Director
Gil Junger
Cast
Jennifer Love Hewitt….Samantha Andrews
Paul Nicholls….Ian Wyndham
Lucy Davenport….Lottie
Diana Hardcastle….Claire
Tom Wilkinson….Taxi Driver
Robert Ziegler….Conductor
The Movie
When you think of Jennifer Love Hewitt, you think of someone who is stunningly attractive, semi-talented and Party of Five. If you watch If Only, you will have a completely different viewpoint of her: LEAD ACTRESS. Yes, you heard it here first. If American directors and production companies have a chance to watch this movie they will be running to her with jobs.
Her character in this movie is Samantha Andrews, an American transplant going to music school in London. She also teaches and lives with her boyfriend Ian. They wake up one morning and she instantly wants a little nookie and goes to great lengths to get some. Ian resists, as he has to get ready for the biggest meeting of his life. Samantha is persistent but finally gives up but tries to persuade Ian to come with her to Ohio for her mothers wedding. Ian can’t and you instantly see he isn’t the most caring of boyfriends. He proceeds to make the entire morning worthless and even forgets that her graduation concert is that night. Not good…NOT GOOD. Later that night something horrible happens which makes Ian reconsider exactly who he is. I’m not going to spoil it for you but I will tell you that the movie is worth it.
I had fears initially about this movie because I have grown into thinking that Hewitt is a poor actress. She does more than carry her weight in this movie. She carries the entire thing. Paul Nicholls is talented and does his fair share, but this movie lives and dies…with Love.
Story: 8/10
Acting: 8/10
Look/Feel: 8/10
Originality: 9/10
Entertainment Value: 9/10
Total Score: 42/50
FINAL Score: 8.5
Score: 8.5/10
The Video
1.33:1 Full Screen: Effectively captures the Hewitt smile.
The Audio
5.1 Dolby Digital – Sounds good and on the musical side, Hewitt’s performance sounds fantastic.
The Extras
OUCH…NONE…Big DVD drawback.
Score: 0/10
