I understand that I'm in a minority here, but I found that the egregious titillation in this movie clashed with the heartfelt and serious takeaway of it all. No, nudity is not inherently bad and it serves its purpose just fine in many other movies; I just don't believe it belonged in this one, especially to such an extent. I can think of two other recent films I watched where I was actually surprised there was no true nudity involved, just "smart shots" that captured the point perfectly well without. I suppose there's the argument that "boobs" shouldn't detract from a film, but I counter that they also shouldn't simply add to one. I would want people to be interested in my work because they heard it was good, not because they heard it had Anne Hathaway's tits (nudity in general) in it. I myself like tits and I agree that Anne is really beautiful, both naked and not, but that on its own being good doesn't make it (nudity) good for just any movie. It made for two very different tones and they just didn't mesh well for me in this instance. If they'd been able to blend that kind of raunchy comedy into the heartfelt drama better somehow, I imagine I might have given this a 7 or 8. That said, a standing ovation for both Jake and Anne. They were brilliant together!

On the surface, Love & Other Drugs appears to be a typical romantic comedy that follows the tried-and-true formula of a ladies' man, Jamie (played by Jake Gyllenhaal), falling in love with his latest hookup, Maggie (played by Anne Hathaway). However, what sets this movie apart from its contemporaries is its poignant exploration of Maggie's struggle with Parkinson's disease.

The movie can be divided into two halves: the first is a typical rom-com, complete with witty banter and charming flirtations between Jamie and Maggie. However, midway through the film, the tone takes a dramatic shift as the focus shifts to Maggie's struggles with her illness. The movie becomes intimate and shockingly raw as Jamie tries to cope with the future struggles he and Maggie will face together, while simultaneously portraying Maggie's struggle to let someone in and take care of her. This story really works and brought tears to my eyes near the end.

While the direction is pretty bland and lacks any real sense of style, the performances are strong. Both Hathaway and Gyllenhaal have excellent chemistry and play off each other perfectly. However, the real standout performance comes from Josh Gad, whose comedic timing is brilliant and whose scenes had me laughing out loud.

One aspect of the movie that detracts from its overall impact is the excessive use of nudity. Hathaway is shown topless in almost every scene, to the point where it feels quite predatory. While I am not sure if the choice to include this excessive nudity was made by the director or writing team, its frequency detracts from the intimacy of the characters' interactions and feels quite gratuitous.

Overall, Love & Other Drugs is a solid romantic comedy that attempts to do something a little different, which I can definitely appreciate. Its exploration of illness and its effects on relationships adds a layer of depth and emotion that the typical rom-com formula usually lacks.

Score: 70% 👍
Verdict: Good