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Little Black Book (2004)

Director: Nick Hurran

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From Time Out London

This latest Brittany Murphy comedy attempts to shake up the rom-com formula with mixed results. When TV junior Stacy (Murphy) discovers that her absent boyfriend Derek (Ron Livingston) keeps a picture of an ex on his Palm Pilot, she interviews his significant exes under a pseudonym, pretending it’s research for the chat show on which she works. The idea is to gain a greater understanding of Derek, but Stacy learns a lot more than she bargains for about men, relationships and working ethics in the television game. With Holly Hunter as an ambitious colleague and Kathy Bates as a self-important show host, this flirts with sharp satire about broadcasting but too often diverts to failed farce as Stacy fumbles around her boyfriend’s apartment and life. This inhabits a strange middle ground between cynical comedy and sappy chick flick, and while its preference for realism over romance may be laudable, it’s unlikely to satisfy fans of either genre.

Author: AS

Time Out London Issue 1784: October 27-November 03, 2004


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Cast & crew

Director: Nick Hurran

Cast: Brittany Murphy, Holly Hunter, Kathy Bates, Ron Livingston

Rated: 12A

Duration: 97 mins

UK Release: Oct 29 2004




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