ruined by corporate product placement

A perfect example of how a film could've been a cute romantic flick, getting completely ruined by corporate greed.

The obvious product placement is how this film simply feels like a feature-length ad for AOL. And Tom Hanks seems to have this effect on several other films he's done, most notably that FedEx film 'Cast Away'. He's a great actor, but a complete sellout to the big businesses. I'm surprised he hasn't done a film yet where he has a new tatoo of a logo on his forehead every 20 minutes.

The other thing that killed this movie is not that obvious for everyone, so let me point it out. The whole MORALE of the story is just to learn to accept fate if you're a small business owner, and even though you'll get trampled by the big box stores that move into your area, at their root, they are really nice guys, and if you accept your fate, they may even give you your own 'corner' inside their massive store so you can do storytelling for the neighborhood kids just like you used to in your small shop. excuse me while i go barf. truth is you'll be unemployed, while the big box store will hire pimple-faced teens for $5/hr who won't have a clue how to help you if you're looking for any specific book.

but other than those two points, its a decent romantic comedy. teaming up the stars of 'sleepless in seattle' and adding 'internet dating' to the mix, how could it not be popular film?

4/10