"How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days" follows the plight of Benjamin and Andie, as they attempt to con each other into an unusual relationship, furthering their respective careers.

Benjamin, played by a very comical Mathew McConaughey (EdTV), is a high end executive who attempts to land an advertising campaign by proving to his boss he can make a girl fall in love with him in 10 days. Andie, his selected target, played by Kate Hudson (Almost Famous), is a journalist with a women's magazine destined to show the typical reasons why women ruin their relationships by making a guy break up with her also in 10 days. Benjamin of course becomes her target as well.

Eventually, the frustration level of both persons grow, as Andie does all she can to get under Benjamin's skin, playing the role of girlfriend from hell. Benjamin, however, keeps accepting her unusual behavior to get her to fall in love with him.

The situational comedy of this work, directed by Donald Petrie (Miss Congeniality, Welcome to Mooseport), is the film's greatest strength, despite being written by a three man screen team and a duel of novelists.

Being a guy, the mishaps happen most for McConaughey, leaving me to empathize with his character. When his eyes became bloodshot with frustration, mine did as well.

Hudson as Andie was pure joy. Her facial expressions in the arena of comedy were a delight for the picture. Directing for the film was stale, but did not define the enjoyment of the work. Performances and situations were what this film depended on.

However, close to about the final 10 to 15 minutes, the picture turns extremely bland and resembles every other Hollywood romantic comedy. There is even a point where the laughs completely drop off and the remaining material is listless and boring.

The DVD however has a lot of good special features except when director Petrie attempts to explain portions of the story. Instead, he simply comes off as a dweeb who could have been forgotten in the "Making of…" extras. Otherwise, the disc is quite a buy as romantic comedies go.

Benn - Where's the Humanity?