Love & Other Drugs
Love & Other Drugs is a 2010 American romantic comedy-drama film[3] directed, produced and co-written by Edward Zwick, based on the non-fiction book Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman by Jamie Reidy. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway, who previously starred together in the 2005 drama Brokeback Mountain; Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria, Josh Gad and Gabriel Macht also star. The film was released in the United States on November 26, 2010, received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $103 million.
| Love & Other Drugs | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Edward Zwick |
| Produced by | |
| Written by |
|
| Based on | Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman by Jamie Reidy |
| Starring | |
| Music by | James Newton Howard |
| Cinematography | Steven Fierberg |
| Edited by | Steven Rosenblum |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 112 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $30 million[1] |
| Box office | $103 million[2] |
Plot
In 1996, Jamie Randall is fired from a Pittsburgh electronics store for having sex with his manager's girlfriend. His wealthy brother, Josh, offers to refer Jamie to a friend for a job as a pharmaceutical sales representative. After attending a six-week Pfizer training program, Jamie goes to work for the company, attempting to get doctors to prescribe Zoloft and Zithromax. He is rebuffed, much to the dismay of his regional manager, Bruce, who sees Jamie as his ticket to the "big leagues" of Chicago. Bruce suggests that if Jamie can get Dr. Stan Knight to prescribe Zoloft instead of Prozac, other doctors will follow his lead. Afterwards, Jamie tries to gain access to Dr. Knight by flirting with his female employees, while secretly discarding the Prozac samples. Dr. Knight eventually allows Jamie to observe him examine one of his patients, Maggie Murdock, who suffers from early onset Parkinson's disease. Taking an interest in Maggie, Jamie obtains her number from one of Dr. Knight's assistants.
Having successfully landed a date, Jamie and Maggie soon agree that neither is interested in a serious relationship, and they start having casual sex regularly. Jamie is later beaten up by top-selling Prozac rep, Trey Hannigan, who discovers that Jamie has been discarding the samples, and warns Jamie not to mess with him. That night, Jamie is unable to get an erection during sex with Maggie. She teases Jamie and comforts him by asking what happened. During the conversation, Maggie reveals that Trey is an ex-boyfriend. To cheer him up, she tells him rumors about his company developing a new drug to treat erectile dysfunction. Bruce confirms that such a drug, to be called Viagra, is about to be marketed. Jamie soon starts selling Viagra, an instant success. Jamie wants a committed relationship, but Maggie refuses. Jamie confronts her while she helps senior citizens onto a bus bound for Canada to obtain cheap prescription drugs, and they get into an argument.
Two days later, after waiting all night for her at the bus stop in his car, he greets her back. Maggie is touched, and they resume their relationship. Jamie spends nights at Maggie's apartment. One night, he tells Maggie that he loves her—the first time he has ever said that to anyone—and has a panic attack. Maggie calms him by saying she "said 'I love you' to a cat once." Later on, Jamie asks her to go to a Chicago medical conference with him. She ends up at a Parkinson's discussion group across the street, and is moved by the people and their stories. Jamie meets a man whose wife is in the final stages of the disease, and asks for advice about Maggie. The man tells him to run.
After the convention, Maggie tells him how much she loves him. Jamie starts researching Parkinson's, and takes Maggie to different specialists around the country for tests. Jamie becomes angry when he arrives at an appointment only to discover it has been rescheduled, after they had flown in specifically to see the doctor. Maggie sees that Jamie can only love her if there is a hope that one day there will be a cure, and decides to break up with him.
Jamie and Josh are invited to a pajama party by Knight, and Jamie ends up having a threesome with two women. He awakens with a rare reaction from taking Viagra and he goes to the hospital. Some time later, Jamie goes to a restaurant and runs into Maggie, who is on a date. Bruce shows up and reveals Jamie has been promoted to the Chicago office. While packing to move to Chicago, Jamie finds the videotape recorder where he taped himself and Maggie talking about life. Jamie realizes he wants to be with Maggie, but her boss tells him she has left for Canada to obtain drugs. Jamie flags down her bus and tells her that she makes him a better person, and that he loves and needs her. She starts to cry and says she will need him more. Jamie decides not to take the job in Chicago; instead, he attends medical school at the University of Pittsburgh and stays with Maggie.
Cast
- Jake Gyllenhaal as Jamie Randall
- Anne Hathaway as Maggie Murdock
- Oliver Platt as Bruce Winston
- Hank Azaria as Dr. Stan Knight
- Josh Gad as Josh Randall
- Gabriel Macht as Trey Hannigan
- Judy Greer as Cindy
- George Segal as Dr. James Randall
- Jill Clayburgh as Nancy Randall
- Nikki DeLoach as Christy
- Katheryn Winnick as Lisa
- Natalie Gold as Dr. Helen Randall
- Michael Chernus as Jerry
- Michael Buffer as Pfizer Convention MC
- Jaimie Alexander as Carol (uncredited)
Production
Filming
Principal photography began in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania region on September 21, 2009.[4] The city was chosen for its atmosphere, rich medical history, the state's tax incentive program for film productions, and the area's experienced crews.[5] Pittsburgh suburbs such as McCandless, Squirrel Hill, Fox Chapel, Sewickley, Aliquippa, and Brownsville have been used as locations for the film, as well as Mellon Arena, Jane Street in the South Side between 17th and 18th streets, the Omni William Penn Hotel, The Capital Grille, and Station Square. Pittsburgh doubled as Chicago for some scenes.[5] The studio was in a building that had been a limousine car park.[6]
The scene in the beginning of the film where Gyllenhaal's character works in the audio/video store was shot at the former Don Allen Car Dealership located on Baum Blvd and S. Atlantic Avenue where the East End neighborhoods of Shadyside, Friendship and Bloomfield intersect. The building has since been demolished as of 2014.
A section of the Mon-Fayette Expressway (Pennsylvania Route 43) in suburban Washington County was used for scenes on November 15–16, delaying traffic. A helicopter was used for filming and 40 to 50 vehicles were brought in for the shoot. Trailers and tents were set up on the campus of Ringgold High School while filming took place on the Expressway. An area was set aside for actors waiting to film their scenes.[4]
In preparing for the film, Hathaway credits the work of Kate Winslet and Penélope Cruz, two actresses "whose work [she] returned to a lot in preparation" for Love and Other Drugs; she believes both have "done nudity with a tremendous amount of sensitivity and dignity".[6] She identified one of her favorite Cruz films, Abre Los Ojos, as work that helped her greatly for her role.[7] Like Gyllenhaal, Hathaway had final cut over those scenes, using it to cut five seconds where she thought "the camera lingered a little bit".[6] Hathaway said that she did not believe her nudity in the film would put off socially conservative people who would otherwise see the film, saying "just because nudity is such a contentious issue in America people believe that they automatically alienate the conservative parts of America by having nudity. But I give the American public more credit than that. I think that people are curious and people do love love stories. I think people might find it and like it, even though it is a little bit risky."[8]
Release
Critical response
Love and Other Drugs received mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film an approval rating of 48% based on 165 reviews, with an average rating of 5.78/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "It's a pleasure to see Hollywood produce a romance this refreshingly adult, but Love and Other Drugs struggles to find a balance between its disparate plot elements."[9] Metacritic gave the film a score of 55 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[10]
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it two and a half stars out of four, commenting that it "obtains a warm, lovable performance from Anne Hathaway and dimensions from Jake Gyllenhaal that grow from comedy to the serious".[11] Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a mixed review, writing: "The energy is far too great—manic even—at the beginning but calms down for a while to focus on the highly competitive but not always ethical arena of drug sales, then gets distracted by unusually bold sex scenes for a studio picture only to wander off into the cultural phenomenon of Viagra before the movie decides it's a romance after all and so concludes in a highly conventional final embrace."[12] A negative review from the East Bay Express described it as "a spectacularly maudlin and repellent piece of work" where the two protagonists "try to outdo each other in the 'who cares' department with their alarmingly off-putting interpersonal communication", leading to "callous salesman jokes, callous sex jokes, even callous jokes about the homeless man who rescues drug samples from the Dumpster."[13] An Associated Press reviewer found the film to be a "run-of-the-mill Hollywood love story".[14]
Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times gave the film a positive review, stating "Zwick is thankfully much more of a grown-up now in dealing with relationship entanglements. Somehow, between the epic and the intimate, between Hathaway and Gyllenhaal, love doesn't come easy, but with Love & Other Drugs, at least you don't have to wait."[15] Mary Pols of Time stated, "Since American movies tend to be prudish about sex, especially having bona fide stars appear to do it onscreen, Love & Other Drugs' desire to thoroughly acquaint us with a topless Anne Hathaway and a bottomless Jake Gyllenhaal is a welcome change."[16] James Berardinelli, film critic for ReelViews, praised the film and its story, giving it three and a half stars out of four. He wrote, "The first thing one notices about Love and Other Drugs is that it's an adult romance. So many current love stories are targeted at teenagers that it's rare to find one that sidesteps the numerous contrivances that permeate the genre."[17]
Box office
Love and Other Drugs was released on November 24, 2010, and opened in 2,455 theaters in the United States, grossing $2,239,489 on its opening day and $9,739,161 in its opening weekend, ranking No. 6 with a per theater average of $3,967.[18][19] On its second weekend, it remained No. 6 and grossed $5,652,810, averaging $2,300 per theater.[20] By its third weekend it dropped down to No. 8 and made $2,981,509, averaging $1,331 per theater.[21]
The film barely broke even at home with a domestic total gross of $32,367,005 as opposed to a production budget of $30 million. It fared much better overseas, where it grossed $70,453,003.[2]
Accolades
| Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68th Golden Globe Awards[22] | Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy | Jake Gyllenhaal | Nominated |
| Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy | Anne Hathaway | Nominated | |
| Satellite Awards 2010[23] | Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy | Jake Gyllenhaal | Nominated |
| Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy | Anne Hathaway | Won | |
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association[24] | Best Actress | Nominated |
References
- Fritz, Ben (2010-11-23). "Movie projector: 'Harry Potter' to rule again as four new movies open, three competing for women". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
Still, 20th Century Fox and Regency Pictures spent only about $30 million to make it, giving them as much chance as their competitors to turn a profit.
- "Love and Other Drugs (2010)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
- "AFI|Catalog - Love & Other Drugs". AFI. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
- Oliver, Jeff (2009-11-17). "Movie crew hanging out at Ringgold High". Valley Independent. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
- Barbara Vancheri (October 21, 2009). "Pittsburgh addicted to Gyllenhaal's 'Love and Drugs'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Block Communications. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
- "Anne Hathaway: From Princesses To Passion". Fresh Air. NPR. November 29, 2010. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
- Whipp, Glenn (2011-02-17). "Oscars: Anne Hathaway owes thanks to Penelope Cruz". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
- "Hathaway: Nudity won't put off 'more conservative' fans". BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat. BBC. 2010-12-22. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
- "Love and Other Drugs (2010)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
- "Love and Other Drugs reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
- Roger Ebert (2010-11-23). "Love and Other Drugs". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- Honeycutt, Kirk (2010-10-26). "Love and Other Drugs: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- Vance, Kelly. "Erection Day: Love and Other Drugs and Made in Dagenham". East Bay Express. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
- Germain, David (2010-11-22). "Review: 'Love & Other Drugs' Sells Same Old Potion". ABC News. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
- Sharkey, Betsy (2010-11-24). "Movie review: 'Love & Other Drugs'". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
Zwick is thankfully much more of a grown-up now in dealing with relationship entanglements. Somehow, between the epic and the intimate, between Hathaway and Gyllenhaal, love doesn't come easy, but with "Love & Other Drugs," at least you don't have to wait.
- Pols, Mary (2010-11-24). "Love & Other Drugs: Anatomy Lessons with Anne Hathaway". Time. Time Inc. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
Since American movies tend to be prudish about sex, especially having bona fide stars appear to do it onscreen, Love & Other Drugs' desire to thoroughly acquaint us with a topless Anne Hathaway and a bottomless Jake Gyllenhaal is a welcome change.
- Berardinelli, James (2010-11-23). "Love and Other Drugs". ReelViews. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- Brandon Gray (2010-11-27). "Friday Report: 'Harry Potter,' 'Tangled' Dominate". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
- "Weekend Box Office Results for November 26–28". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
- "Weekend Box Office Results for December 3–5". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
- "Weekend Box Office Results for December 10–12". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
- Reynolds, Simon (2010-12-14). "In Full: Golden Globes - Movie Nominees". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
- Carlson, Alex (2010-12-04). "Golden Satellite Award Nominations 2010". Film Misery. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
- Carlson, Alex (2010-12-05). "Washington D.C. Film Critics Award Nominations 2010". Film Misery. Retrieved 2010-12-27.