DOWN WITH LOVE

Year: 2003
USA & UK: Twentieth Century Fox
Cast: Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, David Hyde Pierce, Sarah Paulson, Tony Randall, Jeri Ryan, Melissa George, John Aylward, Dorie Barton, Lynn Collins, Rachel Dratch, Michael Ensign, Norman Fessler, Brad Hanson, Basil Hoffman, Will Jordan, Laura Kightlinger, Vivien Latham, Ivana Milicevic, Warren Munson, Timothy Omundson, Chris Parnell, Jack Plotnick, Matt Ross, Peter Spruyt, Seth T Walker
Director: Peyton Reed
Country: USA
UK: 102 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for sexual humor and dialogue
UK Certificate: 12A contains moderate sex references
USA Release Date: 16 May 2003
UK Release Date: 3 October 2003


Synopsis

DOWN WITH LOVE is a sex comedy with a twist, starring CHICAGO's Oscar®-nominated Renee Zellweger and MOULIN ROUGE's Ewan McGregor. Putting a hip spin on the golden age of the classic Rock Hudson-Doris Day comedies, the film is the story of a spark-filled collision between a woman who has sworn off love and a ladies' man who thinks he doesn't need love.

Set in the early 1960s, by way of the early 2000s, every frame pops with the super-saturated palette of sixties Technicolor. Process shots, stock shots, backlot New York City street scenes, snazzy apartments, and elegant supper clubs are the backdrop for DOWN WITH LOVE's characters, including Zellweger's best-selling advice author and McGregor's hotshot journalist/playboy.

Barbara Novak (Renee Zellweger) hits New York City with her new book DOWN WITH LOVE, a pre-feminist manifesto on saying "no" to love and "yes" to career, empowerment - and sex. As Barbara's revolutionary tome rockets to the top of best-seller charts, she becomes the target of ace journalist Catcher "Catch" Block (Ewan McGregor), ladies' man / man's man/ man about town, who is determined to take her down.

Catch's best friend and boss, the neurotic and lovesick Peter McMannus (David Hyde Pierce), tries to rein in his star writer, while haplessly pursuing the object of his affections, Vikki Hiller (Sarah Paulson), Barbara's brilliant and feisty editor. Vikki plays tough in a man's world, which includes her old-style chauvinist boss, Theodore Banner (Tony Randall).

DVD EXTRAS

It's New York City, 1962. Renee Zellweger is best selling advice author, Barbara Novak. When her book, 'Down with Love' takes the world by storm, women everywhere become 'Down with Love' girls, substituting chocolate for sex in order to prevent adoration and passion obscuring their minds and ambition. Enter Ewan McGregor as hotshot journalist & playboy, Catcher Block. This man's man, ladies man & man-about-town is intent on bringing Novak down - discrediting her feminist theory by tricking her into falling in love with him!

The battle of the sexes is played out with hilarious consequences and when Catch's boss, the neurotic Peter MacMannus and Barbara's editor, Vikki Hiller get swept up in the mayhem of sexual trickery, things get even more complicated!

Director Peyton Reed brings to the screen a brilliant comedy with a unique twist set against a backdrop of a stunning super-saturated palette of 60s Technicolor. With a stylish soundtrack featuring new material by the king of swing Michael Buble, what better way to enjoy a night in!

On DVD, DOWN WITH LOVE features groovy director's commentary, five swell deleted scenes, a romp of a blooper reel, wonderful featurettes, six documentaries and the 'Here's to Love' music video performed by Renee & Ewan.

DVD Running Time: 97 Minutes
DVD Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Widescreen 16x9)
DVD Sound Quality: 5.1 Dolby
DVD Subtitles: English for the hearing impaired

DVD Features:

Audio Commentary by director, Peyton Reed
Music Video: Here's to Love
Five deleted scenes
Four featurettes:
'Guess my Name' featuring celebrity mystery guest Barbara Novak
Blooper Reel
HBO Special
Down with Love Testimonial
Six documentaries:
On location with Down with Love
Creating the world of Down with Love
The costumes of Down with Love
The Swingin' sounds of Down with Love
Down with Love, Up with Tony Randall
Down with Love - Split Decisions
Hair and Wardrobe Tests
Music promo spot