How's this for a strange twist of fate? My last movie review of 2011 (I know it's now 2012 but this is my last review of a film I saw in 2011) is New Year's Eve, and I saw it on the last day of 2011, New Year's Eve.
I knew from the moment I saw the trailer that despite the film looking like it might be terrible, I would end up seeing this with one of my best girl friends. And I did, during my Christmas break up to the north west of England.
The film, as you might have guessed, is set on New Year's Eve in one of the most spectacular locations for a New Year's Eve movie to be set, New York City. As Stan Harris says at one point in the trailer, "nothing beats New York on New Year's Eve". We have the ball dropping at Times Square, two pregnant women dropping at a nearby hospital, midnight kisses, chance encounters, rock stars, a dying man's last wish and one night to make all your new year's resolutions come true. The star studded cast take you on a whirlwind journey of New York on New Year's Eve.
I must admit that after my cinema buddy saw it and told me how terrible it was I was not holding out any high expectations for New Year's Eve. And I did think that it would pass by without me getting to see it. But a well timed showing fit with our plans and et voila, New Year's Eve on New Year's Eve actually happened. And you know what? It wasn't all that bad.
Sure the cast is ridiculous. You thought there were a lot of famous people in Valentines Day or New York I Love You? Well that's nothing compared to this. I don't think I've seen a cast list this long since Harry Potter. And to be honest, it's unnecessary. Some of these roles could have been given to unknown actors or lesser known character actors and it wouldn't have made the slightest difference to the film, other than you wouldn't be playing 'spot the celebrity' every time the scene changed. I'm not saying anyone is particularly bad, it's just overkill on the famous actor front.
The thing that is most obvious, with all these famous types running around and with so many story changes, is that very few of the actors have chemistry. Not really through any fault of their own but they have so little time to become acquainted with one-another that it's hard to build rapport and in turn, chemistry. I also find it unbelievable that Ashton Kutcher would be best friends with Zac Efron or that Zac Efron would even contemplate snogging Michelle Pfeiffer (especially as the latter looks so haggard in this film).
But you are right in thinking I said that this film wasn't all that bad. And it really wasn't. It was a light, fluffy, not too demanding film that kept me entertained for the 2 hours it was on. 6 out of 10.
Viewing Date - 31st December 2011
UK Release Date - 8th December 2011
Cast Overview:
Halle Berry ~ Nurse Aimee
Jessica Biel ~ Tess Byrne
Jon Bon Jovi ~ Jensen
Abigail Breslin ~ Hailey
Chris "Ludacris" Bridges ~ Brendan
Robert De Niro ~ Stan Harris
Josh Duhamel ~ Sam
Zac Efron ~ Paul
Hector Elizondo ~ Kominsky
Cary Elwes ~ Stan's Doctor
Katherine Heigl ~ Laura
Ashton Kutcher ~ Randy
Seth Meyers ~ Griffin Byrne
Alyssa Milano ~ Nurse Mindy
Lea Michele ~ Elise
Sarah Jessica Parker ~ Kim
Michelle Pfeiffer ~ Ingrid
Hilary Swank ~ Claire Morgan
Director ~ Garry Marshall
Writer ~ Katherine Fugate
