Right at the start here I have to admit that I have been known to truly enjoy a romantic comedy. I have even watched a couple with friends on a slow weekend afternoon. In other words I have no inherent prejudice for the genre and hold no gender based disfavor for a film typically referred to as a chick flick. What matters is how well the film rises to meet the demands and requirements of its genre when compared to others of its ilk. A rom-com is intended to be light and silly is usually acceptable in moderation. It also tends to follow a strict, three act format; have the couple meet and fall in love, have something happen to pull them apart then just before the closing credits get them back together. Details in each section are prone to alteration but that is the Cliff notes version of the genre. The film ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’ is never going to be sited as a definitive example of the genre but it does hit all the requisite benchmarks in such a way as to make for an enjoyable date night flick. While the film falls just short of it potential some imitative, witty dialogue and the sheer likable nature of the lead actors carry the movie along. Like many films of this sort the budget was modest, about $60 million, and the box office was more than sufficient to declare the movie financially viable again largely due to the drawing power of the main cast as established romantic comedy stars. Historically, this is the genre that results in more fan favorite actors and actresses than just about any other type of movie. This film did have a DVD release back in 2003 right after the end of the theatrical run. Now, Paramount has re-released it as a deluxe edition. Instead of a choice between full-screen and letterboxed as previous offered this time the selection is between DVD and Blu-ray. Either way you will have an evening filled with some laughs.

The script comes from Kristen Buckley, Brian Regan and Burr Steers based on the cartoons by Jeannie Long and Michele Alexander. Considering the brevity of the source material the authors of the screenplay did a very good job of fleshing out the premise and bringing it more into the real world. Buckley and Steers previously scripted ‘102 Dalmatians’ together while Steers produced the Indy hit ‘Igby Goes Down’. Fortunately with this kind of flick it is not absolutely necessary for the fundamental premise to make sense. All that is really needed is some thin reason to push the would-be lovers together. A lot of people don’t seem to fully appreciate this point. A romantic tale is supposed to be a flight of fantasy that brings you out of stark reality. In this case the concept of love is challenged by a bet; actually a pair of bets that manage to collide. True, it is improbable but it serves to get the action moving.

Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) is a writer working for an upscale women’s magazine, ‘Composure’ her specialty is a popular instructional column where is give her readers practical advice. She wants to be considered more of serious journalist writing about topics with greater gravitas but after hearing about her best friend Michelle’s (Kathryn Hahn) latest failed relationship decides to document the way women tend to sabotage their own relationships. To prove this Andie sets out to get a guy to dump her within ten days. This idea catches on when it gets to one of the editors of the magazine, Lana Jong (Bebe Neuwirth), who sees gold in the idea. Meanwhile, Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey) is working for an advertising agency. He is far from happy about the type of accounts he usually gets assigned as too mundane for his liking. To prove he can fully understand the mind of women he bets his boss, Phillip Warren (Robert Klein) that he can get a woman to fall in love with him in time for a big company presentation for a diamond account ten days away. Ben’s rivals at work, Spears (Michael Michele) and Green (Shalom Harlow) discovers Andie’s new assignment and conspire to derail Ben by placing him with her; a women with a vested interested in destroying a relationship. Since Ben and Andie are the usual hyper attractive people that are only found in movies of this genre it should come as no surprise the two hit it off immediately. Ben tries to be the most understanding and complainant boyfriend who ever lived even as Andie goes into high gear to push him away. He attempts to be a man from some ‘Lifetime’ fantasy while she stacks every male endeavor ever shown on ‘Spike’. Andie purposely ruins the last moments of a crucial hockey game and acts overly clinging during Ben’s poker game with his buddies. If suspension of disbelief was available as an over the counter medication the dose required here would be about the size of a baseball. The climatic tenth day comes along with a fancy ball to introduce the coveted diamond account. The truth comes out but by this time the couple is truly in love.

Like almost every romantic comedy ever made this one hinges on the affability of the leads. Matthew McConaughey is undeniably ruggedly handsome; someone the ladies will love to watch. More than that he comes across as the kind of guy any man would like to go to a game and have a few beers with. Balancing the other side of this equation perfectly is Kate Hudson. Let’s face it. Most of us baby boomer guys grew up with a big crush on her mother Goldie Hawn and Hudson has the same quirky cuteness needed to pull off roles like this one. She is the current reigning queen of the rom-com for good reason; she knows how to deliver. Overall the flick is good fun and enjoyable enough to enjoy.