Two Weeks Notice *** (2002, Sandra Bullock, Hugh Grant) – Classic Movie Review 1605

Writer-director Marc Lawrence’s 2002 romcom finds an excellent star pair in Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant, who go through their deliciously familiar acts as a daffy liberal lawyer and the floppy-haired property developer who hires her. There’s just one big problem getting in the way of the couple’s eventual fine romance: Hugh needs to knock down the very same old buildings Sandra that wants to preserve.

Marc Lawrence’s funny, amusing old-style romantic comedy recalls Hollywood’s golden days, and in a good way. If the screenplay is sometimes just not quite witty enough, and the pace a tiny bit slack, the delightful, ideally paired stars ensure the movie is always charming and pleasing. And there’s a rich supply of tasty one-liners to keep you laughing up to the inevitable happy ending.

Alicia Witt plays Sandra’s replacement, the attractive and flirtatious June Carver, whom she is forced by Hugh to train before she finishes serving her Two Weeks Notice. Dana Ivey, Robert Klein, Heather Burns and David Haig also co-star.

Two Weeks Notice is a big, important production, costing $60million back in 2002. It’s weird, though, that a relatively small-scale Hollywood movie like this costs so much. However, though critical response was mixed, the film was successful at the box office, taking just under $200million worldwide. Job done.

Two Weeks Notice is written and directed by expert romcom specialist Marc Lawrence, a TV graduate (Family Ties) who came to prominence and fame in the film biz with the screenplay of Miss Congeniality (2000). He also provided Grant with two of his other finer vehicles, Music and Lyrics (2007, with Drew Barrymore) and Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009, with Sarah Jessica Parker).

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1605

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