Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher star as Joy and Jack in the new romantic comedy “What Happens in Vegas”….
Well, what happens is …. Joy and Jack meet, get very drunk and do a “Brittany”…. They get married. What complicates this impulsive act is an unexpected windfall that makes divorce that much harder.
Apparently Diaz and Kutcher were so impressed by the film's premise and its first draft script they were compelled to sign on immediately…. Unfortunately what ends up on screen is an unfunny and forced mess.
Cameron Diaz who's so dazzling in “There's Something about Mary” is really disappointing here. Her performance only ever hits one note and that note is out of step with her age. The cute thing really wears thin.
Ashton Kutcher's performance as Jack gets better as the film unfolds; thankfully he refrains from playing all his scenes for gags. The annoying clown is finally replaced by boyish charm. But the pairing with Diaz just wasn't believable.
And I must say … I would so love to see a romantic comedy that doesn't have the obligatory “crazy, kooky” best friends. It has just been done to death.
Director Tom Vaughan does hit the right tone in the early sequences. He manages to capture the instant gratification of Vegas. But the film slides downhill quickly.
“What Happens in Vegas” suffers from too much froth and not enough substance, 2 stars.
