Alex & Emma

PG-13

Released Jun 20, 2003

1 hr. 36 min.

Romance

Comedy

List

11%

140 Reviews

Tomatometer

41%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Writer Alex Sheldon (Luke Wilson) must finish his novel within a month. If he doesn't, he won't get paid. And, if that happens, angry Mafia types to whom he owes money will come looking for him. In order to expedite things, Alex hires typist Emma Dinsmore (Kate Hudson) and begins dictating his novel. The book is about a doomed love affair between a character similar to Alex and a character named Polina Delacroix (Sophie Marceau). But, as Alex falls for Emma, his work takes a different turn.

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Critics Consensus

A dull and unfunny comedy where the leads fail to generate any sparks.

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Kyle M

Appreciatively advocates a writer’s struggles and creative process amidst a story-within-story structure, but some are best left unsaid in addition to its unconvincing situation with the screenplay matching the flawed setting as that should’ve been the first sign of how dull it started to be for easy criticism aside from being predictable at equal rate. (C+)

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/22/24

Full Review

Gaylord R

I am baffled by the negative reviews of one of the best films I have watched in a long time. Crisp, sharp writing, an undeniably sweet chemistry between the lead actors, good humor paired with some, albeit over-the-top, existential angst. All in all a superb movie that leaves one satisfied and happy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/24/23

Full Review

Alexandra P

THERE MIGHT BE SOME SPOILERS! The plot wasn't that bad, it had a nice flow but the ending is what ruined my experience. I believe the ending is so far from reality that it was almost painful to watch. After he disrespects the crap out of you and lies to you, how come that after one cheesy line you come running back to him.. it just didn't sit right with me. If they still wanted them to end up together, they should have settled for on open ending, so the possibility of a reunion wouldn't be completely gone. I just think she forgave him way to quickly... Anyway, excuse my English if something sounded a bit off

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/19/22

Full Review

kevin c

A deep in debt writer played by Luke Wilson has to write a novel in thirty days to pay off his debt collectors, hires a stenographer played by Kate Hudson to help write as he dictates. Rob Reiner directs this romantic comedy. I enjoy Hudson, but the story of this one wasn't all that engrossing for me.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

steve d

Cute update with extremely likable leads.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Wait. So let me get this straight. Alex convinces Emma to love him by saying to her, "Sure, the other girl in my life is drop dead gorgeous and perfect in almost every possible way… but your REAL!"??? How is this the same director who gave us Harry and Sally???

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

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Rob Reiner

Director

Kate Hudson

Emma Dinsmore

Luke Wilson

Alex Sheldon

Sophie Marceau

Polina

David Paymer

John Shaw

Rob Reiner

Wirschafter

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

The actors make this fun if you can overlook the ludicrous view of Jeremy Leven's screenplay concerning how novels are written and what publishers generally pay for them.

Feb 8, 2012

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Uninspired -- neither romantic nor comic.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 9, 2010

Full Review

Empire Magazine

A miserable failure on every count.

Rated: 0.5/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Hopefully, Rob Reiner just suffered a case of writer's block/director's block like his character Alex Sheldon with Alex & Emma.

Nov 6, 2019

Full Review

Film4

About as funny as root canal work and as romantic as a rainy fortnight in Wrexham. Rob Reiner should make a phone call to Christopher Guest a priority.

Rated: 1.5/5

Feb 8, 2012

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

"Alex & Emma" has a light tone of modernized '20s inflected comedy that Woody Allen would love to still be able to capture in his movies.

Rated: B-

Jun 2, 2009

Full Review

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Synopsis

Writer Alex Sheldon (Luke Wilson) must finish his novel within a month. If he doesn't, he won't get paid. And, if that happens, angry Mafia types to whom he owes money will come looking for him. In order to expedite things, Alex hires typist Emma Dinsmore (Kate Hudson) and begins dictating his novel. The book is about a doomed love affair between a character similar to Alex and a character named Polina Delacroix (Sophie Marceau). But, as Alex falls for Emma, his work takes a different turn.

Director: Rob Reiner
Executive Producer: Peter Guber, Jeffrey Stott, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch
Screenwriter: Jeremy Leven
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Franchise Pictures, Epsilon Motion Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Some Language|Sexual Content)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 20, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $14.2M
Sound Mix: Surround

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