Disappointment for a huge fan!

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Go in cold, and you're likely to emerge with your blood boiling. This has to be seen to be believed.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Well, let me just rephrase that a bit. A definite contender for the worst major film ever produced. There certainly have been worse films, but generally only those made by virtual amateurs on independent budgets or fly-by-night film studios.From 1994's "Speed" through 2007's "The Proposal", Sandra Bullock was one of my favorite actresses. And then this film came out, and sense then I haven't watched any of her newer films. For me, she simply lost the golden touch.I have to admit that it doesn't help that her co-star here is Bradley Cooper...never one of my favorites. Thomas Haden Church...this is a professional actor? Ken Jeong...way overrated. DJ Qualls as Howard is interesting here...a quirky actor that brings something interesting to many of his roles. Katy Mixon was pretty good. And it was interesting to see Howard Hesseman as Bullock's character's father.The plot here actually seemed to have potential -- a slightly weird young woman begins stalking an imagined lover. Okay. That could be funny. But this director attacked the film as if he was on meth. Waaaaaaaaaaaay over the top...and that's what ruined the film. No wonder this was a popular Raspberry award winner.I don't say this often...but I wish I hadn't watched this film.

*** WARNING: some light spoilers.Is this a top 100 film in the all-time list? Obviously not! Is this something you keep in your film collection at home? Probably not!Is it a romantic comedy, as advertised? Nope!So what is it then? It's a Sandra Bullock-based film, where she courageously plays a nerd bordering on autistic cruciverbist, who makes seemingly wild mental associations all the time, who remembers most everything about everything, and can't stop talking about all these things. So OK, high IQ works also. And of course she acts and dresses ridiculous.Clearly Sandra Bullock has done some relatively serious research work to portray the character. If not in a comedy, this could be borderline award material: hey, let us pay attention to the struggles of high-IQ, borderline autistic people.What about the rest? A fairly simple plot, with its fair share of clichés (we all have our weird sides; there are some people ready to do almost anything to fulfil their ambitions; TV news can become just too unbearably vulgar).And so what is left? A comedy, with interesting acting from Sandra, and a rather feel- good, fuzzy feeling at the end.What does the people want?

I mean really! To give a razzie to Sandra Bullock for this role?!? It is a joke! I think someone in Hollywood wanted to give her a razzie and an Oscar in the same year. That is the reason she received a razzie for this role. I do not think she deserved it. I think it was all a stunt, very well organized. I have seen far worse acting in many far worse movies. As a matter of fact, excellent actors should act retards so they actually look as retards and idiots or mentally ill people if role requires it. Sandra Bullock is such an excellent actress, her Oscars and this role and many others confirm that.As far as this film goes, there is nothing really in it. I only watched it because I wanted to see why she received a razzie. So unless you want to watch it for the same reason, I would advise that you skip it.As far as razzie goes, Sandra keep it for your grand children! They will transfer it to the next generation: Hey you know, my grand mom received a razzie and an Oscar in the same year.

This movie is one of the MORE INTELLIGENT ROMANTIC COMEDIES THAT DOES NOT TAKE ITSELF TOO SERIOUSLY. That conscious approach of the film is both risky and refreshing in my opinion. A lot of reviewers who gave this film a bad review point to the supposed lack of plot and the great annoyance they felt for the main character Mary. Mary's overbearing attitude plays a crucial role in effectively conveying the film's message which it narrates in the end, in a form of self reflection by the protagonist. The message is this.... Will Shortz, the creator of the New York Times crossword puzzles said that "we all have an inherent need to fill empty spaces" Mary realizes towards the end of the movie that the whole obsession with Steve is driven by this need to fill a void in her life, that she like many of us, refused to recognize. We fill those holes in our otherwise happy lives with different things like work, exercising, eating, and even a passionate albeit baseless belief of a strong romantic connection with someone. Eventually, Mary realized that this internal void need not be filled with the thought of one great love, like many of the rom com movies try to feed us, but rather by the many people we meet, the old and new friendships we make, and the many stumbles we'll have as we journey through life.