Everybody's a critic - 'Two Weeks Notice'

Three stars

"Two Weeks Notice" is a surprise hit. Starring Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant, it is full of great one-liners and situations that give the whole audience a good laugh or two.

The only defect I saw when viewing this movie was the flow. For the first half, the plot moved very quickly, almost too quickly, and in a few spots I found myself confused. The second half, however, slowed down a bit and then remained slow. The pace of the movie was not an overly large problem, but it was enough to knock down the rating somewhat.

In the end, this movie held its own as a romantic comedy. The light-hearted laughter it induced was exactly what was too be expected. If you are looking for a great family movie, then "Two Weeks Notice" is the perfect holiday treat.

- West Smith, high school student

Two stars

We first meet hippie-chick lawyer Lucy Kelson (Sandra Bullock) clinging to a huge wrecking ball to block the destruction of a historic building by the Wade Corporation. At the head of said corporation is wealthy George Wade (Hugh Grant). To him, "life is very much like Monopoly" since he spends much of his time buying property and building enormous hotels. Lucy protests directly to Mr. Wade, but ironically ends up working for this man she despises, thinking she can implement change from the inside.

The remainder of the film is spent watching opposites attract, though it's not clear why Wade is a prize for the plucky heroine. While Grant's performance is charming, writer/director Marc Lawrence (who also penned "Miss Congeniality," another Bullock vehicle) fails to provide depth for the character. We're left with a romantic comedy that's light on both romance and comedy. Though enjoyable, the film provides nothing especially fresh or memorable.

- Bob Clubbs, high school drama/speech teacher

Two stars

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." Lucy Kelson, a community activist/lawyer, has this advice in mind when she signs on as chief counsel for George Wade, the embodiment of Big Business. However, she soon becomes his advisor on everything from envelope styles to mattress firmness. After leaving a wedding for his fashion "emergency," Lucy decides she needs a different job. But after giving two weeks notice she discovers she's in love with George.

While this film has some classic romantic comedy moments, it lacks what makes other movies in this genre great: Three-dimensional characters. Hugh Grant is characteristically charming as George; Sandra Bullock plays Lucy with her trademark clumsiness. It's as if these parts were written for the actors' stereotypes. Why do these characters fall in love? Why do we care about them? These questions may not get answered, but we get some good laughs along the way.

- Brooke Hildebrand Clubbs, adjunct professor