The Shrink Is In

this movie was totally watchable. i was surprised at how funny it was. it can how ever be a little slowpaced on the comedy angle. i liked the premise, and it was done very well. i do think this movie was missing something though. it is a good movie, and is definitely worth a watch... you'll get a few good laughs. but it is definitely not nonstop laughter which there is the potential for. as far as style goes, it reminds me of 28 days, love potion number 9, or "dr jekyl and mrs hyde", all of which could have been hilarious, and did indeed have some memorable parts, but missing something that gets it in your home collection.

Samantha (Courteney Cox) is a Los Angeles travel writer that jets off to faraway places a good deal of the time. One day, as her fiancé taxies her to the airport, he also informs her that he is unhappy with their relationship and is taking a job in New York City. Samantha boards the plane but breaks the law when she makes an emergency exit from the near-takeoff ready aircraft. Understandably, she ends up in therapy with a kind counselor (Carol Kane). Yet, one day the legitimate shrink has a breakdown and Samantha is the only one who can take her to the hospital and, subsequently, cancel the doctor's appointments for the next few weeks. Lo and behold, Samantha's attractive, new, and decidedly married neighbor, Michael, arrives for his first session and Sam decides to "pose" as the counselor. She does this to get to closer to him, having witnessed problems between him and his French, Victoria's Secret-model wife. Also arriving in the building is a magazine salesman named Henry (David Arquette) whose business caters to physicians. He strikes up a friendship with Sam, also. But, will it be a case of Henry likes Samantha, Samantha likes Michael, and Michael cares only for himself? And, when will the truth surface? This is a fun-filled film with charming performers and a clever plot. Cox and Arquette, married in real life, make the most of their sly roles and Kane is terrific as the on-the-edge counselor. The other cast mates are gorgeous and talented, too. All of a movie's assets, from sets to costumes to direction, are quite fine as well. If you love your romcoms, don't miss out on a showing of this film! Instead, shrink your daily to-do list, run to the video store or library, and get your mitts around this comic tale of love.

This is a pleasant enough diversion of a movie. Courteney Cox basically plays Monica, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Her performance in the movie's introduction is forced, but after that is fine. The movie holds up especially well in those scenes without David Arquette. I've never been a fan of that 'Look how wacky I am' brand of humour, and it falls flat on its face here. The writing is unoriginal, but sometimes that's a nice thing in a movie; we know that everything will be fine in the end. There's the odd funny line, but a little too much farce (i.e. Cox repeatedly falling off a chair) or juvenile humor that adds little. Average, but adequately entertaining.

It is amazing to me how many higher budget films are released with such an amount of hoopla, about nothing. It seems that critics have their favorite actors and whatever they are in, somehow makes the project they are reviewing great. The Shrink is in is a funny and sweet fantasy in which Courteney and David play parts which sum up their relationship. That is: Different, funny and loving. The plot, although not altogether plausible, works well because of the chemistry between the actors and the fast paced directing. Film budgets do not break or make a film. The Shrink is in is proof of that. "You've Got Mail" did not have anything over this film except a large studio budget. God bless the Indies.

Kimberley Davies left Australia to go to Hollywood to become a "serious actress", because she wasn't being treated seriously in Australia (so she said). And this is the result????? Playing a half-naked plastic blonde tart with a terrible fake French accent! And for this she wants to be taken seriously????? Kimberley, Kimberley... Change your reality medication, what you're taking now simply isn't working anymore.