![[box cover]](../../reviewimgs/s/someonelikeyou.jpg)
Someone Like You
Guess what, girls? Turns out there's a reason guys can't commit, a biological theory so revolutionary it might change the way we think about relationships forever. According to recently dumped TV talent booker Jane Goodale (Ashley Judd) in the sweet-but-simple romantic comedy Someone Like You, men, like bulls, shy away from lasting love because (are you ready?) they like variety. Mind-blowing, isn't it? Unfortunately, the movie — based on Laura Zigman's best-selling, more creatively named novel Animal Husbandry — seems to think so, turning Jane's big bovine theory (and the alter ego she invents to go along with it) into a media sensation along the lines of the Kinsey Report. And even if you buy that, you also have to swallow the fact that the smart, chic, gorgeous Judd is a perennial loser with men, falling head over heels for sensitive yuppies like Ray Brown (the always-charming Greg Kinnear, who gives one of the movie's better performances) and then getting tossed aside for a "new cow." The actors are appealing (who wouldn't fall for adorable Aussie Hugh Jackman, even as love 'em-and-leave 'em himbo Eddie?), and the film has its moments — Ray and Jane's courtship is cute, if movie-land perfect, and Jane's futile late-night attempt to cover up with a paper towel when Eddie catches her in her skivvies smacks of real life — but overall, director Tony Goldwyn's (A Walk on the Moon) sophomore effort is a little too cookie-cutter for its own good. Special kudos to Marisa Tomei and Ellen Barkin for taking the throwaway supporting roles of Jane's best friend, Liz, and boss, Diane, respectively; both actresses deserve better. Fox gives the film a nice treatment on DVD. The anamorphic transfer (1.85:1) is strong — the NYC locations practically sparkle — and the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio is nice (other options include English and French 2.0 and English and Spanish subtitles). Goldwyn offers an informative, detailed commentary track, as well as optional observations on the disc's set of eight deleted/extended scenes, one of which is an alternative ending ("alternative" in that the set-up and scenery are slightly different; the conclusion is still the same). A quick five-minute featurette plays like an extended trailer, with the cast and crew doing the obligatory gushing about each other and the film (Jackman says he and Judd are like "Hepburn and Tracy for the modern era"...um, yeah — sure, Hugh). Speaking of trailers, the movie's preview teaser is also included, as is a collection of five TV spots. Keep-case.
—Betsy Bozdech
