Love & Other Drugs

Love & Other Drugs
Name	Love & Other Drugs
Director	Edward Zwick
Producer	Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz, Scott Stuber, Charles Randolph
Writer	Charles Randolph, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz
Starring	Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria, Josh Gad
Music	James Newton Howard
Cinematography	Steven Fierberg
Editing	Steven Rosenblum
Studio	20th Century Fox, Regency Enterprises, New Regency Pictures, Stuber Pictures, Bedford Falls Productions
Released	November 24, 2010
Runtime	112 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$30 million
Gross	$102.8 million

Love & Other Drugs is a 2010 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Edward Zwick and written by Charles Randolph, Edward Zwick, and Marshall Herskovitz. The film is based on the non-fiction book Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman by Jamie Reidy, a former Pfizer salesman, and stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Jamie Randall, a pharmaceutical sales representative, and Anne Hathaway as Maggie Murdock, a free-spirited woman suffering from early onset Parkinson's disease. The film also features Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria, and Josh Gad in supporting roles, and was produced by 20th Century Fox, Regency Enterprises, New Regency Pictures, Stuber Pictures, and Bedford Falls Productions, with music composed by James Newton Howard and cinematography by Steven Fierberg.

Plot

The film follows the story of Jamie Randall, a charismatic and confident pharmaceutical sales representative, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, who works for Pfizer and is tasked with promoting the company's new drug, Viagra, developed by Dr. Simon Campbell and Dr. David Brown. Jamie Randall meets Maggie Murdock, played by Anne Hathaway, a beautiful and free-spirited woman suffering from early onset Parkinson's disease, and the two begin a romantic relationship, with Maggie Murdock introducing Jamie Randall to her friends, including Bruce Winston, played by Josh Gad. As their relationship deepens, Jamie Randall learns more about Maggie Murdock's condition and the challenges she faces, including her struggles with Dr. Stan Knight, played by Hank Azaria, and her experiences with Dr. Helen Randall, played by Jill Clayburgh. The film explores the complexities of their relationship, as well as the challenges faced by Jamie Randall in his career, including his interactions with his boss, Bruce Winston, and his rival, Trey Hannigan, played by Gabriel Macht.

Production

The film was directed by Edward Zwick and produced by Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz, Scott Stuber, and Charles Randolph, with a screenplay written by Charles Randolph, Edward Zwick, and Marshall Herskovitz. The film was shot on location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and New York City, with cinematography by Steven Fierberg and editing by Steven Rosenblum. The film's score was composed by James Newton Howard, who has also worked on films such as The Dark Knight and King Kong, and the soundtrack features music by The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and The Beatles. The film's production team included Pfizer consultants, who provided guidance on the pharmaceutical industry and the development of Viagra, which was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1998.

Cast

The film features a talented cast, including Jake Gyllenhaal as Jamie Randall, Anne Hathaway as Maggie Murdock, Oliver Platt as Bruce Winston, Hank Azaria as Dr. Stan Knight, and Josh Gad as Bruce Winston. The cast also includes Jill Clayburgh as Nancy Randall, George Segal as Dr. James Randall, and Gabriel Macht as Trey Hannigan. The film's cast has been praised for their performances, with Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway receiving particular acclaim for their chemistry on screen, which has been compared to the chemistry between Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

Release

The film was released on November 24, 2010, by 20th Century Fox and Regency Enterprises, and was distributed in the United States by 20th Century Fox and internationally by 20th Century Fox and Regency Enterprises. The film was released in 2,455 theaters in the United States and grossed $102.8 million worldwide, with a production budget of $30 million, making it a commercial success, similar to other films released by 20th Century Fox, such as Avatar and Titanic. The film received a rating of R from the Motion Picture Association of America for strong sexual content, nudity, and language, and was also released in Blu-ray and DVD formats by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Reception

The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for the performances of Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway, as well as the film's direction and screenplay, which were compared to the work of Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese. The film holds a rating of 72% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 174 reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10, and a rating of 63 on Metacritic, based on 35 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews", similar to the reviews received by other films starring Jake Gyllenhaal, such as Nightcrawler and Prisoners. The film was also praised for its portrayal of early onset Parkinson's disease and its impact on those affected, with Michael J. Fox and the Michael J. Fox Foundation praising the film's accurate depiction of the disease.

Soundtrack

The film's soundtrack features a mix of classic and contemporary music, including songs by The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and The Beatles, as well as original music composed by James Newton Howard. The soundtrack was released on November 16, 2010, by Lakeshore Records and features 12 tracks, including I've Got the World on a String by Louis Armstrong and Come Together by Ike & Tina Turner. The soundtrack has been praised for its eclectic mix of music and its contribution to the film's tone and atmosphere, which has been compared to the soundtracks of other films, such as American Beauty and The Graduate. The film's score was also praised, with James Newton Howard receiving a nomination for Best Original Score at the 2011 Golden Globe Awards, which was won by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for their work on The Social Network.

Category:2010 films