Walking into a screening of "New Year's Eve," I knew that I wouldn't be watching a masterpiece. I was just hoping this Garry Marshall mega-ensemble film wouldn't feel like a mediocre and predictable made-for-TV movie, as did his first holiday ensemble "Valentine's Day." New Year's Eve is a hopeful holiday — putting the past in the past, celebrating the prospects of the future, making good changes in your life — right?
Well, "New Year's Eve" isn't anything special and it is predictable, but I did like it more than the first. Maybe it's the sappy sentimentality of the holiday season that made me like it more. Besides, I got to play spot the celebrity with my daughter. And at least three of them (Ashton Kutcher, Hector Elizondo and Jessica Biel) were in "Valentine's Day," too. I can see this as a movie with girlfriends or a date-night movie, but he'll probably tease you about it later.
The film suffers from way too many stories, which leaves you no time to really care for anyone. It starts with Michelle Pfeiffer's mousy secretary who quits her job and hires a 20-something courier (Zac Efron) to help her fulfill her crazy resolutions list. Hilary Swank is an executive in charge of the New Year's Eve ball drop, and as expected, it gets stuck. She makes a sappy speech that every other character seems to hear, and it resonates with them. She also needs to make sure rock star Jensen (Jon Bon Jovi) makes it to his Times Square performance on time. But he's moping for his ex-girlfriend (Katherine Heigl), who's catering a record company's party and still angry with him about their relationship. Ashton Kutcher is a grump who gets stuck in an elevator with Jensen's back-up singer (Glee's Lea Michelle). Yes, they find love (it's not a spoiler, it's expected). Meanwhile, Sarah Jessica Parker plays a divorced mom who is known for her clogs and has made no time for love. She's spending the evening with her daughter (Abigail Breslin), who would rather spend the night with friends in Times Square so she can get kissed by the boy (Wizards of Waverly Place's Jake T. Austin) she likes. So, at her first opportunity, she takes off, leaving mom to look for her. There's the record company heir/playboy (Josh Duhamel) who longs to reconnect with a woman he met last New Year's Eve. There's also a man (Robert DeNiro), who is in a hospital hoping to see the ball drop before he dies, as he's refusing anymore treatment. Oh, and a couple (Seth Myers and Jessica Biel) who are trying to win $25,000 for delivering the first baby of the new year. Of course there are many interconnected relationships. Exhausting!
Among the cameos: Sofia Vergara (sous chef), John Lithgow (record company exec), Cary Elwes (doctor), Halle Berry (nurse), Alyssa Milano (nurse), Jim Belushi (building super), Hector Elizondo (star electrician), rapper Common (soldier), Sarah Paulson (other pregnant lady), Ludacris (NYC police officer) and Carla Gugino (spiritual obstetrician).
It was funny at times. Modern Family's Vergara delivers some great lines as a fan hot for Jensen, and the baby bit with Meyers and Biel is silly fun. Most jokes are forgettable, though. I felt touched by the story just twice. One was totally predictable (dying man) and the other a nice surprise (soldier), but only because it comes out of no where. Overall, it's just OK entertainment. C-.
The movie is rated PG-13. My almost 12 year-old daughter wanted to see it, and I didn't have a problem. I figured there wouldn't be anything too crazy. I had seen Valentine's Day and found nothing that hasn't been on a sitcom. There is an F-word and some sexual references, but nothing explicit. BTW, she gives the movie four stars, or a B.
Cheers!
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