Quite an odious, bland, unoriginal film really but one whose message seems to be slightly different than the one intended.
It opens by naming a ‘bitch’ ex-girlfriend of the writer so its woman hating is established swiftly. Later comparisons between the ‘messing with Tom’s head for 18 months’ by Summer and Sid Vicious stabbing Nancy Spungen are too ridiculous to take seriously but somehow the film does. The lead character Tom is so self obsessed and entitled he believes that a woman not loving him ‘right’ is the same as murder.
The intention of the film seems to be (although its lack of direction makes this a generous leap) about finding a happy medium between cynicism and the type of romantic love perpetuated by songs, literature and film (oh the irony). But actually it serves rather well as an indictment of romance as a whole although not as effectively as In the Cut for example.
The fact that Tom is so unlikeable works against the films sexism and its dismissal of Summer’s synicism. Other people, blind-date Alison especially, tell Tom that he’s being unreasonable or a stalker. Other people are sensible. The conclusion we take from the film is that Tom was wrong and that relationships are about more than one person. I don’t think Tom, or the writer, understands that stories about couple relationships are less interesting if they don’t consider both parties.
There’s a great Flick-Off about this film on Bitch Flicks which deals with the lack of characterisation (or general point) to the film.
