Review: New Year's Eve (2011)

Reviewed New Year's Eve (2011) by an author (letterboxd.com)

The lives of several couples and singles in New York intertwine over the course of New Year's Eve.

What are your hopes for the new year?

From the director of Valentine’s Day, the new film New Year’s Eve also follows different people’s lives and how they intersect during a single day. Director Garry Marshall and writer Katherine Fugate present a new set of stories of people and their relationships. This time, most of the stories are not restricted to romantic relationships. While the storylines occurred simultaneously, only a few fully crossed over to another story, with some only having the setting or familial relationship as the common denominator.

Here are some of my favorite storylines:

In the Jensen/Laura story, Jon Bon Jovi (Pucked) plays Jensen, a rock star who wants to reconcile with Laura, a chef played by Katherine Heigl (Life as We Know It). I liked this storyline not because of the main characters but of the supporting cast. Sofia Vergara (Modern Family), played Chef Ava, is a scene stealer.

In the Resolution Tour, Michelle Pfeiffer (Stardust) plays Ingrid, a receptionist who just quit her job and wants to fulfill her resolution list. She met Paul, a bike messenger played by Zac Efron (Charlie St. Cloud), and asked him to help her. How Paul checked off her list is genius.

In the New Year Baby, Seth Myers (Saturday Night Live) and Jessica Biel (The A-Team) compete with another couple in a race to have their baby to be named the hospital’s New Year baby and win a prize. This is the comedy storyline of the film. I liked how this story ended.

The other storylines in this film feature the following: Robert De Niro (Killer Elite), Halle Berry (X-Men: The Last Stand), Ashton Kutcher (What Happens in Vegas), Lea Michele (Glee), Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City), Josh Duhamel (Life as We Know It), Hilary Swank (Amelia), and Ludacris (Fast Five). I am surprised by the appearance of Alysa Milano (Charmed) and Joey McIntyre (NKOTB).

This is pretty much a feel-good movie. Quick rating: 3.5 falling balls out of 5.

Please watch the credits. It contains scenes during the New Year’s party and hilarious outtakes.

New Year’s Eve is now in cinemas. It is distributed by Warner Brothers Philippines.

Poster and still images (c) 2011 Warner Bros.

: http://promdigeek.blogspot.com/2011/12/review-new-years-eve-2011.html