Laws of Attraction (2004)

Laws of Attraction is the kind of grown-up romantic comedy that remembers flirtation can be as sharp as any closing argument, and it lets Julianne Moore and Pierce Brosnan spar with real star power—equal parts sparkle, tension, and warmth. Peter Howitt keeps the pace polished and breezy, bouncing from sleek New York legal theatrics to a splash of storybook Ireland, all while riding that classic battle-of-the-sexes vibe where pride and chemistry keep tripping over each other. It’s witty and knowingly sexy without pretending to be profound, and when it hits its groove, it feels like a modern nod to old-school rom-coms that trusted charm and timing. If you’re allergic to glossy, slightly heightened rom-com antics (including some PG-13 raunch and a couple jokes that haven’t aged perfectly), it may not win your case—but if you want an elegant, mature crowd-pleaser with two magnetic leads, it’s an easy date-night yes.

Laws of Attraction is clearly aiming for a glossy, old-school battle-of-the-sexes rom-com, mixing courtroom sparring with a breezy Ireland detour and two stars who should, on paper, make it sing. The problem is it plays like a secondhand imitation: the plot hits every expected beat, the dialogue often feels sitcom-thin, and the central chemistry never quite generates the spark the movie keeps insisting is there. If you’re hoping for sharp legal comedy or a genuinely swoony slow-burn, this will likely feel bland and oddly rushed once the attraction is established. Still, Brosnan and Moore are watchable, and if you’re in the mood for a low-effort, early-2000s rom-com you can half-pay attention to, it may pass the time.