Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009)

Genres

Comedy, Romance

Director

Mark Waters

Country

USA

Cast

Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Michael Douglas, Breckin Meyer, Lacey Chabert, Robert Forster, Daniel Sunjata, Emma Stone, Noreen DeWulf, Olga Maliouk, Devin Brochu, Logan Miller, Kasey Russell, Christa B. Allen

Storyline

While attending his brother's (Breckin Meyer) wedding, Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey), a successful fashion photographer and womanizer, is haunted by the ghosts of his past girlfriends.

Opinion

A lot of years ago, when romantic comedies were pretty much all I watched, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past was on TV and, although it was already started, I decided to watch it. I stopped after five minutes. I hope that gives you a hint of how bad this film is. And before going any further, I watched it only for Emma Stone. Also, I think this is why I started hating McConaughey.

Charles Dickens would be probably rolling in his grave if he knew this film existed. A Christmas Carol has been done so many times and it a lot of different ways, and it just didn't need this. The filmmakers used that great story of redemption as a plot device to deliver yet another clichèed and predictable romantic comedy which is basically what Hollywood does the best. 

What's worst, however, is that it had a decent start - it wasn't the best comedy ever but it was fun-ish - but then the whole womanizer and ghosts thing is taken too seriously and the film ends up being a little too preachy, it's filled with morale and it's tedious. Also, at several points, it doesn't even seem like the film focuses on what a bad man and person Connor is, but rather on what a terrible role model his uncle was. Sure, that man played by Michael Douglas is a goddamn awful man, but there's nothing about the plot that makes you think the movie is about him.

The comedy is also a disappointment. Although I'm not sure I can use that word, I wasn't expecting great things in the first place anyway. The jokes are terrible, most of them consisting on McConaughey making fun of best men and bridesmaids for being horny all the time. I loved Emma Stone as the ghost of girlfriends past, but I could be a little biased on this.

The rest of the cast doesn't deserve to be even mentioned still I have to point out what a terrible actress Jennifer Garner is. Her pretty face will never make up for the emotionless performances she gives every single time.