By Tammy Ashworth (February 18, 2003)
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How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days? Try How to Lose My Attention in 10 Minutes.

The average cynic might be inclined to dismiss "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" as just another mindless romantic comedy, but I am not the average cynic. "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" isn't so much another fluffy, harmless addition to its genre as it is a disturbing reflection of the growing taste among audiences of American entertainment for deceit and trickery.

In a deception on a par with "Joe Millionaire" in plot twists if not in stakes, the movie's premise is as simple and artificial as that of the Fox hit reality series, and not nearly as entertaining. Kate Hudson stars as Andie Anderson, the "How To" girl for an up-and- coming fashion magazine who longs to put her journalism degree from Columbia to real use, writing about world affairs and politics. Anderson's editor (Bebe Neuwirth) shoots down the idea, of course, giving Andie an alternate assignment. You guessed it, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days." Hudson's character must choose some poor sap and then use every relationship-killing tactic she can dredge up to drive him away within 10 days, or risk losing her job.

But the fraud does not end there. Ladies’ man and advertising executive Benjamin Barry, played by Matthew McConaughey, bets his employer that he can win any woman's heart in just 10 days. If he succeeds, McConaughey's character is put in charge of an important new diamond account.

If the movie's shallow premise doesn't already have you squirming in your plush red movie theater seat, just wait until the two are brought together, not by the forces of attraction or fate, but by their conniving co-workers. Hudson immediately sets out to woo and then shoo Ben, who stoically puts up with his new girlfriend's teddy bear collection and requests for everything from a Diet Coke during the final minutes of a Knicks game to "couples therapy," to name just a few of the more humorous scenes in the film.

Irritated by her new boyfriend's tenacity, Andie ups the ante and suggests that the two spend a weekend with Ben's family. Ben, eager to fulfill the terms of his own bet, agrees. Wouldn't you know, that weekend proves to be the turning point in their relationship. For the first time in the film, the characters realize that they have genuine feelings--dare we say, love-- for one another. Each squirms at the idea of completing their bet and attempts to get out of it, but their professional aspirations prove stronger than true love when they cower spiritlessly at their bosses' refusals and threats.

Now we wait for the inevitable revelation that each of them had made a bet over the other. It comes quickly and painfully, with an appropriate degree of comic relief. There is the inevitable trauma following what was a surprise to both of them, but the film's denouement revives the stereotypical romantic comedy philosophy, "And they lived happily ever after," as Andie's professional woes and both characters’ lies are swept aside. Neither face any consequences apart from their short argument--in fact, each benefits professionally from their exploits--leaving us to conclude that such underhanded methods are acceptable in relationships, even cute and romantic.

In all, if you can get past the stomach-turningly base plotline and string of two-dimensional supporting characters, you might actually enjoy "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days." Despite its plot, the movie's script is nonetheless remarkably well written and laugh-out-loud comedic in a rarity for the genre, and McConaughey and Hudson do their best in a film whose inherent deceit dooms it from the opening credits.