50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

Jordan Hawley's 'How to Lose Your Lover' is my kind of movie – all about brainy self-examination, funny, and full of twists.

For me it's genuinely original – goodbyes are always about fake warm feelings, not burning bridges.

Enjoy the psychosis, the antics, the irreverence and the decadence - but when it counts there is real heart in here, too.

Setting this sort of thing in LA is something I've never seen.

I want to call Hawley 'West Coast Woody'.

Has any movie celebrated the buildings and landmarks of LA in the same way?

Owen (Paul Schneider) is an erstwhile writer who lives in Los Angeles. He loves the city but he is having trouble on two fronts. One, his work is mainly "ghost writing" sensational crimes, like the exploits of a set of homicidal twins. At present, he is working on the biography of a former astronaut (Fred Willard). And, second, Owen is having trouble in the romance department, too. He is still in love with his ex, Eileen, when an earthquake shakes the town, scaring everyone. But, to add insult to injury, Owen's former flame tells him that the quake has led her to conclude that any reconciliation between them is out of the question. Mightily depressed, Owen decides to burn every bridge in LaLa Land and move east. Thus, in short order, he says goodbye to his great pal, Allison (Poppy Montgomery) and her girlfriend (Tori Spelling), gives up his apartment and smokes a reefer right in front of his old AA group. He also sells his car. But, when he arrives at the airport to fly to New Jersey and begin his new life, wouldn't you know, a pretty woman, Val (Jennifer Westfeldt) is there, kissing a man goodbye. Since she is a friend of Eileen's, he strikes up a conversation when they are alone. It is there he learns that she has broken up with her boyfriend (one last kiss for good measure, it seems) and is available. Owen likes what he sees and so does Val. Yet, how can return to the city of Angels when he has just given the town the raspberry? Nevertheless, Owen u-turns and bunks with Allison while his relationship with Val is beginning. Since time is of the essence, Owen puts Val to the "test", trying to see if she will find a problem with his worst habits. What will be ahead for these two? This was such a delightful romantic comedy! It has zest, imagination, and humor in abundance. It also has a very capable cast, with Schneider, Montgomery, Willard, Spelling, Westfeldt, and everyone else doing great work. Quite nice as well are the sets, costumes, and production values. Most importantly, the writing and direction are downright wonderful, far above the norm in tinseltown. If you adore funny tales of love, get this one without delay. It wrote the book on "how to have a fun night in"!

Jordan Hawley wrote and directed this dark 'comedy' about the current state of love/hate relationships in Los Angeles (or inability to create same) with about as much panache as yesterday's onion rings. The storyline has been used so many times that the tread is off the tires.

LA ghostwriter Owen (Paul Schneider) is a 'nice guy' who sustains an inability to form a satisfactory love relationship. Exasperated with his life style he decides to become a cad: that must be what women (and men) want. He reverses his nice guy tactic and begins telling everyone he encounters just how he feels - and that is usually negative! The only person who doesn't but into his change is his roommate Allison (Poppy Montgomery) who is bisexual and therefore not wholly available. He decides to leave Los Angeles and move to the East Coast where a lucrative deal awaits him to write the memoirs of a famous man. At the last moment he meets one Val (Jennifer Westfeldt), an animal activist: the chemistry is there but each has a conflicting program. Owen is honest with her, a factor that does not chase her away, but both part ways to other parts of the world. Upon return to LA after a disappointing experience on the East Coast, tables turn and surprises arise. And the ending is a mixture of silly and unsatisfying.

Movies like this are meant to entertain and some of the dialogue is clever albeit acerbic. It just that the idea of relationship examination under these terms is so worn out that the movie just doesn't spark any innovative thoughts. After about thirty minutes into the film this 'audience' lost interest.

In what proves to be a most enjoyable viewing experience, this new filmmaker (Jordan Hawley) does more than provide diverting fodder. He cleverly documents the struggle between one's expectations and one's reality, the desire to achieve dreams imagined in youth - idyllic family life in New England - and the need to appreciate what you have - a charming existence in Los Angeles.

Paul Schneider's performance is remarkable, while not necessarily surprising (see his brief turn in "The Family Stone.") His embodiment of Owen, the clever and reflective protagonist, gives us plenty to appreciate and even more to laugh about.

Los Angeles is rarely portrayed in this positive a light so effectively. Without becoming too sentimental, the filmmaker shows the people of Los Angeles what they could be seeing everyday, if they would open their eyes and quit bitching.

I loved the movie! My wife, a friend and I watched it together and found ourselves laughing really hard. We particularly liked the scenes where the main character did his best to alienate all of his "friends". I'm sure all of us have had similar urges with people we have met either socially or at work, but would never act on them the way he does. The dialogue and reactions really are brilliantly written and cast.

We also loved the relationships and character development throughout the move, as well as the ending twist.

A definite must for anyone who loves a good movie and loves to laugh!