By Rama Gaind
Love and Other Drugs is a romantic film, not lightweight, but one with a moving message about the quality of love – and life.
With complications that raise some valid questions pertaining to relationships, there is some comedic relief as well.
However, a love story about Viagra may not be an appealing idea, but this one boasts some interesting scenarios.
Jamie Randall (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a charming and handsome sales rep in a cut-throat pharmaceutical world. He persistently uses his usually reliable charm to attract the ladies and will stop at nothing to convince doctors to prescribe his products. However, he has commitment issues.
Enter Maggie (Anne Hathaway), a radiant, free spirit, who is suffering early-onset Parkinson’s disease. With tremors hindering her skills as an artist, she uses meaningless encounters to ward off her sense of hopelessness.
When Jamie’s career races ahead when the little blue pills hit the market, he is forced to reassess his priorities.
Maggie and Jamie find themselves under the influence of the ultimate drug – love – as their growing relationship, and powerful chemistry, takes them both by surprise.
Director Edward Zwick and his co-writers have not just stuck to satire, but offered poignancy as well. It is also endearing.
Gyllenhaal and Hathaway, who worked together in Brokeback Mountain, have enthusiastically embraced their roles, making for a thoroughly credible story that touches you to the core.
