I HATE VALENTINE’S DAY

US, 2009, 98 minutes, Colour.
Nia Vardalos, John Corbett.
Directed by Nia Vardalos.

I Hate Valentine’s Day has the unfortunate title which could lead many people who did not like the film, and there were many, to say “I hate I Hate Valentine’s Day”.

Nia Vardalos had scored great success, along with John Corbett, in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. However, as writer and director this time, she provides a romantic comedy that is all grins, sweetness and light, despite some people saying they hate Valentine’s Day.

Nia Vardalos portrays Genevieve, a woman who owns a flower shop, assisted by two very prissy and camp salesmen. She encounters Greg (John Corbett) who is opening a tapas shop down the street. He is rather wooden in his personality, tries to crack jokes but they fall flat. In collaboration with him, she helps design his café. She also has a rule about relationships that they last only five days. With some miscounting, there is a difficulty at the ending of Genevieve’s and Greg’s relationships, causing concern to all her friends. Through a series of rather contrived circumstances, the two eventually become long-term partners.

The film is very much dependent on Nia Vardalos’s rather bubbly personality, but this time always perpetually smiling. John Corbett can sometimes be lively but here he is rather lifeless.

1. Romantic comedy? Capitalising on Valentine’s Day and its atmosphere? Say it with flowers?

2. The city settings, homes and apartments, the streets, the different shops, restaurants? The musical score? Authentic feel?

3. The title, the people commenting on Valentine’s Day? Genevieve and her sales? The gifts? Her own attitude?

4. Genevieve as a character, bright and breezy? Yet not wanting permanent relationships? Working with Bill and Bob? Her other friends? Discussions? Curiosity about Greg? His coming into the shop, her helping him with the restaurant? Their relationship, her setting down the terms? His finishing it, her being upset at his wrong counting? Her getting the huff with him, her treatment of him? The friends rallying round? Their coming together, the final happy ending?

5. Greg, rather stolid, his background, the restaurant and the various owners, his wanting to cook tapas? His puns? Getting help with the restaurant, Genevieve helping, his awkwardness? The relationship, its effect on him? Thinking it was over? Her shunning him? The reconciliation?

6. The range of characters in the shop, the range of friends? Bill and Bob, their characters, camp? Tammy and her friendship? The help with Tim the delivery guy, the sensible married man? John and his relationship with Genevieve’s mother? Her encounters with her parents, their separation, their characters? Her questioning them about their lives?

7. A piece of romantic froth – perhaps too cheery for many audiences?