“New Year's Eve” Isn't Just About the Sparkles

By Martha Terrell

I have to admit I'm a sucker for cheesy, feel-good movies and “New Year's Eve” is the perfect example. While there is no puzzle to be solved or exciting new world to explore there is a basic sense of human kindness to be rediscovered. 

 Following in the footsteps of “Valentine's Day”, “New Year's Eve” delivers a mega star studded cast, and several plot lines which intertwine with one another. At times it gives that already-been-done feeling because let's face it, it has. But in the end who doesn't love New Year's with all of it's glitter, sparkles and romance? “New Year's Eve” definitely has plenty of that. From the huge ball drop in Times Square headed up by Hilary Swank, who plays the vice president of the Times Square Alliance, to a masquerade party thrown by a top record label and catered by Katherine Heigl; a broken hearted, career driven woman whose troubles stem from an incident in which her boyfriend, Jon Bon Jovi, propsed and then left her to go on tour. When Bon Jovi is booked to play at the same party Heigl is catering, the movie takes on a true rom-com feel. 

 The A-list cast goes on to include Ashton Kutcher, an anti-New Year's Eve comic strip artist, Lea Michele, an aspiring singer, Sarah Jessica Parker who plays mother to Abigail Breslin, and many other big names including Robert De Niro, who is clinging to life while laying in a hospital bed. De Niro's performance in the film leaves you with a hope that even the toughest of souls can be changed, and in the end it is all about family and those you love. 

 Perhaps the most interesting pairing and greatest lesson to be learned comes from Zac Efron and Michelle Pfeiffer. Efron leads the timid Pfeiffer on an adventure around New York to cross resolutions of her bucket list and ends up learning that a little kindness can go a long way. Meanwhile Hilary Swank gives a cheesy but touching speech that reminds us all to stop and appreaciate one another, as she struggles to pull off the perfect ball drop in Times Square.

 Although “New Year's Eve” does not deliver any gut-busting comedic lines it does have it's moments. Jessica Biel and Seth Meyers give the best comedic performance out of the bunch while racing to deliver their baby so it can become the first baby of the new year. 

 The biggest drawback to the film is the multitude of storylines. “Valentine's Day” pushed the limits when it comes to storylines and “New Year's Eve” goes a bit too far. It is difficult at the beginning to remember each plot and the many characters in the film. If you can make it halfway through all of the characters will have been introduced and it becomes easier to tie it all together. In the end any confusion is cleared up.

 “New Year's Eve” does become slightly predictable, or so it seems, but Gary Marshall adds a few twists and unexpected resolutions that ultimately surprise the audience. In the end everyone finds some kind of love and they all ring in New Year's Eve with someone special. It may be exactly what you expected, but isn't that nice sometimes? A movie that simply reminds us of the important things we sometimes forget. Let's face it. There is nothing wrong with a little sparkle and an old familiar story.