The Bachelor

Title: The Bachelor (1999)
Director: Gary Sinyor
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Lead Actor(s): Renee Zellweger, Chris O’Donnell
Rating: PG-13
101 minutes

This is an example of a romantic comedy I hate. The plot centers around Jimmie Shannon (Chris O’Donnell). He is a 29-year-old commitaphobe. He finally decides to settle down with his girlfriend, Anne (Renee Zellweger), and botches the proposal. Anne decides to leave and Jimmie’s grandfather dies leaving Jimmie $100 million inheritance on the condition that he is married by his 30th birthday, which happens to be the next day. Jimmie catches Anne as she is about to get on a plan and again lets his fear of commitment get between him and his inheritance.

O’Donnell is stiff and awkward in a stiff and awkward character. None of the delivery was believable and at times it was almost painful to watch. He never connected with the character and I can’t blame him. If I had a character like this, I would have tried very hard not to connect with it.

Zellweger is trying to recreate the character she had in Jerry Maguire. This character is not as well written or similar in style. This doesn’t stop her from barreling through like it is. I can’t think of a single scene that has an original feel to it.

This is an awful movie. The plot is insulting. The acting is atrocious. The only redeemable thing is that in a scene toward the end, the secret of the inheritance gets out and brides in dresses chase Jimmie down the street. A good portion of these brides are men in drag. This movie gets a bonus point for that aspect. Otherwise it would be a 1.

** 2/10