Laws of Attraction

See our interview with the Director and leading cast members.

If all is fair in love and war, then “Laws of Attraction” makes a case against using rules for the simple impulse of being attracted to someone. Debunking some of these ideas are good, while some are not; but the overall effect of this story provides laughter and love—even correction—to the ugly cultural problem of divorce.

Though it is compared to earlier romantic comedies such as “Adam’s Rib,” this contemporary story is set in New York City involving divorce lawyers Audrey Woods (Julianne Moore) and Daniel Rafferty (Pierce Brosnan). Being on opposite sides of the same case, Daniel and Audrey struggle to keep their interest in each other as professional as possible. However, they find it difficult to keep their romance under control—especially once they get married. In the midst of a divorce trial for an over-the-top rock star (Michael Sheen) and his fashion designer wife (Parker Posey), Daniel and Audrey go through their own trials as they begin to discover what it means to truly be committed to someone.

To kick off her law breaking, Audrey decides to go on her first date with Daniel outside of a work environment. While at dinner, Audrey can’t help but relate to Daniel competitively, and manages to challenge him to a drinking contest. This leads them both to excessive drinking, followed by the allusion that they sleep together. We see them kissing, but after that only see a shot of the floor with clothes being flung onto it.

Also, while the two are in Ireland, Daniel participates in a drinking contest at an Irish festival, but he is not shown being inebriated. It’s also in Ireland when Daniel and Audrey wake up in bed next to each other, concurring that they have officially tied the knot. Here Moore shown in her undergarments, but is also covered by a sheet. There is one instance, too, involving Audrey walking in on the rock star and his wife in an intimate situation, but like all the other scenes there is no nudity.

Eventually, Audrey has to take down the defenses she has created in her life, specifically in terms of getting married. Initially she is cynical and jaded, and tells Daniel that she thinks, “Marriage is dead in the water.” Audrey is as a hard-core, overachieving, sophisticated professional, but eventually has to break her rules and forsake competition with Daniel in order to have the relationship with him she really wants.

Although this story essentially belongs to Audrey, director Peter Howitt worked on developing Daniel’s character as much as possible. Originally interpreted as “lounge lizard that has no moral fiber” Howitt made Daniel a man who is constant in his feelings towards Audrey, and one who realizes he must engage in a healthy kind of “fight” in order to preserve the relationship. What impressed me most about Daniel is how he exemplifies Christ in His loving pursuit of each of us. It is that constant love that can eventually win us, even though we may be fickle, irrational and cruel in our response to Him.

This movie tends to be predictable, but does manage to offer encouraging thoughts and refreshing ideas toward marriage. An early scene involves both Daniel and Audrey presenting speeches at a divorce seminar, in which Audrey purports that “divorce doesn’t have to be agony”—almost as if she is encouraging divorce. Surprisingly, Daniel immediately follows her speech by showing disdain for lawyers and dissuading them as much as possible from getting a divorce.

In terms of situations and subject matter, this movie appeals mainly to adults. There is some crass language, but it is mostly free of profanities. And it was fun seeing Julianne Moore enjoy a kind of role she really didn’t have to take too seriously.

Violence: None / Profanity: Mild / Sex/Nudity: Moderate