Film Snail

7.0

Love & Other Drugs

R·2010·112m

Drama

Comedy

Romance

Drama

Comedy

Romance

Summary

Maggie is an alluring free spirit who won't let anyone – or anything – tie her down. But she meets her match in Jamie, whose relentless and nearly infallible charm serves him well with the ladies and the cutthroat world of pharmaceutical sales. Maggie and Jamie's evolving relationship takes them both by surprise, as they find themselves under the influence of the ultimate drug: love.

Cast

Jake Gyllenhaal

Jamie Randall

Anne Hathaway

Maggie Murdock

Oliver Platt

Bruce Winston

Hank Azaria

Dr. Stan Knight

Josh Gad

Josh Randall

Gabriel Macht

Trey Hannigan

Judy Greer

Cindy

Jill Clayburgh

Nancy Randall

George Segal

Dr. James Randall

Kate Jennings Grant

Gina

Katheryn Winnick

"Lisa"

Kimberly Scott

Gail

Peter Friedman

California Man

Nikki DeLoach

Christy

Natalie Gold

Dr. Helen Randall

Megan Ferguson

Farrah

Michael Benjamin Washington

Richard

Bingo O'Malley

Sam

Dorothy Silver

Sophie

Lucy Roucis

UN Convention Parkinson's Speaker

Joan Augustin

Joan

Michael Chernus

Jerry

Kate Easton

Amber

Michael Buffer

Pfizer Convention MC

Maïté Schwartz

Texas

Maximilian Osinski

Ned

Ian Harding

Pfizer Trainee #1

Josh Breslow

Pfizer Trainee #2

Ian Novick

Pfizer Trainee #3

Tess Soltau

Pfizer Trainee #4

Constance Brenneman

Pfizer Trainee #5

Nicole Thomas

Pfizer Trainee #6

Jasper Soffer

Pfizer Trainee #7

Kwame Rakes

Doctor in Parking Lot

Scott Cohen

Ted Goldstein

Sharon Wilkins

La Boheme Receptionist

Brian Hutchison

Homeless Man

Dana Dancho

Smiling Receptionist

Lisa Ann Goldsmith

Nurse Janice

Rick Applegate

Viagra Doctor

Ray Godshall Sr.

Friendly Senior

Jean Zarzour

Viagra Sample Nurse

Harry O'Toole

Man with Walker

Jennifer Delaeo

Viagra Receptionist

Deidre Goodwin

Viagra Nurse #1

Geneva Carr

Viagra Nurse #2

Vanessa Aspillaga

Viagra Nurse #3

Patricia Cray

Kindly-looking Woman

Kristin Spatafore

Convention Girl #1

Larissa Emanuele

Convention Girl #2

Loretta Higgins

PET Scan Doctor

Kimberly M. Rizzo

Front Desk Receptionist

Jason Bernard

Quack Doctor

Nicole Perrone

Determined Receptionist

Jo Newman

Bree

Christina Fandino

Khae

Teri Clark

ER Receptionist

Kevin McClatchy

Justin

Jaimie Alexander

Carol (uncredited)

Diedra Arthur-O'Ree

Medical Convention Attendee (uncredited)

Stephanie Bankosh

Pharmaceutical Rep (uncredited)

David Barckhoff

Medical Convention Vendor (uncredited)

Robert R. Bell

Doctor (uncredited)

Aaron Bernard

Bartender (uncredited)

Ralph Browning

Medical Convention Attendee (uncredited)

Alissa Collins

Tea Woman (uncredited)

Kyle Fields

Party Rep (uncredited)

Joe Forgione

Pfizer Trainee #8 (uncredited)

Nicole George

Viagra Receptionist (uncredited)

Ryan Goimarac

Pfizer Drug Rep. Graduate (uncredited)

Mark Golik

Physician (uncredited)

John W. Iwanonkiw

Viagra Guy (uncredited)

Sharyn Kmieciak

UN Convention Attendee (uncredited)

Wayne Leya

UN Convention Attendee (uncredited)

David Dale McCue

Pfizer Rep. (uncredited)

David Morse

Tony Lerma, Lilly Sales Rep. (uncredited)

Christian Pearson

Physician (uncredited)

Chris A. Riskus

Trade Show Patron (uncredited)

Nayli Russo

PJ Party Girl (uncredited)

Michael K. Sieg

Pfizer Rep. (uncredited)

Laura Welsh

Hospital Administrator (uncredited)

Morgan Wolk

Lilly Spokesmodel (uncredited)

Conan O'Brien

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Gwyneth E. Larsen

Dancer (as Gwyneth Larsen)

Brooke Miyasaki

Dancer

Jackson Nunn

Viagra Guy #2 (uncredited)

Crew

Director, Screenplay

Edward Zwick

Book

Jamie Reidy

Screenplay

Marshall Herskovitz

Screenplay

Charles Randolph

Reviews

TitanGusang

May 16, 2023

On the surface, Love & Other Drugs appears to be a typical romantic comedy that follows the tried-and-true formula of a ladies' man, Jamie (played by Jake Gyllenhaal), falling in love with his latest hookup, Maggie (played by Anne Hathaway). However, what sets this movie apart from its contemporaries is its poignant exploration of Maggie's struggle with Parkinson's disease.

The movie can be divided into two halves: the first is a typical rom-com, complete with witty banter and charming flirtations between Jamie and Maggie. However, midway through the film, the tone takes a dramatic shift as the focus shifts to Maggie's struggles with her illness. The movie becomes intimate and shockingly raw as Jamie tries to cope with the future struggles he and Maggie will face together, while simultaneously portraying Maggie's struggle to let someone in and take care of her. This story really works and brought tears to my eyes near the end.

While the direction is pretty bland and lacks any real sense of style, the performances are strong. Both Hathaway and Gyllenhaal have excellent chemistry and play off each other perfectly. However, the real standout performance comes from Josh Gad, whose comedic timing is brilliant and whose scenes had me laughing out loud.

One aspect of the movie that detracts from its overall impact is the excessive use of nudity. Hathaway is shown topless in almost every scene, to the point where it feels quite predatory. While I am not sure if the choice to include this excessive nudity was made by the director or writing team, its frequency detracts from the intimacy of the characters' interactions and feels quite gratuitous.

Overall, Love & Other Drugs is a solid romantic comedy that attempts to do something a little different, which I can definitely appreciate. Its exploration of illness and its effects on relationships adds a layer of depth and emotion that the typical rom-com formula usually lacks.

Score: 70% 👍 Verdict: Good