I've been waiting to see New Year's Eve since it came out at the cinema last December. At the time for some reason me and friend couldn't get there (we go to see films together at least 1-2 times a month) and so it had escaped me until Warner Bros asked if I'd like a review copy.
The synopsis for New Year's Eve reads "New Year's Eve celebrates love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and fresh starts, with intertwining stories told amidst the pulse and promise of New York City on the most dazzling night of the year" and I think that sums it up pretty well.
The first thing that hits you about this film is the sheer amount of household names that appear in this film. Let me throw a few names at you - Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Robert De Niro, Halle Berry, Alyssa Milano, Jessica Biel, Katherine Heigl, Jon Bon Jovi, Sofia Vergara, Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Abigail Breslin, Joey McIntyre, Hilary Swank, Ludacris, Matthew Broderick, Ryan Seacrest - even Mayor Bloomberg makes a cameo. It reads like a who's who and I am sure I have forgotten someone! Even Mr M was waiting to see who was going to pop up next.
The film itself follows several sub-plots, all centred around the Times Square ball drop, each of which have a loose connection to each other. Some of the plot-lines include a couple who have never met before trapped in a lift, a dying man, a woman trying to fulfil her wish-list in one day, a tense mother/daughter relationship, a race between two couples to have the first baby of 2012 and a guy trying to get back to New York to meet up with someone he met the previous New Year.
If you enjoy a chick flick, then you'll probably enjoy this film. It's not really a film for men and okay, it's not going to win any awards for originality as it is a bit predictable but if you're looking for a feel good, seasonal film then this definitely ticks the boxes. It's been compared to Love Actually but for me, it's more like Valentines Day - it doesn't really have the quick, dry British humour that Love Actually has and is a little bit more schmaltzy - which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I think Christmas needs a bit of schmaltz.
My favourite character is Sofia Vergara's Ava. I think that's because I have a complete girl-crush on her, plus her she's basically the same as her character Gloria in Modern Family. Most of the lines she has are things that Gloria would say. Okay, so not very original but Gloria is a great character and so is Ava.
But the storyline I like best is the one between Zac Efron and Michelle Pfeiffer, even if she is totally weird. The friendship between young lad around town and older, somewhat kooky lady warmed the cockles.
Most of the story-lines are quite endearing and a couple of them may even move you to tears. The majority of characters are likeable, if not always completely believable however it has Jon Bon Jovi in it which is enough to make up any failings for me!
New Years Eve is out now and available to buy from Amazon.
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