The truth about cows and bulls

Sukanya Verma

First they were dogs, now they are bulls. No, this isn't about evolution. This is the description of men according to Someone Like You.

Jane Goodale (Ashley Judd) is a charming, independent woman in her early thirties who is doing extremely well for herself as a television show booker. She's had her share of topsy-turvy relationships before she discovers 'the real thing' in the show's executive producer Ray (Greg Kinnear).

Alas, their hush-hush rendezvous is short-lived and the wishy-washy Ray backs out last minute. But after being unceremoniously dumped, Jane doesn't go obsessive a la Glenn Close of Fatal Attraction or on a dating spree like her roommate-cum-colleague Eddie (Hugh Jackman).

Instead she strikes upon this offbeat idea of writing an article for an editorial on men and their tendency to stray under a secret name, Dr Marie Charles.

Offbeat, because she bases her study on animal behaviour, popping up with terms like 'neophilia' and 'copulatory imperative' every two minutes.

Meanwhile, Jane finds herself drawn to Eddie who, like her, is nursing a broken heart.

Do Jane and Eddie get together? Does Jane reveal her true identity? Does Ray learn a lesson?

Like you don't know.

Tony Goldwyn's direction and Elizabeth Chandler's script adapted from Laura Zigman's novel Animal Husbandry leave a lot to be desired. Like, Jane and Ray fall in love too soon, so when they break up, no one really cares.

Also, Jane's sudden flush of motivation after reading a headline in a tabloid saying 'Polygamy Preferred by Bovine Male' is a bit too much to digest. Like Jane's earlier romance with Ray, her growing attraction towards Eddie too is unclear and superficial.

As far as the performances are concerned, Judd (Double Jeopardy, Kiss the Girls) who's mostly done action/drama roles displays a flair for lighthearted comedies.

Greg Kinnear (As Good As It Gets, Nurse Betty) looks sorry and lost. It's not like his role demanded any emotion, though. The only bright spot in this otherwise yawn-raiser is Australian actor Hugh Jackman (X-Men). The bloke sure has tons of screen appeal and magic to take him places.

Neither funny nor romantic, Someone Like You is dull, dragging and utterly boring and leaves you disinterested and uninspired.

Credits
Cast: Ashley Judd, Greg Kinnear, Hugh Jackman, Marisa Tomei and Ellen Barkin.
Director: Tony Goldwyn
Producer: James Chory and Lynda Obst.
Screenwriter: Elizabeth Chandler
Official Website