Today’s quick review: America’s Sweethearts. When the breakup of Hollywood’s leading couple—Eddie Thomas (John Cusack) and Gwen Harrison (Catherine Zeta-Jones)—threatens to tank their last film together, publicist Lee Phillips (Billy Crystal) tries to salvage the situation with a media blitz. He turns to Kiki (Julia Roberts), Gwen’s sister and personal assistant, to get Eddie and Gwen back together and give the press what they want.
America’s Sweethearts is a romantic comedy with an ensemble cast. Over the course of a weekend press event for Eddie and Gwen’s new film, Lee does everything in his power to fuel the rumors that the two are getting back together. Meanwhile, Kiki tries to keep Gwen stable while secretly pining for Eddie herself. The result is a charming and colorful comedy that spoofs the vanity and superficiality of show business.
America’s Sweethearts features a cast of fun characters. John Cusack and Catherine Zeta-Jones headline as Eddie, an unstable actor who fantasizes about taking revenge on his wife, and Gwen, a vapid actress who only cares about her career. Billy Crystal joins them as Lee, a publicist who plays on their egos to salvage an upcoming flop. Julia Roberts rounds out the main cast as Kiki, Gwen’s loyal assistant and the sole voice of reason.
America’s Sweethearts gets its humor from dropping these characters into a volatile situation. Lee’s smooth manipulations, Eddie and Gwen’s on-again off-again romance, and Kiki’s attempts to manage the crisis give the movie a sense of chaos that is consistently amusing. America’s Sweethearts also benefits from a talented supporting cast that includes Christopher Walken, Hank Azaria, Seth Green, Alan Arkin, and Stanley Tucci.
Give America’s Sweethearts a shot when you are in the mood for a madcap comedy that takes shots at the larger-than-life personalities of Hollywood. While the romance takes a back seat to the comedy, America’s Sweethearts manages to be a light romp with a satisfying story. Skip it if you are looking for a more grounded romance.
For a crime comedy set in Hollywood with an ensemble cast and a similar sense of humor, try Get Shorty. For an even more pointed spoof of Hollywood and its excesses, try Hail, Caesar!. For a romantic comedy starring Catherine Zeta-Jones that has a similar rhythm and a sharper script, try Intolerable Cruelty.
[5.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265029/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for solid humor and a strong cast.