Looking at the newspaper
and TV ads plus seeing the coming attractions one would assume "Love Happens"
was a romantic comedy, a date movie, but it isn't. From the point where John
Carroll Lynch talks about the death of his son this movie is a  cry fest dealing
with death and how the survivors survive.

The romantic part of this
movie, which is really secondary, fails due to part that this is not what the
movie is about and that there is zero chemistry between Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart. Going into the movie I wondered why
Aniston was second billed to Eckhart but the movie is about the latter's character, not the former's or the two of them as a
couple.

Aniston's movie status should be bigger but
of all those she had made only 2-3 were standouts where she gave top
performances while in most of the movies she was as she is here, attractive, an
all American engaging woman looking for/needing a man--a role the public has,
unfairly, given her in real life.

Eckhart looks good, is a fair actor but in
no way comes across as an advice guru, one who would fill seminars with people
looking for help. His manager, played by Dan Fogler, tries to supply some comedy but
doesn't really succeed just as Judy Greer, playing Aniston's friend doesn't.

The best performances come
from the aforementioned Lynch, a moving cameo from Martin Sheen and the city of
Seattle which is shown in all it's fresh after rain sparkle and not a Starbuck's in sight though the Home Depot
gets a long plug.

I did learn a few new words, which is part of the
story line, like quidnunc, plus I learned the word for the sound you lips make
when they are smacking together--no, I'm not telling you--you will have to see
the movie!

Love Happens is not a
classic, certainly not a love story let alone a romantic comedy but if you like
to cry in movies--and not because it is bad--then this is the movie for
you!