Plot
A widower whose book about coping with loss turns him into a best-selling self-help guru, falls for the hotel florist where his seminar is given, only to learn that he hasn't yet truly confronted his wife's passing.

Release Year: 2009

Rating: 5.5/10 (12,228 voted)

Critic's Score: 33/100

Director: Brandon Camp

Stars: Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart, Dan Fogler

Storyline
Burke is a motivational speaker whose book about dealing with grief is a best seller. His wife died in a car accident three years ago. He's in Seattle to lead a week-long workshop on healing and to negotiate a major multi-media deal. But something's amiss: he's a closet drinker, he won't ride elevators, his moods swing, he's estranged from his wife's father, and he's very much alone. In a hotel hallway, he bumps into a woman arranging flowers, tries to chat with her, and gets the brush-off. She's Eloise, a local florist who's just broken up with a boyfriend. He's persistent and they eventually go to dinner - it goes badly. What's blocking Burke? Can the physician heal himself.

Writers: Brandon Camp, Mike Thompson

Cast:
Aaron Eckhart - Burke
Jennifer Aniston - Eloise Chandler
Dan Fogler - Lane
John Carroll Lynch - Walter
Martin Sheen - Burke's Father-in-Law
Judy Greer - Marty
Frances Conroy - Eloise's Mom
Joe Anderson - Tyler
Sasha Alexander - Jessica
Clyde Kusatsu - Cab Driver
Anne Marie DeLuise - Unicom Executive #1
Tyler McClendon - Unicom Executive #2
Panou - Unicom Executive #3
Michael Kopsa - Ted Vernon - Unicom CEO
Michelle Harrison - Cynthia

Taglines: Sometimes when you least expect it...

Official Website: Official site [Netherlands] | Universal Pictures [United States] |

Release Date: 18 September 2009

Filming Locations: Seattle, Washington, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: $8,057,010 (USA) (20 September 2009) (1898 Screens)

Gross: $22,783,960 (USA) (25 October 2009)

Runtime: USA: 109 min

Trivia:
"Unicom" appears to be a combination of the names "Universal" and "Viacom".

Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Burke arrives to the hotel for the first time and drinks a vodka on ice, the ice cubes disappear while drinking. Nevertheless, you can still hear the ice cubes.

Quotes:
Eloise: If you had a brain in either head, you'd know that I'm doing what's best for both of us.

Not quite what I was expecting

Rating: 7/10

I went to a preview of this movie last night with my husband. I was expecting the standard romantic comedy chick flick. Although there are plenty of funny moments in this movie, it has an emotional depth that is very appealing. It also has another really great performance by Aaron Eckhart, who must be one of the most unappreciated actors in the business. I'm no Jennifer Aniston fan, but I have to admit she's a talented actress and not just a celebrity when I see her in a role like this. Judy Greer and Dan Fogler are great in supporting roles.

It's difficult to say much about the plot without giving most of it away. The script is full of the physco-babble you would expect in a movie about a self help guru; sometimes it comes across as intentionally silly, and sometimes it seems to have real meaning. There are small revelations made all the way through the movie that lead up to the final conclusion.

There is also unexpected eye candy in the form of beautiful floral arrangements that contrast well with the gloomy Seattle weather.

I was afraid my 56-year-old husband would complain about driving 45 minutes to see a movie like this on a week night. But he also enjoyed it, and there were no complaints. Most of the people in the theater also seemed to enjoy it, although I have to admit that they didn't laugh as much as we did. Not a "must see", but if you're looking for some good entertainment, you could do far worse.

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