Aside from a really bad title, “Love Happens” is a different kind of romance about coming to terms with your inner demons. It would have been better named “A Okay” and here’s why…Burke (Aaron Eckhart) is a self-help guru who travels around promoting his book “A Okay” and teaching people how to make lemons out of lemonade. With a splash of vodka. He knows what he preaches because his own world has been shattered by love and loss when his wife died. On top of it all, there’s a hidden truth to why he can’t face his father-in-law (Martin Sheen.) And while Burke’s perspective gives us perspective, it also tells us something else is going underneath his starched shirt and pressed navy suit. Enter Eloise (Jennifer Aniston) a florist by day whose musician boyfriend by night is cheating. When the two meet, the story becomes a refreshing change from the usual rom-coms that Anniston is known for. In this, they focus on friendship, helping each other to look to the future instead of “in the rear view mirror.” The movie is tenderly driven by a subplot of followers who are on a 72 hour seminar with Burke. One man in particular – Walter (John Carroll Lynch) – will have you in tears but in an uplifting way. Much like the Adam Sandler movie “Spanglish” fell between the cracks of drama and comedy (Dramedy?) “Love Happens” is a refreshing twist from the usual boy meets girl. This is boy meets girl with purpose. The film loses momentum toward the final half hour, but the ending teaches us that like Burke’s books, everything will be “A Okay” if we just give life a second chance. Two tiaras
