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The Accidental Husband

4/5 You would be forgiven for thinking that the ‘rom com’ has had its day but The Accidental Husband is a little gem. The film is a collaboration between several writers, but Uma Thurman initially began thinking about it ten years ago when she first had the idea of writing a comedy. Although famous for her roles in Tarantino’s films Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill, she has long wanted to expand her range to comedy and, in The Accidental Husband, she proves that she has successfully made that transition.The plot sounds somewhat unrealistic. It all centres on Dr. Emma Lloyd (Thurman), a radio love advice guru who helps New Yorkers with affairs of the heart and is author of the book ‘R.E.A.L Love’. She is about to marry her partner Richard (Colin Firth) when she discovers that there is a rather serious complication – she is already married. I want to say hilarity ensues but I found myself caring about the emotional entanglements of the characters amidst the more humorous episodes. Although the plot is flawed at some moments, and at others verges on the ridiculous, there are moments of emotional heart-tugging too.The cohesion between the leading actors is superb and they are helped by a very strong supporting cast including brilliant performances from Isabella Rossellini and Sam Shepard.Even for those who think they have had enough ‘Mr Darcy’, Firth does not disappoint. Despite becoming famous for playing ‘the quintessential English gentleman’, Firth is sick of being typecast in these roles. As he assured me himself at the press conference, he doesn’t really believe that such a man exists or that he is particularly worthy of that title. Those who have come to expect this stereotype will be reassured in The Accidental Husband, where Firth plays Richard with many quirky features, including a penchant for ‘binge eating’ at times of stress.However, just in case Firth is no longer your cup of tea, newcomer Jeffrey Dean Morgan is equally dashing as New York fireman Patrick, the other love interest in the film. Currently seen opposite Hilary Swank in P.S. I Love You, Morgan is a rising celebrity heart-throb but poignantly portrays his character here.I particularly recommend the film to those, like myself, who would normally run a mile from anything where the words ‘romantic’ and ‘comedy’ appear together: It manages to combine both realistic and farcical situations. Thurman is the most adept at offering both these things – pulling off both subtle comedy and slapstick (there is a very amusing ‘cake eating’ scene). The comedy, romance, and yes, Firth as an icon, all work harmoniously in this film. Most of all The Accidental Husband disproves the misguided assumption that American comedy does not know how to do irony or sharp wit.By Rebecca Cooper

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