Natalie Portman

HOLLYWOOD Mon July 21, 2008 2:00 AM (100% Natalie-Portman.net) - This movie stars Zach Braff who is also writer and director of this production.  With so much involvement by Braff, one has to wonder if Natalie Portman's role was simply conceived so Zach could get in a few smooches with the Hollywood starlet.  I'll be up front with you fans, there are no car chases, nobody gets or shot or blown up during the course of the film.  Scripts that Natalie Portman takes on tend to force me to think from a different perspective.  I had to slow down and think out of the box and realize this movie was marketed to those with a slower pace of life.  Its target market is a college aged crowd or those in small towns that could probably appreciate the slower moments in life among friends.  

Portman was peppy and sparkly in portraying Samantha (Sam) - it was as if she reprises the role of Marty from Beautiful Girls.  The film was set in a small town where everybody knew each other so this could have been the Beautiful Girls sequel featuring Marty all grown up.  There were some really tender moments where Natalie performed like a genuine sweetheart.  At the turn of a dime, she could be so random with her acting skills - speaking in terms of a positive context.  She just seemed to fit this character perfectly and captured the persona intended by the director.  Yes, this film had no action yet it's a movie about taking action and initiative.  I would recommend it to others in this market niche and age group.

*** 1/2 out of 5 stars. 

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