the best qualities of "Romantics" is that it's a movie about the emotions and friendships of women.

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