The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureMovie reviews

Accidental Love

Accidental Love | Movie review
15 June 2015
Matthew Lee
Avatar
Matthew Lee
15 June 2015

Movie and show review

Matthew Lee

Accidental Love

★★★★★

Release date

19th June 2015

Links

TwitterFacebookWebsite

In 2008 David O Russell was in the process of co-writing and directing a political comedy called Nailed. Unfortunately, due to a string of strikes, cast members leaving, and Russell himself abandoning the project, it was shelved in 2010. After five tumultuous years of financial issues, quick rewrites and reshoots, it was finally unveiled to the unsuspecting public with all those problems projected onscreen.

accidentallovestillAlice (Jessica Biel) is accidentally shot in the head with a nail gun, but due to her lack of health insurance she is unable to pay for the surgery. She hopes that congressman Howard Birdwell (Jake Gyllenhaal) can help her meet her needs, and so accompanied by Reverend Norm (Kurt Fuller) and Keyshawn (Tracy Morgan), she ventures to Washington DC to track him down. They soon come into political conflict with representatives Pam Hendrickson (Catherine Keener) and Harshtone (David Ramsay).

The production problems cast a very large shadow over this film, and at times are wholly foregrounded. There are certain shots that have clearly been salvaged from the editorial archives with poor visual resolution, notably a scene featuring two conversations, in which one looks polished, and the other looks to be in a pre-production phase. The political satire on the military programme and public healthcare bills further dates the movie. Since Obamacare and the exposure of drone strikes, the commentary is better suited for the Bush administration. This results in a film whose rhetoric appears out of touch with contemporary political problems.

By far the greatest flaw is in the haphazard climax, which unsuccessfully fuses wit with narrative simplicity. This audience-insulting finale is all too neatly packaged, and too contrived to be forgiving. It is more akin to a lazy studio sitcom than a Russell political comedy.

Accidental Love is an atrocious mess that seems only to have been salvaged in order to earn some return against its inflated budget. It has some Russell directorial trademarks, along with his usage of an ensemble cast, but it can’t mask the development problems that it undoubtedly experienced. This is really a film for dedicated David O Russell fans who wish to witness his last comedy film, and his move to more dramatic projects.

★★★★★

Matthew Lee

Accidental Love is released nationwide 19th June 2015.

Watch the trailer for Accidental Love here:

Please accept YouTube cookies to play this video. By accepting you will be accessing content from YouTube, a service provided by an external third party.

YouTube privacy policy

If you accept this notice, your choice will be saved and the page will refresh.

Related ItemsCatherine KeenerDavid O RussellDavid Ramsayjake gyllenhaalJessica BielKurt FullerTracy Morgan

More in Movie reviews

Ride or Die

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

Ip Man: Kung Fu Master

★★★★★
Jim Compton-Hall
Read More

For the Sake of Vicious

★★★★★
Lilly Subbotin
Read More

I Blame Society

★★★★★
Ben Flanagan
Read More

Why Did You Kill Me?

★★★★★
Emma Kiely
Read More

Me You Madness

★★★★★
Emma Kiely
Read More

Portal

★★★★★
Mersa Auda
Read More

Steelers: The World’s First Gay and Inclusive Rugby Club

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

The Year Earth Changed

★★★★★
Mersa Auda
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Movie and show review

Matthew Lee

Accidental Love

★★★★★

Release date

19th June 2015

Links

TwitterFacebookWebsite

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • London’s best pizzas for takeaway and delivery
    Food & Drinks
  • The Year Earth Changed
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Syml – Dim EP
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • London’s Michelin-starred restaurants open al fresco right now – and all those re-opening in May
    Food & Drinks
  • Ride or Die
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!
    ★★★★★
    netflix
  • Live from the Barbican: Moses Boyd
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Weezer with the LA Philharmonic and YOLA at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • London’s Michelin-starred restaurants open al fresco right now – and all those re-opening in May
    Food & Drinks
  • Live from the Barbican: Moses Boyd
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Secret Connection – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

The Domino Effect brings chef Aurelio Morales to London for a month
The Wonders | Movie review