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Diane Lane, John Cusack, Elizabeth Perkins, Christopher Plummer, Dermot Mulroney ... see more see more... , Stockard Channing , Julie Gonzalo , Ali Hillis , Brad Hall , Tony Bill , Michael Spound , Will McCormack , Kirk Trutner , Suzy Nakamura , Marylouise Burke , Ben Shenkman , Bess Wohl , Laura Kightlinger , Steven R. Schirripa , Patrick Fabian , Will Rothhaar , Victor Webster , Josh Stamberg , Jordana Spiro , Krikor Satamian , Shana Hiatt , Patrick St. Esprit , Colin Egglesfield , Brad William Henke , Bobby Coleman , Jon Lindstrom , Glenn Howerton , Ted Griffin , Emma Prescott , Jaden Sorensen , Anoush Nevart , Rubria Martins-Negrao , Jamie Denbo , Miles Hull , Amy Kidd , Ted Detwiler , Kate McClafferty

A woman finds herself drafted into the battle of finding the perfect man in this romantic comedy. Sarah Nolan (Diane Lane) is a kindergarten teacher in her mid-thirties who is still dealing with the e... read more read more...motional aftermath of her divorce eight months ago. While her sisters, Christine (Ali Hillis) and Carol (Elizabeth Perkins), both think Sarah needs to start dating again, Sarah herself isn't so sure. Carol decides to force the issue by posting Sarah's photo and profile on an Internet dating site, and soon a number of seemingly eligible bachelors are sending her e-mails in hopes of a date. However, nearly every man she meets turns out to be a loser, with the exception of Jake (John Cusack), who is smart, good looking, and even brings along a dog for their walk in the park (though he doesn't tell her the pooch was borrowed for the occasion). However, Sarah also makes the acquaintance of Bob (Dermot Mulroney), the divorced father of one of her students, and she finds herself having to choose between two potentially worthwhile men. Meanwhile, Sarah's widowed father, Bill (Christopher Plummer), decides to give Internet dating a try, and lands himself a new steady in Dolly (Stockard Channing). Must Love Dogs is based on the best-selling novel of the same title by Claire Cook. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

57% liked it

184,100 ratings

Critics

34% liked it

145 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: Gary David Goldberg

Release Date: July 29, 2005

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DVD Release Date: December 20, 2005

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Stats: 5,329 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (5,329)

  • movieguru12
    July 29, 2011
    movieguru12
    Sweet story of true love :) I love John Cusack in this movie!!! :) So cute :) Just a great movie :) :) :) :)
  • murphmann93
    June 23, 2011
    murphmann93
    Average film, with a few funny scenes. It's been a long time since I've watched this film and I only vaguely remember it. Shows how good it is... The funniest scene was most probably when he tried getting a condom. The only part that really had me laughing. Other than that, nothi... read moreng brilliant.
  • romy861
    July 23, 2010
    romy861
    Average romantic comedy. I originally rated this only two stars, but five years on from first viewing, I am a little older and can relate a bit more to Diane Lane's depressed late 30's divorcee.
    Diane is obviously very attractive for her age, and I like John Cusack, but I have... read more to say the main problem here is that they are not at all a convincing couple. She seems a little too conventional for him, and I never really bought them as an item at all.
    Any "aah" moments I had were gooing over the beautiful big dog. Probably not a great thing in a romantic film. There are a few laughs here, such as her answering her own father's personal add, and Stockard Channing is fantastic as Dolly, but it's not enough to make this a must see,
    Not bad for a weekend rental, but ultimately falls flat.
  • SirPant
    April 16, 2010
    SirPant
    I liked it as much as a non-American female 40 something divorcee could (No offence intended to American female 40 something divorcees). It wasn't terrible, there are plenty worse out there. I did like Christopher Plummer's penny speech, that was lovely, he really is one of the l... read moreast truly great actors.
  • jjnxn
    February 2, 2010
    jjnxn
    Diane Lane is good as always. She and Christopher Plummer have a nice chemistry as father and daughter but John Cusack gets more annoying as time goes by.
  • aliceinpunderland
    July 13, 2009
    aliceinpunderland
    Some genuinely fresh romantic/comedic lines and situations, but Sarah is basically a shadow of Frances Mayes in Under the Tuscan Sun, the latter of whom has far less to lose and far more charm in doing it. I nearly threw in the towel the second she says, "Will you let me ... read moreexplain?" Why do people in movies need permission to explain themselves? Bad writing!
  • deano
    June 14, 2008
    deano
    Fun spoof on the lies one tells while INternet dating frames the romance developing between a very girl-next-doorish Diane Lane and a forlorn John Cusack. The intended couple have a few starts and stops along the way as misunderstandings abound. Wonderfully romantic-comedy movie ... read moreof the couple since When Harry Met Sally... and You've Got M@il. I also like seeing these dogs where it says in the title.
  • CrookedlittleB33
    May 17, 2008
    CrookedlittleB33
    :]
  • purplemegan
    November 7, 2007
    purplemegan
    It was cute enough but I feel like they played all the really funny parts in the preview.
  • puffchunk
    September 24, 2007
    puffchunk
    eh.......

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Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper
August 1, 2005
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

John Cusack and Diane Lane need to put out personal ads saying, 'Must have screenplay.' Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
July 29, 2005
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

It's ostensibly about adults, but there's nothing remotely adult about it. Full Review

July 29, 2005
San Francisco Chronicle

The film gets more tepid as it goes along and ultimately just drifts off. Full Review

Peter Howell
July 29, 2005
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

The real reason for taking a chance on this minor summer confection would be to catch up on the life of an unbilled hero: Lloyd Dobler. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
July 29, 2005
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Thanks to its splendid lead players, Must Love Dogs has the affable, cuddly charm that its title so hopefully invokes. Full Review

Jen Chaney
July 29, 2005
Jen Chaney, Washington Post

Stands as yet another example of how easy it is for filmmakers to fail at romantic comedy. Full Review

Roger Moore
July 29, 2005
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

It's OK to be retro with your screen romance, but retro shouldn't feel this inept. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
July 29, 2005
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

Lately, Hollywood has gotten so obsessed with doing big things badly, it seems to have forgotten how to do small things well. Full Review

Jami Bernard
July 29, 2005
Jami Bernard, New York Daily News

Did Lane and John Cusack really have to put themselves through this? Here are two first-rate actors in the embarrassing situation of playing blithering misfits in a lame comedy of errors. Full Review

David Gilmour
July 29, 2005
David Gilmour, Globe and Mail

Be warned. When the makers of Must Love Dogs want you to like somebody, they slam your hand in a drawer until you say uncle. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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