vs.
Premise
Love Happens- Romantic comedy about a guy who doesn’t want to be a motivational speaker (but somehow ended up being one) falling in love with a hot florist. 3 parts romance/1 part comedy
The Informant! - a corporate insider threatens to expose his company. Only his company just sells corn, the informant is in love with being a spy, and, because he wants others to know it as well, he’s not very good. Yeah, we’re laughing at you Michael Clayton and The Insider.
Edge: The Informant
Leading Man
Love Happens- With his two major roles being from Thank You for Smoking and The Dark Knight, Aaron Eckhart is the man. Plus, he could probably store at least a pound of rations in his chin cleft if you ever took him on a camping trip.
The Informant! - Good Will Hunting, Saving Private Ryan, Rounders, Ocean’s Eleven, Bourne Identity, The Departed…would somebody even bat an eye if you told them those were your 6 favorite films? Those chin rations won’t save you against this barrage of movies Aaron.
Edge: The Informant
Leading Woman
Love Happens- Jennifer Aniston is clearly hot, and clearly famous for one role she played quite a while ago (no, not from Office Space). Jennifer, you have been with an actor, a musician, and a comedian. You need to round out with an athlete and I just happened to be captain of my high school baseball team.
The Informant – There, uh, is no leading lady. Rusty Schwimmer is the closest thing, but…it’s just never a good thing when you’re female and your name is “rusty”.
Edge: Love Happens
when I was in High school, even I wanted this haircut
Preview
Love Happens- This preview hits a home run with an 0-2 count.
Strike one- Couple meets by bumping into each other. Really guys? Nothing better than that?
Strike two- The main male character says he has to go and then we see him running through a forest backdrop so fake it makes the Hills look like a documentary.
Homerun- Hollywood’s amazing ability to name movies. See how they took a popular idiom and replaced one word with the word love? It works great. Try it on your favorite. ( Mine are, ” he bit off more than he could love”, and “It’s raining cats and love.”)
The Informant! - reels you in, making you think it’s a serious conspiracy film, then BAM…hits you with the comedy. Solid work preview makers. The only request I have: more shots of that ‘stache.
Edge: The Informant!
X-Factor
Love Happens- The soundtrack to a preview is very key. And although the Goo Goo Dolls “Better Days” has been used 38 times before, it still gets single female rear ends into movie theaters and sobbing.
The Informant – We have “Flight of the Valkyries” for this background song…too overplayed, and doesn’t really fit. Besides, do you know what a Valkyrie is? (“Tom Cruise” will not be accepted as a valid answer).
Edge: Love Happens
Winner: The Informant!
