Soap operas.women watch them, men loathe them, soap was once advertized on them (hence the name) but somehow week after week, they get great ratings, always have a loyal fan base, and are able to reinvent the same storylines.

People are flabbergasted by the phenomenon and how it is so popular and still draws in the numbers. It is the same thing over and over again, what appeal does it have? When I first saw the trailer for Love Happens, the first thing I thought was, "soap opera." Better put on your comfy pajamas, grab an unhealthy snack, and find a comfy seat in your living room, because here comes an hour and a half version of Days of our Lives.

A man named Burke, played by the ever so dashing Aaron Eckhart, is at the peak of his professional game. He has helped millions of people who are grieving the loss of loved one with his best selling self-help book which he wrote after his wife died three years ago. With all the people he has helped with this advice, the one person who doesn't follow it is himself. During one of his week seminars, he encounters a charismatic florist named Eloise, played by none other than Jennifer Aniston, who makes him want to give love another chance. Eloise sees him as a man who needs to learn to love again, and she tries to mend him. Through a series of sad and painful events, both Burke and Eloise realize that in order to live for the future, they must let go of the past.

I could barely type that last line with a straight face. This film is packed to the brim with sap; you would think it was a tree. This film had no meat on its scant-plot bones. Although Eckhart and Aniston try their best with the material they are given, there is very little creative room for them to work with. Each scene is just another predictable turn after another. Love Happens was an awkward mix of a romantic comedy and a drama. It was not funny enough for me to laugh, not romantic enough for me to believe it, or dramatic enough (in a believable way) to move me to tears. All around this film was a carbon copy of the last romantic drama which I can't remember the name of, because they all just run together. Despite all that is wrong with this movie, the supporting actress, played by Judy Greer, does a great job being a silly, crazy, girl-power friend to Eloise. Even though she is in every romantic movie these days, she does what she does best, making the audience laugh.

It is rated PG-13 for some language and sexual references. The language is very tame and the sexual references are for just a second during some slam poetry (yes that's in there... slam poetry). I would recommend this movie to a girl who doesn't want to cry, but thinks Aaron Eckhart is handsome and a good actor, which he is... but not really seen in this movie.
I give Love Happens one and a half out of five flower arrangements. If anyone needs a self-help book, it is the writers of this movie, on how to turn off the afternoon soaps and dig a little bit deeper for a story.