You ever catch one of those mid-2000s movies on a random Tuesday night and realize it’s actually way better than you remembered? That happened to me recently with A Lot Like Love. Back in 2005, critics basically treated it like a bargain-bin version of When Harry Met Sally. Roger Ebert famously put it on his "most hated" list, which, honestly, feels a bit dramatic in hindsight.
If you haven't seen it in a decade, the amanda peet and ashton kutcher movie is basically a seven-year chronicle of two people—Oliver and Emily—who keep bumping into each other at the absolute worst times. It starts with a weirdly aggressive hookup in an airplane bathroom and ends... well, where all rom-coms end. But the journey is what’s actually interesting here. It’s less about "will they/won't they" and more about how much of a mess your twenties actually are.
The Chemistry That Shouldn't Have Worked
Kutcher was at the peak of his That '70s Show and Punk'd fame when this dropped. He was the "hot goofball." Amanda Peet, on the other hand, had this sharp, indie-cool energy. On paper? Kinda weird. On screen? It actually works.
Director Nigel Cole mentioned in interviews that they actually auditioned about 20 other actresses before Peet walked in. Kutcher said the chemistry "wasn't just right" with the others. They needed someone who could be vulnerable but also kind of a jerk—because let's be real, Emily is kind of a lot to handle at the start of the film.
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There’s this scene in the desert where they’re both naked (Kutcher’s first nude scene, fun fact) taking photos with an old camera. It’s not even that sexual; it’s just two people being incredibly comfortable with each other’s awkwardness. That’s the vibe of the whole movie. It’s a "vignette" film, meaning we see them in 1998, then 2000, then 2003. You see Oliver go from a guy obsessed with a "seven-year plan" for his internet diaper business (diaperrush.com, because 2005) to a guy who realizes life doesn't give a damn about your Google Calendar.
Why Critics Originally Hated It (And Why They Were Wrong)
The biggest gripe back in the day was that the characters were "manufactured." Critics hated that Oliver and Emily stayed apart for "no reason."
But if you’ve lived through your twenties, you know that "no reason" is usually the best reason. Sometimes you're just not ready. Sometimes you’re dating a guy who plays the bass in a bad band (played by Norman Reedus, by the way—look for the long hair).
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Real Production Nuggets
- The Budget: It cost about $30 million to make.
- Box Office: It pulled in around $43 million worldwide. Not a flop, but definitely not a Hitch-sized smash.
- The Meghan Markle Cameo: Yeah, the Duchess of Sussex is in this. She plays "Hot Girl" on a plane for about 30 seconds.
- The Soundtrack: This is actually the best part. It has Third Eye Blind, Jet, and that iconic Bon Jovi "I'll Be There For You" cover that Oliver sings to Emily.
The movie captures the dot-com boom and bust perfectly. Oliver’s obsession with his business is such a specific 2000s mood. He thinks he can’t have love until he has "stability." Emily, the "artsy goth" photographer, is the opposite. She’s chaos.
It's Actually a Movie About Timing
Honestly, the amanda peet and ashton kutcher movie is probably one of the most realistic portrayals of how friendships turn into "something else." It’s not a lightning bolt. It’s a slow burn. It’s a series of phone calls and "hey, I'm in town" visits.
There's a scene where Oliver is signing to his deaf brother (played by Ty Giordano) while talking to Emily, and he's so distracted he keeps signing even when he's just talking to her. It's a small, human moment that makes the characters feel like actual people instead of script-reading robots.
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Is it Worth a Rewatch?
If you want something that feels like a warm blanket but also makes you slightly cringe at 2005 fashion (the low-rise jeans are aggressive), then yes. It’s a movie that acknowledges that love is often just about being in the same city at the same time with the same level of emotional availability.
How to approach your rewatch:
- Ignore the "Plan": Don't get hung up on Oliver's business logic. It's 2005 logic. It doesn't hold up.
- Watch the background: The filming locations in Los Angeles and New York (like the Pacific Electric Buffet) are great time capsules.
- Listen to the lyrics: The music choice isn't accidental. It’s a heavy-handed 2000s alt-rock emotional rollercoaster.
Basically, stop looking for a masterpiece. It's a movie about two people who are "a lot like" in love, which is probably as close as most of us get anyway.
If you’re looking to stream it, check your local listings or the usual suspects like Apple TV or Amazon. It pops up on Disney+ in some regions too, since it was a Touchstone Pictures release. Once you've finished the movie, go back and look for that Meghan Markle cameo—it's a fun "I knew her when" moment to spot.