Catch and Release, a movie that I didn’t expect too much from, especially considering that I didn’t even hear about it, when it came out in 2007. Plus I’m not a fan of romantic comedies, because it’s just always the same story only with different actors. And let’s just say that I was pleasantly surprised with this one.
It’s not your typical comedy, it has a bit of drama right at the beginning. Gray (Jennifer Garner) loses her fiancée in an accident, right before their wedding. Trying to cope with her loss, she and three of her fiancée’s best mates (Dennis, Sam and Fritz) stay together in a small house, helping each other out with their grief. Each of them deals with it in a different manner. Dennis (Sam Jaeger) who had been in love with Gray for a long time, finally gets to show her, how much he cares. Sam (Kevin Smith) who is more like a big baby, just constantly eats or sleeps trying not to show that he blames himself for the accident. And then there’s Fritz (Timothy Olyphant). It’s even difficult to describe his character. He doesn’t talk much, but observes a lot. He gives the impression of being a stupid jerk and that’s exactly what Gray thinks of him. But then he starts getting to her. When everyone around just talks he is the one who listens. And that’s what Gray needs because emotionally she is very lost. And that feeling only deepens when she finds out about a child her fiancée might have. The world as she knew it is crushing down and only Fritz seems to understand her. Obviously that’s only until she learns that he (Fritz) knew about the child. Everything complicates the fact that Maureen (Juliette Lewis), the boy’s mother shows up with the little boy at their door, not knowing about the death.
It sounds complicated, but overall it’s a story about love and friendship and about how much a death of a person can bring people closer together. People that under normal circumstances wouldn’t even like each other. And I found this story really heartwarming and just very real. The actors gave a great performance. Especially Garner and Olyphant have such an on-screen chemistry that turned something that might have been boring into a sweet and touching movie. I was surprised he pulled it off so well, having only seen him in Die Hard or The Hitman before, I didn’t know he even had a soft side. And where I always liked Garner, I never thought much of her as an actress. But after this I would actually go and watch her next movie.
The dialogues are also funny and not so predictable which is always nice. There are no cheesy moments like usually with movies like that. It balances everything from happy to sad and from love to hate nicely. It shows that life is not about the outcome, but about the journey itself. And that we never really know someone no matter how long we’ve known them and that sometimes being a good person can help you overcome your weaknesses.
I really wish I convinced some people of giving Catch and Release a try. For those who like feel good movies but with bitter/sweet endings I really recommend it. I hope you won’t be disappointed.