Synopsis: An homage to the 1960's romantic comedy featuring Rock Hudson and Doris Day, Down With Love is the story of female advice novelist Barbara Novak (Renée Zellweger) and Catcher Block, the sly playboy magazine writer who seeks to expose her as a fraud. It's an old-fashioned romantic comedy…with a twist.

Now for the Zone's Eye View:

By Michelle Snow

Director: Peyton Reed

Cast: Renée Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, David Hyde Pierce, Sarah Paulson, Rachel Dratch, Tony Randall, Jeri Ryan and Chris Parnell

What happens when you take the best of the 1960's romantic comedies and merge it with a 2003 sensibility? You get a sexy, sassy, slightly campy movie like Down With Love.

Set in the early 60's, the movie starts with the story of Barbara Novak, an aspiring writer whose first novel, "Down With Love" is about to be published. Her book, a feminist how-to guide on saying "no" to love and "yes" to career and sex "without love", becomes an international sensation, much to the chagrin of chauvinist men everywhere. Played by the eyelash-batting Renee Zellweger, Novak is equal parts innocence and cunning.
Enter Know magazine's prize-winning playboy star reporter, Catcher Block. He's a ladies' man, man's man, man-about-town…and he's determined to expose Novak as a fraud. Especially since the book is putting a major cramp on his lifestyle. Played by Ewan McGregor, Block comes off so suave and smooth, he could fill in for Bond or Agent Flint.
The spark-filled collision between Novak, a woman who has sworn off of love and Block, a man who doesn't think he needs love quickly escalates into a hilarious and sometimes risqué battle-of-the-sexes.

Thrown into the mix is the owner of Know Magazine, Peter MacMannus [David Hyde Pierce]. As both Block's boss and best friend, the neurotic lovesick MacMannus lives vicariously through Block's exploits. Equally frustrated by and in awe of Block, he agrees to help Block with his plan to trap Novak. Not only for the sake of a good story, but because he's become smitten with Novak's feisty and beautiful editor, Vikki Hiller [Sarah Paulson]. 
Sometimes some of the jokes are a little over the top-like a pg-13 Farrelly Brothers on a bad day. And after a while, Zellweger's pouting got on my nerves a bit. But it was easy to overlook these small faults, because overall, the movie is a glorious Technicolor romp. Zellweger and McGregor have an easy chemistry with each other. In fact, Zellweger's soliloquy near the end is worth sitting through just for the face McGregor gives her at the end of the speech. As second bananas to the main story, Pierce and Paulson play well off each other and their scene in Block's playboy apartment had me rolling with laughter. McGregor and Pierce also work well together, providing each other with the perfect comedy foil. Making cameos in this film are Tony Randall [winking at his cameos in the original Hudson-Day movies], former-Star Trek: Voyager actress Jeri Ryan, and SNL cast members Rachel Dratch and Chris Parnell.
The movie also pays tribute to the films of yesteryear in the way it is shot. No fancy special effects here, just good old-fashioned sets filled with color and retro furnishings. And everything from the sets to the clothes contribute to the laughs. 

The soundtrack also deserves a special mention, as it really works to make you feel like it really is the early 60's. Of special note is the title track, sung by hot crooner Michael Buble and pop singer Holly Palmer. You definitely feel the essence of Sinatra when you listen to the music.

If you enjoy a good romantic, sometimes silly, comedy, you'll enjoy this retro homage. Down With Love is a total blast, Daddy-o!

8 out of 10