MOVIE REVIEW: Not even the tabloid allure of Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler's paring can save 'The Bounty Hunter,' a comedy so devoid of charm and humor, it is practically criminal.
Exactly who continues to advise Jennifer Aniston on film projects?
One of the most visible women in the world, her artistic choices of late have only succeeded in failing to justify such endless attention. And it is a crying shame, too. The quintessential sun-kissed American beauty, Aniston's natural ease in front of the camera made her a superstar for a reason. Yet, one more film like "The Bounty Hunter," her career may find itself on life support. But, it isn't fair to single out just Aniston. She's not the only one involved with this charmless film whose talents take it straight between the eyes.
Hollywood has been churning out the prickly romantic comedy of bickering pretty people for decades. Yet, few couples have ever really been able to match the comic heat of Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in 1934's "It Happened One Night." While the pairing of Aniston with Gerard Butler scored plenty of media fire with their supposed romance, it is astonishing how little chemistry they actually exhibit in "The Bounty Hunter." And without such chemistry, any film with a romantic center is doomed to implode.
Life after divorce has been a mixed bag for Nicole Hurley (Aniston) and Milo Boyd (Bulter). Nicole is a top investigative journalist for the New York Daily News. Former NYPD office Milo is now a bounty hunter with a huge gambling debt to settle. After Nicole jumps bail over a traffic ticket to chase a killer story lead, Milo is assigned to track down Nicole. Hilarity is supposed to ensue as chaos and sexual tension gives way to intrigue and a rekindled romance as the couple tries to stay alive throughout the chase.
Burdened with a creaky script penned by Sarah Thorp, Aniston and Butler labor strenuously through scene after scene. In fact, so virtuosic is their mugging and arguing, they literally act the life out of the entire movie. (Worse off are ace character players like the great Christine Baranski and Cathy Moriarty, who do little else but utter coarse innuendo and act shrill.) 
Also, where is that shred of reality that helps the fantasy of such star-driven projects? How many journalists actually run around in tight A-line skirts and chase stories wearing stiletto pumps? But that's the least of the problems facing "The Bounty Hunter." Its complete lack of frisson is matched by a narrative devoid of any real surprises. Every beat is so predictable and uninspired, you worry that Aniston and Butler are going to hurt themselves in their vain efforts to keep the film interesting.
Director Andy Tennant is no Billy Wilder, but he has a knack for creating entertaining, populist fare with considerable success. In "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Hitch," actors like Reese Witherspoon and Will Smith were displayed to their best advantage thanks to Tennant's assured hand. But, for whatever reason, he is unable to do the same for Aniston and Butler, two actors who possess considerable charm in the first place.
Speaking of Butler, enough already with playing loutish hunks in these half-baked romances. After "P.S. I Love You" and "The Ugly Truth," it is fair to say its three strikes and out of the genre with "The Bounty Hunter."
As for Aniston? She has always been like the most popular girl in class. You know, the one who scores the lead in the high school play and everyone sincerely roots for to succeed? Every time a new comedy starring the former "Friend" is announced, you can practically hear people wishing it's the one that brings her back to form. Alas, fans are in store for yet another disappointment as the only bounty she should collect is on the heads of those who thought this was a worthy endeavor in the first place.
"The Bounty Hunter" is now playing citywide. L.A. moviegoers can click on Fandango or Movietickets for ticket and theater information.
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i love this movie
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