Down to You

Down to You: Boy meets girl, they fall in love, relationship cools, couple breaks up and each is tortured by thoughts of "What if…"

I decided to see this movie because I enjoyed Julia Stiles' performance in "10 Things I Hate About You". However, after seeing the marquee poster - a knockoff of "The Very Thought of You" - I scaled down my expectations and braced for a painful two hours. My prediction was partially correct.

Unlike the typical teen oriented romantic comedy there was an attempt to infuse this movie with a bit of reality. Unfortunately, the writers apparently could not decide if they wanted to make a romantic comedy or a serious relationship movie. The result is a confused mess: a ludicrous subplot about a student's burgeoning career as a pornographer gets far more screen time than does the terrified couple trying to come to grips with a potential pregnancy.

The second problem is the chemistry between Stiles and Freddie Prinze Jr - there is none (I blame the casting director for this). Although both actors have screen presence, they don't click as a duo, consequently, their interactions- especially the fight scenes -do not ring true. Their job is made doubly difficult by having to utter stupid lines.

This movie has been targeted to a certain market, and will probably do well.

Too bad.

Al Connelly (Freddie Prinze Jr.) is a college sophomore who meets the girl of his dreams, freshman Imogen (Julia Stiles). His father is famous TV Chef Ray (Henry Winkler) and he would love to be his own master chef.

It's written poorly, and shot awkwardly. This is Kris Isacsson's first big film. The dialog is clunky. It starts right from love at first sight, then meanders with no drama until they break up after a pregnancy scare. There are things that don't make any sense, and things that's just isn't funny. It is being told by both Al and Imogen's point of view. They talk right into the camera at the audience which stops the movie every time and do a lot of narration.

But the future star power of the cast is amazing. They got Selma Blair as a porno star, Ashton Kutcher as a weirdo musician, and Rosario Dawson as her best friend. It's fun to see them when they were lesser known actors.

What was I thinking? I basically got drawn into seeing this because all my friends wanted to. I figured "why not" and while I was watching the "film" I found myself asking over and over "Why me?" Sure Freddie Prinze Jr. is nice to look at, but worth 7 bucks? I think not.

Now, where have I seen this movie before? Oh yes...every other movie directed towards teens in the recent years. I'm sorry, I might just be a teenager but I know crap when it's crap and I know what I like, and this movie I did not. Where was the plot? Where was one spec of originality? And where were the actors?

Selma Blair was the best of the bunch. I don't care how good looking Freddie is, he needs to take some acting classes, either that strive to make his characters have a little bit more difference then the name change. I like Julia Stiles, but normally when you have to play off a bad actor it reflects badly on you. I didn't see the chemistry this couple was supposed to have.

Yes "Down to You" has it's cute moments, some funny moment, and few sweet moment, but worth 7 bucks? Not a snowball's chance in hell. Save your money and your time. Wait for video, or just don't see it at all.

"Down to You" is a film about a relationship between two college students. At first, it's magical and special but over time things begin to sour and they slowly drift apart. Is there any hope for the couple?

The writing of "Down to You" is very frustrating because it seems as if two folks wrote the film separately and then shoved them together...whether they fit or not. On one hand, you have a very sweet romance between Julia Stiles and Freddy Prinze Jr....and I liked that a lot. On the other, you have some supporting characters which don't fit the film at all and you question why Prinze's character would even associate with these jerks they call his friends. I did like Henry Winkler as Prinze's father...but the rest of the supporting cast just didn't fit in and just seemed like extras from a totally different movie...such as a raunchy comedy like "The Hangover" or "Superbad". The combination of the two just didn't work...and it's a shame, as Stiles (especially) and Prinze were essentially wasted.

I loved the relationship...it was very sweet. I also loved the asides--the times when the characters step out of the fourth wall. Brilliant and enjoyable. But the rest...just didn't fit and seemed a distraction. And, late in the film, they had one of the pair do something out of character and mean-spirited...which left me feeling annoyed. Why??!! Overall, a weird film that had great elements....as well as a lot of crap that really undid so much of the good. Frustrating and I am sure the two leads must have been frustrated as well by this...as the film really could have given a boost to their careers had the writing been consistent.

Yet another Freddie Prinze Jnr-lead teen romance comedy about two college students, Alec (Prinze Jnr) and Imogen (Julia Stiles, Save The Last Dance) who fall in love, and experience the highs and lows of being in a serious relationship. The good stuff: Unique and refreshing editing, Julia Stiles. The bad stuff: Freddie Prinze Jnr... he's a very ordinary actor, the plot... 100% unoriginal and not very engaging. Overall, I wouldn't say this is a bad movie, but it's not 'good' in any sense of the term and is ultimately completely forgettable.