Ashton Kutcher is narrator and main character in this emotion-stirring movie. I watched it twice because I just didn’t ‘get it’. This was not a mammoth task as Kutcher has so much sex appeal in his role as Nikki. He’s a young guy who is jobless, homeless and car-less, therefore he’s not looking for the tight skin of a 20 year old and hooks up with the more mature, successful Samantha (Anne Heche) who subsequently has tighter skin than most 20 year olds. Nikki begins gathering points to have a share in Samantha’s comfortable lifestyle and he succeeds. He’s a player by nature and definitely in tune with women’s emotions, both of which he uses to exploit every woman who crosses his path. The movie’s by-line “It’s a business doing pleasure” is apt.
It’s when Nikki meets Heather (Margarita Levieva) that he finds himself in unfamiliar territory – he falls in love. Unfortunately, we don’t choose love, it chooses us and Heather plays the same game as Nikki, manipulating men for their money. It’s a serendipitous moment when these two characters meet as it’s sure to alter at least one of their lives.
It’s the beginning and end narrative phrases that are crucial to the plot of this movie. It’s that thousands of people come to LA looking for the fairytale and thousands leave LA as a result of a broken heart. As Nikki says, “My whole life it was obvious I would end up in this city. And I’m still here!” For some people, pain brings strength and often a new-found spirit.
This is a bitter-sweet tale and I found its story-line similar to “Alfie” starring Jude Law. The old saying ‘what you give, you get back’ applies.
In my opinion, superb acting by the three lead roles and Director David MacKenzie is to be commended. The movie has an R rating due to its explicit sex scenes.
Liked your review a lot.
The acting was great. You could really get the emotion and confusion through the main actors.
P.S: Anne Heche looked amazing.