DVD Review: I Hate Valentine’s Day

I Hate Valentine’s Day - An E1 Films’ Release

http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/i-hate-valentines-day

DVD Release Date: February 9th, 2010

Rated PG

Running time: 89 minutes

Nia Vardalos (dir.)

Nia Vardalos (writer)

Keith Power (music)

Nia Vardalos as Genevieve Gernier

John Corbett as Greg Gatlin

Stephen Guarino as Bill

Amir Arison as Bob

Our reviews below:

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I Hate Valentine’s Day DVD Review By John C.

**1/4 (out of 4)

In I Hate Valentine’s Day, Nia Vardalos plays a flower shop owner who believes that no relationship should last for more than five dates. It’s a silly premise, and makes for a fairly average and predictable picture with that distinct made-for-TV feel.

Though nowhere near as good as the hilarious My Big Fat Greek Wedding or the charming My Life in Ruins, I Hate Valentine’s Day is still worth a rental for die hard fans of Nia Vardalos.

The film hits its lowest moment after a slow-mo run through the street by Vardalos, that ends with her accidentally standing on a homeless man. Other than that, I thought it was alright.

The DVD includes no bonus features.

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I Hate Valentine’s Day DVD Review By Erin V.

**1/4 (out of four)

I Hate Valentine’s Day is quite an average rom-com. It is about a woman called Genevieve (Vardalos), who runs a flower gift shop. Being a romantic at heart, she loves to sell roses for the busiest time for a shop owner like her - Valentine’s Day. But, while being a romantic, in her own love life, she will never give a guy more than five dates before breaking it off with him. It is this stupid rule that becomes the premise for the movie.

It is definitely not some of Vardalos’ best work - I actually liked My Life in Ruins better, and definitely My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which I think is agreed to be her best.

Still, if watching a bunch of rom-coms is your idea of a good time around Valentine’s Day, I think this one would be worth a rental, as it is at least enjoyable enough for an hour and a half.

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I Hate Valentine’s Day DVD Review By Nicole

**1/2 (out of 4)

Nia Vardalos and John Corbett from My Big Fat Greek Wedding return in this new romantic-comedy. Nia Vardalos plays Genevieve, a florist who has a strict “five dates than it’s over” policy, to avoid any possibility of commitment or heart-break. But when she meets Greg (John Corbett), her commitment to her rule now poses a dilemma.

I Hate Valentine’s Day is nowhere near as good as My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but is enjoyable enough to rent.

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I Hate Valentine’s Day DVD Review By Maureen

**1/2 (out of 4)

Nia Vardalos and John Corbett made a good on-screen couple in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I Hate Valentine’s Day tries to capitalize on their on-screen chemistry. It works to a degree, but not enough to make this movie more than an average romantic-comedy.

Nia Vardalos plays Genevieve, a florist who has a strict five dates only rule to pre-empt any broken hearts. her rule gets challenged when she meets Greg (John Corbett), a cute restaurant owner, The storyline goes from one Valentine’s Day to the next one a year later. The ending is fairly predictable.

There are some funny moments in I Hate Valentines Day, mostly thanks to a strong cast. This one is light fun and certainly worth at least a rental especially if you are a Nia Vardalos fan.

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I Hate Valentine’s Day DVD Review By Tony

** (out of 4)

In the latest attempt to repeat the success of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, now directed as well as written by Nia Vardalos, she plays Genevieve, a Brooklyn florist with a strict five date policy, just enough to keep things exciting without the commitment that for her has inevitably led to disappointment. Just as in her first feature, John Corbett plays the man (Greg) who comes into her life and predictably attempts to break the five date limit.

Lacking the ethnic humour of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, or the scenery of the lesser Vardalos vehicle My Life in Ruins, I Hate Valentine’s Day has little more going for it than the premise of a life based on five dates, which I didn’t believe for a minute. Most of the script and supporting cast are just not that funny. For example, what passes for ethnic tension is the fact that Greg is a “southern gentleman” giving up his law practice to open a tapas bar called “Get on Tapas” (which isn’t even funny for anyone else in the cast). With the funniest lines given to Genevieve’s gay florist partners (Stephen Guarino & Amir Arison), and an excruciating key scene in a Karaoke bar with an obnoxious MC (Ian Gomez, real husband of Nia Vardalos), I Hate Valentine’s Day is only worth seeing if someone else wants to see it and you are along for the ride.

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Consensus: An alright, though average romantic-comedy, that is nowhere near as good as My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Worth a rental for die hard fans of Nia Vardalos. **1/4 (Out of 4)