Don't Say "Romance"

The goddess of love can scare the shit out of you sometimes, and, sometimes I think that even Angelina Jolie is afraid of her. (Though I'm not really better, either--the first time I read a Victoria Holt novel, I had to insist to myself that what I was working on was "a novel about Australia"....that was the only way that I could get through "The Shadow of the Lynx".)

And, yeah, I think this was a sort of "don't say 'romance'," sort of flick.

I mean, the cast was kinda nice, Angelina Jolie is pretty, although here, as so often, she's sorta trying not to be. (I don't shake the rumor tree the way that some people do, but I don't think that it takes an intuitive genius to realize that, on some level, this is probably Brad's fault.) And Prophet Jack was a pretty cool character; I always like Tony Shalhoub... although, Mister Monk is not exactly the most *romantic* sort. That's more or less, his role, if you know what I mean.

And, you know, the fact that Angelina Jolie's criticism of talk shows, or something, was more relevant to her, really, than her boyfriend, who seems to have basically gotten, despite his best efforts, a sort of neglected girlfriend treatment. And, somehow, it's not quite as entertaining as "The Wrath of Khan", or even, "Monk". I mean, even Tony Shalhoub makes the romantic unviability of Adrian Monk (et al) something that you can't really forget about.

And, you know, the fact that Angelina grills another woman for choosing career over boyfriend--while trying desperately *not* to be a good girlfriend herself--brings a certain "h" word to mind.

In the end, watching Prophet Jack use his prophetic powers to sit in the right place to catch a home-run baseball was probably the most happy-go-lucky moment of the whole thing.

And, yeah, I wouldn't want to exaggerate; I don't think that it's relentlessly cynical, but....

From the lady of love do we all cringe in fear; Aphrodite brought the pomegranate to the isle of Cyprus: touch not the pomegranate, go not to Cyprus.

.....

And, you know, the thing about something like this, is, that it's always *possible* that somebody who's being a gigantic moron might, *actually*, be being deviously brilliant, or something.

Then again....maybe not.

(7/10)