ViewGuide

Created Jun 18, 2009 04:23AM PST • Edited Jun 18, 2009 04:23AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Barely OK 2.0

   Forget his skill and commitment in “The Butterfly Effect,” “What Happens in Vegas” makes you never want to see Ashton Kutcher act again. Tom Vaughan’s regretful rom-com takes a page out of “The Simpsons”’ book, having Kutcher’s character hitched to Cameron Diaz’s stuffy blonde while both holiday in Las Vegas. Naturally, both parties regret it the next morning and agree to a quickie break-up. Only said split happens right before Kutcher strikes it lucky on a slot machine. They may be looking to go their seperate ways, but damned if either one’s giving up on $3million! Vaughan borrows from romantic-comedy legend only to create another cyclical, unimpressive film of the genre’s unoriginal 21st century era. Skits of the two’s dysfunctional trial marriage in each one’s pursuit of getting the lion’s share of the cash are linked together by the thinnest illusion of plotting, Kutcher and Diaz unambitiously portraying their instantly odeous characters with fleeting likeability. “What Happens in Vegas” isn’t the offense that 2007’s “P.S. I Love You” was (what with its pathetic idea of Asperger’s Syndrome) but fails to craft much of true interest. Jokes are scattershot and laughs die off towards the second half, while director Vaughan and director of photography Matthew F. Leonetti fail to craft an image you’ll hold onto. Like Kutcher’s previous forays into rom-com territory (which were at least watchable, regardless), “What Happens in Vegas” fades from memory; A hybrid of slapstick and schmaltz even less effective than “Click.”

4. Acting

   OK 2.5

5. Male Stars OK 2.5

6. Female Stars OK 2.5

7. Female Costars OK 2.5

8. Male Costars OK 2.5

10. Film

    OK 2.5

11. Direction OK 2.5

12. Play OK 2.5

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals Barely OK 2.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.7

17. Sex Titillating 1.7

18. Violence Gentle 1.2

19. Rudeness Salty 2.2

21. Reality

    Glib 1.4

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.4

23. Biological Glib 1.4

24. Physical Glib 1.4