ironhorse_iv Another year is winding to a close and it's time to look back over the triumphs and the failures, friendships made and relationships ended. Whether you are celebrating with a huge party or a single glass of champagne at home, New Year's Eve is synonymous with reflection over the months gone by and what we seek in the future. Nevertheless, I can't say, the same with the movie 'New Year's Eve'. It's not worth remembering or celebrating in any year of your life. Released a few weeks before the 2011 New Year's Eve & taking its gimmicky influence once again, from 2003's hit holiday film "Love Actually', director Gary Marshall hope to ride the tiresome clichés big ensemble anthology holiday comedies back to the bank like he did with 2010s film, 'Valentine Day'. With twice the budget, this new holiday film was originally plan as a sequel to that 2010 film; however, with most of the cast from the original movie not returning; it cause the writers, to do a number of rewrites. Any recurring actors from 'Valentine Day' were rewritten into new roles in new locations, thus making this film, just a spiritual successor of the first film. Without spoiling the movie, too much, while, telling the new story about several couples and singles living in New York City on New Year's Eve; the film with all-star-studded cast felt a little too shallow, sappy and dull for me, even with the overused of passion monologues throughout the film. Though the messages are well meant and everyone's striving to be a good person, there aren't many believable role models. For starters, most of the characters were dealing with first world upper class problems that most people can't related to. The majority of people that lives in New York City, aren't high paying and rich, mostly white record moguls like Josh Duhamel's character, Sam Ahern, Jr. or rock-stars like Jon Bon Jovi's safe and generic character, musician Daniel Jensen who having dating issues. No, it's made, out of a number of blue-blood minorities from all of the five borough with mostly normal jobs, having to deal with paying the bills, and keeping alive. The focus on New York City was way off. It felt manufacturer, as if to act like a tourism brochure, rather than an in depth look of what life is really like in the city. After all, most of the cast is made out of celebs that honestly don't live in New York. Why couldn't they hired, more well-known New Yorkers actors!? Hardly any New York accents in this film. Better yet, focus on writing, well delivered characters that seem like they honestly do live there. You know, characters that seem like they bleed, New York. Another thing, for a movie about the people of New York City, where were the stories of the firefighters, police officers, or even the military. Don't get me wrong, not everything is awful about the characters. I do kinda like the storyline between Kim Doyle (Sarah Jessica Parker) is having trouble with her teenage daughter Hailey (Abigail Breslin) & a dying man, Stan Harris (Robert De Niro) evaluates his life with the help of a nurse named Aimee (Halle Berry). It's something, we can somewhat relate to, and the twist between them with Claire Morgan (Hillary Swank), was somewhat good, but the majority of the rest of the movie is mindless fluff. In my opinion, the movie should had given these stories, a little more real to earth conflicts, rather than having stupid, somewhat disturbing unrealistic conflicts, like two families, the Byrnes, Griffin and Tess (Seth Meyers & Jessica Biel) & the Schwab, James & Grace (Til Schweiger & Sarah Paulsen) trying to give birth, so they can win a lot of money or the stupid rat race to complete last minute, New Year Resolutions as if it's a bucket list with depression, lonely Ingrid Withers (Michelle Pfeiffer), & intrepid bike messenger, Paul Doyle (Zac Efron). It would make this movie, a lot better. Some of the stories, are so awful. I totally forgot about them. Some good examples are the Katherine Heigl's dating storyline and the Ashton Kutcher's elevator scene with Lea Michele. Despite that, most of the acting throughout the film was alright. Nothing too bad to get work up, about. However, nobody really stood out, because how disjointed, the structure was. The movie jumps around from character to character way too much. Sometimes, way too quickly. It really does confusing, whom story goes to whom character. I think, the movie had way too many cameos and not enough main and supporting characters to use as an episodic linking device. Added to that mess, was the large amount of highly visual mistakes. It was really jarring, how badly made, some of the shots were. Some good examples are, how comes, they didn't notice, that the film crew is visual in the train station!? Another, is how come, they didn't notice that the list of New Year resolutions, change between shots!? You would think, this movie, would notice that. Overall: I have to say, 2011's 'New Year's Eve' is like the New Year Baby. At first, it's cute to look at, but stressful and annoying to keep around and watch over. Don't recommended.

studioAT Despite the critical mauling that 'Valentine's Day',the public disagreed and that is probably why Garry Marshall tries to repeat the multi-star,multi-story film around a holiday trick with 'New Years Day'. And I'm sure people will disagree with me but I think it's a decent film.The stories don't all work and it's pretty cheesy but come on, its heart's in the right place and some of the stories are strong.Films like this are made for the people, not for awards. There are some lovely moments within this film and I personally feel that it was a lot better than the harsh words it gained.If Garry Marshall wants to complete a trilogy I'd be welcome to it. Maybe set in Ireland around St Patrick's Day?

FlashCallahan Like Valentines day, this film follows the lives of really beautiful, successful people, and Robert De Niro, as they prepare, face, and reflect on their lives on New Years Eve, in good old New York, because everything is great there apparently...Marshall wants you to cry so much and like these people so much, you can almost see him in the corner if the screen shouting 'these are normal people, with problems just like you!! Like them, I order you too'.While the film isn't as offensive as Sex in the City, all versions, it's still pretty abhorrent to see beautiful people with perfect lives moan about really small things, and then lay on all the schmaltz come the end.Its a pretty impressive cast, but they are given very little to do other than read a really dull, sugar coated script out to each other, and look pretty.De Niro looks really embarrassed to be in this, and Elizondo pops up, as he always does in a Garry Marshall film, maybe he has photos of him or something.Come the end of the film, everybody gets what they want, people are nice to other people, and then its January the first,you wake up and realise that New Years Eve, the movie and the event, is just a big marketing ploy for you to spend lots of money, and be depressed for days after....

Terryfan I watch this movie on TV because I'm a fan of Jessica Biel. You would think a movie with this many stars would be good well...You have Jessica Biel, Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, Robert De Niro, Cary Elwes Alyssa Milano, Seth Meyers, Jon Bon Jovi, Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Abigail Breslin and Sarh Jessica Parker many more.You get a series of stories all taking place in one night on New Year's Eve in the city of New York.Like my review of valentine's day you get so many stars in one movie you can make it work or you can't.With New Year's Eve it's no difference.I'm not saying it's one of the worst movies out there it just another movie with so many stars that you like or you don't.The movie has it moments of enjoyment but some make you go Really? You have to have the right mind frame to watch this movie but again it's not bad it just in between.However if you're a fan of any of the stars I mention then you might find some enjoyment would make a good date movie.So all in all I give New Year's Eve a 6 out of 10