ACCIDENTAL LOVE

Jessica Biel leads an all-star cast in a comedy flop about a waitress who tries to navigate life and love…  with a nail lodged in her head.

Screenwriting team consisting of Kristin Gore, Matthew Silverstein and Dave Jeser all still have their names attached, but director David O. Russell was somehow able to hide behind the name “Stephen Greene” on IMDb. (BKP: 2.5/5)

Review by Associate Editor Brigid K. Presecky

What strives to be a comedic political satire is actually a cringe-worthy mess of a film. When rollerskating waitress, “Alice” (Jessica Biel) gets engaged to her screwball boyfriend “Scott,” (James Marsden) a freak accident leaves her with a nail wedged into her head. Surgery? Not an option.

When the emergency room doctors discover that Alice does not have health insurance, they immediately halt the procedure. Instead of helping a person who cannot pay the bills, the doctors throw insults and munch on fast food. The in-your-face political commentary is humorous (at times) but quickly feels like a Saturday Night Live sketch that has run 100 minutes too long.

While Alice raises money and fights for her “nail-in-her-head” cause, she falls in love with a hunky congressman (Jake Gyllenhaal). Since Scott no longer wants to marry a girl with a nail in her head, the new congressman seems like a better, sexier Option Number Two. Meanwhile, as Alice becomes somewhat of a celebrity around Washington D.C., wacky characters come her way: a man with an anal fixation (Tracey Morgan) and a reverend with a painful, permanent erection (Kurt Fuller) — to name a few.

The most interesting part of the film (written by Kristin Gore, Matthew Silverstein and Dave Jeser) is the endless amount of celebrity cameos. From Bill Hader and Beverly D’Angelo to Kirstie Alley and Catherine Keener, the talented comedians are always a welcome surprise. But with each “celebrity” appearance, the enjoyment dwindles further, with not even brilliant comedic talent able to save the weak script.

Maybe the high expectations of the film’s cast are to blame for the disastrous project that led to original director David O. Russell’s disownment in 2010, and a change to the film’s IMDb page with the director now credited as “Stephen Greene.” Originally beginning production in 2008 (with the title Nailed) the film stayed in distribution purgatory before its eventual release in 2015. Thankfully, the limited release will help ease the blow of Accidental Love’s disappointing turnout and save the cast and filmmakers the embarrassment.

© Brigid K. Presecky FF2 Media (7/10/15)

Photo: James Marsden as “Scott,” comforting fiance “Alice” (Jessica Biel) after she is denied surgery from her doctors (with M.D. cameo from Bill Hader).

Photo Credits: Millennium Entertainment

Q: Does Accidental Love pass the Bechdel Test? 

Barely.

“Alice” (Jessica Biel) has scenes with her mother “Helen” (Beverly D’Angelo).