Excellent, a Must See

Absolutely Fantastic

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

David Collins (Jerry O'Connell) lives with his girlfriend of five years Sarah (Bridgette Wilson-Sampras) in L.A. She's transferring to NYC and gives him a "deadline". She was inspired by their perpetual single friend Tyler Carter Bellows (Ron Livingston) suddenly getting engaged. She leaves and gives him two months to decide. She spends her time in NYC with friends Nicole (Annabeth Gish), Tyler, and boss Andrew Hahn. David wonders if she's the one and searches for that feeling he once had (with an underage girl) and a new mystery woman. His single best friends Mike Hanson (Ryan Reynolds) and Jonesy (Bill Bellamy) are not always helpful. He reconnects with college ex turned stripper Amy (Alyssa Milano).Writer/director Walt Becker brings along his Van Wilder star to spice up this rambling single-guy comedy. It's too bad that he's not the lead. He's the funniest part of this movie as spiderman. Jerry O'Connell doesn't have the same boyish charm. He's more of a best friend sidekick. The B story following Sarah in NYC adds nothing. This cast of actors has great potential but the material is not quite there.

Ryan Reynolds (who plays Mike Hanson) should be getting more major rolls; as should Ron Livingston (who plays Tyler Carter Bellows). It seems that no one notices the massive amounts of talent these two dudes have... if only I had the money. Of the women in this movie only Alyssa Milano (Amy) stands out as portraying anything other than a stick figure. She was warm approachable, loving, and real. The rest struck me as mannequins.The script was OK but struck me as thin - much like "Wild Hogs" - Walt Becker's other major effort. Given time I can see him pwning (it's a gamer's spelling) Hollywood.Another reviewer called this a great date movie... that's the last thing I would want to see with someone I was trying to get to know. It's all about marriage - too soon for a date movie. Nonetheless, if you want a light romp through relationship land then this is pretty darn light reading. 7/10.-LD______________________________________________my bread: http://www.joesbread.com/my faith: http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/jbc33/

Sometimes I have this strange fascination where I have to watch stuff I know I'll hate. I like Jerry O'Connell as a TV actor, but can't think of a film he's been in since Stand By Me that I've liked. I tried watching Tomcats recently and it was(unsurprisingly) awful- very stereotypical and sexist. Then I saw "Buying the Cow" on (of all places!) the Oxygen channel and that Jerry O'Connell was in it. I thought, hey, if Oxygen is playing it, it can't be that demeaning to women or perpetuate tired gender stereotypes! Boy was I wrong!There are probably less than 5 films that I have never finished watching to the end- this is one of them. I usually don't review films without watching the whole thing, but this was just too bad.I couldn't make it past the homophobic terror scene when the guy thinks he got drunk and slept with a guy -folowing by a pedophilia joke. It could have been a funny scene, but they had to push the envelope from a funny misunderstanding to sheer homophobic panic - he has to be shown vomiting and almost kill himself just to leave - and then if that wasn't tasteless enough, they added a scene where he's mistaken for a pedophile!Sexism, homophobia & pedophilia jokes do NOT make for a good movie! AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

Hidden in the midst of straight-to-video releases, this film is a head and shoulders above the rest, and it boggles my mind that it did not achieve theatrical release.While the subject matter is somewhat unoriginal (Games a man must play to land a "perfect woman" and the pros & cons of commitment/marriage), the film has a magnificent script that gives these themes a freshness not seen since Swingers.Perhaps the film's strongest suit is the cast. Reynolds, Bellamy, O'Connell, and Livingston work great together, and never once does the witty dialog seem forced or unbelievable. The interaction seems realistic, and most importantly, personal (from the male standpoint, anyway). The film is smart and thoughtful, giving a variety of perspectives on the subject matter.The only beef I have with this film (no pun intended) is that the ending is a bit abrupt (I won't give anything away, but you'll see what I mean). I felt a little more elaboration might have tied things up a bit better. However, don't let this deter you, Buying the Cow is a must-see.