‘THE ACCIDENTAL HUSBAND’ (2009)

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Falling in love … even the expert is confused. the accidental husband

Just ask Dr. Emma Lloyd (Uma Thurman). She has been handing out love advice for a long while. The professional has her own local radio program and is about to launch her first published book. To complete the fairytale, she is engaged to Mr. Right. Her fiancé, Richard (Colin Firth) is about to become a prestigious member of a publishing firm and she is juggling her budding career all while planning their media-worthy wedding. There is just one little, teeny, tiny glitch in her otherwise enchanting life. She’s already married.

Amidst their shock and horror, Emma decides she’s going to “take care” of the problem and ultimately tracks down her “husband” who is a local firefighter. Patrick O’ Sullivan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is the complete opposite of Richard, easy-going, casual and charming … when he’s wants to be, anyway. the accidental husband

Just as a fair warning, there’s some spoilers herein. As charming as this is, I feel a little ranting is in the cards over how the film ultimately unfolds. In one review, someone says that the only likable character is Firth’s Richard. While I don’t completely agree with this, it has weight. It’s Patrick who never wins me over … and I haven’t a clue why! Something about his demeanor and lies bug me. (The latter of which is in no way an uncommon trope.) This is one of those titles that you feel sorry for the “loser” whom we actually like better in this love triangle. The ending is cute though. The actor portrays his character as genuinely in love with Emma and because of her wishy-washy emotions, his heart is broken, twice.

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Something I do like is how the characters relate to each other. Whether it’s Emma and Richards’s scenes, Patrick and Emma or Emma and her father, everything “feels” how it should; which makes many things “easier” to accept or comprehend in the end. Emma’s relationship with her father was a bright spot in the film. As quirky as it was, I couldn’t help but love it. It’s a sort of love-hate relationship, but strikes its viewer as nothing less than warm and caring. the accidental husband

Nothing special or unique, there is a charm to the story all its own, while it certainly isn’t the characters I do like the movie. The comedy is actually decent and doesn’t make one cringe inside when there should be lauging. For the most part, this is just a sweet romance. 

The casting worked okay, and I love seeing Colin in a comical role, who was the best part of the film; he’s brilliant during naturally comic moments. Uma had just the right amount of confusion and smarts to make the role work. In spite of everything, this is a mostly engaging little story that I have seen again. I’m a sucker for epilogue endings, if you will, and ultimately it’s the final, poignant moments (stereotypes and all) that probably win me over.  

Content: There are two scenes of a couple sleeping together, one with some movement. There may be some underlying sexual quip or innuendo. Emma suggests her father dates young women and is irate when she finds one living in his home, only to be wrong in her assumptions. We hear some profanities, the worst of which is one use of the f-word. The film is PG13.