Writer: Ezekiel Lee Zhiang Yang

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Watch this if you liked: "How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days", "A Christmas Carol", "The Wedding Singer"

"Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past" pits a chiselled, chunky and cocksure Matthew McConaughey against another over-sculpted jawline beauty Jennifer Garner, in a Dickensian story about a commitment-retard who masks his insecurities by bedding and binning as many women as he can, up until a magical night when ghostly spirits of real people in his life put him through a 3-D rerun of his romantic lifespan and forces him to rethink his ways.

Any self-respecting chicklit/chickflick follower will tell you that Casanova characters don't get cast any better than McConaughey, with his suave swagger and deep Southern voice. Even if he does dress like a gay pirate (as referenced from the trailer), he's still one of the most saleable stars for this kind of role. Jennifer Garner as his romantic opposite doesn't need to do much to help the story along, with McConaugher in his element.

The fun factor in this movie is actually his Hugh Hefner of an uncle, played by the ageless Michael Douglas. This womanising lothario gets some very cool lines to say and his scoring tuition for McConaughey's then-budding Romeo character provides some refreshing and clever input to an otherwise rather fleeting and forgettable story.

"Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past" is fortunately not offensive and neither is it too hollow. To over-generalise, ladies will probably enjoy this because of McConaughey's redemption and the Cinderella ending. Fellas can watch it too but don't let your date catch you ogling at Christina Milian in that lacy black bra, or you'll definitely be cursing at this movie for having created an instant 'past' girlfriend. Other bonuses include learning how to get your brother's chick back by knocking out Robert Forster and how to multiple-dump up to three girlfriends via YM conference call.


Cinema Online, 31 July 2009