Love Stinks

Hollywood, always with its finger on the pulse of society and mindful of the bottom line ($$$), exploits misogyny (hatred of women) and misogamy (hatred of marriage) with Love Stinks, a low-rent film that takes the funny but mean-spirited theme of There’s Something About Mary about two notches lower.

Shot in a low budget TV-sitcom style, the film follows television writer Seth Winnick (French Stewart of "3rd Rock from the Sun") and his relationship with marriage-hungry babe Chelsea Turner (Bridgette Wilson). They meet at the nuptials of best friend Larry (Bill Bellamy) and his bride (Tyra Banks).

Seth lives in a ritzy beachfront house furnished with a folding lawn chair, a Sony Play Station for entertainment, and an Elvis plate collection. Chelsea is an interior designer who garnishes her coffee table with bridal magazines. Seth, whose brain seems permanently lodged below the waist, doesn’t pick up on the clues.

Chelsea moves in. She throws a fit at the one year mark when he gives her a $10,000 pair of diamond earrings instead of an engagement ring. An enraged Chelsea throws the gift into the surf.

At this point, the movie becomes a low-calorie version of The War of the Roses. Chelsea files a palimony suit. Unrealistically remaining together under the same roof, there is one cheap shot followed by another. There are lots of laughs at the crudeness, especially the flatulence and animal abuse, but I can only think of one audience group that will like this stuff: single or divorced males between the ages of 18 to 40. That is, if you can pull them away from watching the tractor pull events on ESPN at the local sports bar.

Love Stinks is too superficial and silly to be taken as a statement about love and marriage. The movie seems more intent on showcasing the talents of French Stewart. Let’s just say he’s a lot funnier on TV.