Name: Film Review: The Bachelor (1999)
Item: The Bachelor
Rating: 30
Author: @drax

(source: tmdb.org)

Marriage represent the aim protagonists of Hollywood romantic comedies are supposed to strive for. Some of them, however, might have second thoughts, and that is the situation which happens at the beginning The Bachelor, 1999 film directed by Gary Synior. Jimmie Shannon (played by Chris O’Donnell) is a young man accustomed to good life that includes plenty of women, but in the last three years he had been only with Anne Arden (played by Renée Zellweger). The harmonious relationship is threatened when Jimmie begins to realise that it would inevitably end in marriage, which is commitment he doesn’t appear to be ready for. His fears are justified when his clumsy attempt of proposing goes terribly wrong and Anne leaves him. Things get further complicated when Jimmie learns that his eccentric grandfather James (played by Peter Ustinov) has left him 100 million US$ of inheritance, but only under condition that he marries before his 30th birthday, which is going to be next day. After another unsuccessful attempt to bring back Annie, Jimmie begins frantically searching for all of his former girlfriends in a hope that at least one of them would agree to marry him tomorrow.

“High concept” behind this romantic comedy isn’t particularly original, and it was used in Seven Chances, 1916 stage play by Roi Cooper Megrue. The same play was first adapted in 1925 as eponymous silent film starring Buster Keaton. Despite having sound and colour, new version failed to live up to the standards of silent classic and critics weren’t particularly enthusiastic. Although script by Steve Cohen tries to adapt the source material to modern day sentiments by making potential brides into strong independent women in male-dominated professions, marriage as the main aim of the protagonists and the brides’ run scene at the end is not going to sit well among radical feminist audience. The bigger problem for The Bachelor is the Chris O’Donnell who, apart from good looks, doesn’t bring anything remarkable on screen and who simply lacks chemistry with Zellwegger. Other members of the cast are somewhat better, like Brooke Shields in the role of one of potential brides. Their efforts and likeable San Francisco locations make this film watchable, but not enough to be recommended to audience that has better ways its time.

RATING: 3/10 (+)