Down with Love Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A woman writes a book about ditching love, then a man tries to make her fall in love to prove her wrong, but plot twist, she was playing him all along to make him fall in love, which is also a book about love.

🍿 Down with Love: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Barbara’s Revolutionary Book

In 1962, Barbara Novak arrives in New York City with a groundbreaking book, ‘Down with Love,’ advocating for women to embrace sexual freedom and independence from men. Her editor, Vikki Hiller, champions her work, but the male executives at Banner House are skeptical. Barbara suggests women should replace love and relationships with chocolate.

Catcher’s Challenge

Catcher Block, a notorious playboy journalist, sees Barbara’s book as a threat to his lifestyle. He initially avoids meeting her but, after she insults him on television, he vows to expose her as a fraud. Catcher’s boss and friend, Peter MacMannus, also finds himself drawn to Vikki, though both struggle to express their true feelings.

The Astronaut Disguise

Catcher disguises himself as a naive astronaut named Zip Martin to seduce Barbara and prove her a hypocrite. Barbara seems infatuated with Zip, drawn to his apparent lack of knowledge about her controversial book. However, Catcher begins to fall for her, complicating his plan.

The Tables Turn

At a party, Barbara reveals she knew Catcher’s true identity all along. She unveils her real name as Nancy Brown, a former secretary at Catcher’s magazine who orchestrated the entire scenario to win his love. Catcher realizes he genuinely cares for her, but another of his lovers appears, causing Barbara to reject both him and the idea of love.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Barbara Novak (Renée Zellweger): A feminist advice author who writes ‘Down with Love’ to encourage women to embrace a man-free lifestyle.
• Catcher Block (Ewan McGregor): A playboy journalist determined to debunk Barbara Novak’s theories on love and relationships.
• Peter MacMannus (David Hyde Pierce): Catcher’s boss and best friend, who is often overshadowed by Catcher’s confident personality.
• Vikki Hiller (Sarah Paulson): Barbara’s supportive editor and friend, who seeks emotional commitment in her own relationships.
• Theodore Banner (Tony Randall): The head of the publishing company who initially doubts Barbara’s book but comes to recognize its success.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Barbara Novak: “Down with love? Just eat some chocolate, forget the man, and take control of your own life.” – This is the central message of her book and defines her initial philosophy.
• Catcher Block: “The worst kind of man? That’s a challenge I can’t resist.” – Said after Barbara describes him as ‘The Worst Kind of Man’, setting up his pursuit to disprove her.
• Catcher Block: “I’m the bad guy? Since when did wanting to have fun become a crime?” – Reflecting his initial perspective and lifestyle before his views evolve.
• Barbara Novak: “There’s a middle ground between a blonde and a brunette.” – Said to Catcher right before she reveals she has dyed her hair red, signifying a compromise between their two views.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $35,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $20,305,251
• Worldwide Gross: $39,468,111

💥 Down with Love Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, I totally adore this movie! It’s like stepping into a time machine and landing smack-dab in a Doris Day/Rock Hudson film, but with a modern, cheeky twist. The colors are so vibrant, the costumes are amazing, and Ewan McGregor and Renée Zellweger are just perfect together. That split-screen phone call scene? Hilarious! I found myself laughing out loud throughout the whole thing. It’s lighthearted, fun, and just makes you feel good. The ending twist was also something I never saw coming, and I’m happy with the direction of the movie and how everyone resolves their issues.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic romantic comedies”
  • “Viewers who appreciate parodies and homages”
  • “Those interested in films with a retro style and vibrant visuals”
  • “Audience members that want something with a feminist point of view”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Suggestive humor”
  • “Mild sexual innuendo”
  • “Some smoking and alcohol use”

Professional Reviews

• Entertainment Weekly: “Down with Love is a fizzy, candy-colored homage to the Doris Day/Rock Hudson comedies, but with a knowing wink. Zellweger and McGregor are charming, and the production design is impeccable.
• Rolling Stone: “A smart and stylish satire that’s both funny and visually dazzling. The cast is perfect, and the movie captures the spirit of the early ’60s with loving detail.
• New York Times: “Down with Love succeeds as a stylish and amusing homage to the sex comedies of the early 1960s. Zellweger and McGregor have great chemistry, and the movie is visually stunning.

Audience Reactions

The colorful, retro sets and costumes were visually stunning and a delightful homage to the 1960s.: Viewers loved the film’s commitment to recreating the style and humor of classic sex comedies.

Ewan McGregor and Renée Zellweger had amazing chemistry and perfectly captured the essence of their characters.: The leads were praised for their performances and their ability to embody the spirit of the era.

Overall Consensus: A stylish and entertaining homage to the classic sex comedies of the 1960s, featuring strong performances and a visually stunning retro aesthetic.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The movie opens with the big CinemaScope logo 20th Century Fox used fifty years before to emulate the era.”
• “The extra scene at the end with Ewan McGregor and Renée Zellweger singing a duet was filmed at the insistence of Zellweger and McGregor because they wanted to celebrate their musical backgrounds, having both been in musicals previously.”
• “The film is a brightly colored, lighthearted homage to the early 1960s sex comedies that starred Rock Hudson and Doris Day, complete with fake backdrops, glamorous period sets, and glamorous costumes, makeup and hairstyles.”

🖥️ How to Watch Down with Love?

Down with Love is available for streaming on platforms such as Disney+ Hotstar. It is also available for purchase or rental on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check your preferred digital retailer for availability in your region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Down with Love, you might like these similar films:

• Pillow Talk (1959): Direct inspiration, sharing the same genre, tone, and battle-of-the-sexes theme. ‘Down with Love’ is a modern homage to this classic.
• How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003): Features a similar premise of a journalist trying to make someone fall in love as part of an article, with comedic consequences.
• Some Like It Hot (1959): Classic screwball comedy with gender-bending and mistaken identities, sharing a lighthearted and farcical tone.
• Easy A (2010): Modern comedy that subverts gender stereotypes and societal expectations, similar to the themes explored in ‘Down with Love’.

🛒 Down with Love Related Products

• Down with Love [Blu-ray]: Own the vibrant comedy on Blu-ray with enhanced picture and sound quality, bringing the 1960s aesthetic to life in stunning detail. Perfect for collectors and fans of physical media.
• Mad Men: The Complete Collection [Blu-ray]: Dive into the world of Mad Men, a series celebrated for its accurate portrayal of the 1960s advertising world and the social changes happening in the era. The complete collection gives you everything.
• Rock Hudson & Doris Day Romantic Comedy Collection: Relive the magic of classic romance movies with this DVD collection featuring Rock Hudson and Doris Day, the duo that inspired Down with Love.
• Givenchy Style 1960s Fashion Book: Explore the iconic fashion of Givenchy, the designer who created Audrey Hepburn’s most memorable looks, and whose style heavily influenced the costumes in Down with Love. Packed with stunning photographs and illustrations, this book offers a deep dive into the elegance and sophistication of 1960s fashion.

🎧 Soundtrack

Down with Love features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Down with Love” – performed by Michael Bublé and Holly Palmer
• “Fly Me to the Moon” – performed by Frank Sinatra
• “The Girl From Ipanema” – performed by Stan Getz & João Gilberto

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

20th Century Fox / Regency Enterprises (Down with Love)

Ever wondered what those opening logos looked like back in the day? Check out the vintage 20th Century Fox and Regency Enterprises logos from ‘Down with Love’ – it’s a fun little throwback that sets the stage for the whole movie!

Down With Love-Plot-Reveal

Need a quick recap of ‘Down With Love’? This video gives you the whole plot in just a few minutes, perfect if you’re trying to convince a friend to watch it (or just want to jog your memory!).

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