New Years Eve (2011)

Everyone has their film faux pas', some people like high school musical, some people like Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus, mine happens to be a weakness for ensemble movies. I know it's a strange one as more often than not they are pretty crap, but that's just how it is. I guess it started with Love Actually and then just kind of grew from there. I have seen many variations from Valentine's Day (great) to Expendables (not so much) and now I can add this film to my list.

 New Year's Eve does exactly what it says on the tin and tells several individuals new years eve stories in the city of New York. At the end of 2011, the people of New York gather to watch the ball drop in Times Square welcoming in the new year and many stories are told revolving around this event. From being stuck in an elevator to helping someone grant their new year resolutions before the year is out, the film looks at new year from every possible angle.

 In the grand scale of ensemble movies, this is okay. Each of the stories is interesting and there are some moments to make you laugh and some to make you cry. However, the stories don't really tie together all that well. If I were to compare it to a truly great ensemble movie, like Love Actually, it wouldn't stand up. Some of the stories don't seem to link with the rest of the film at all, and some only very tenuously.

 For such a star studded cast, it is a shame that they have not been used to their full advantage. True greats like Robert De Niro were given small barely significant parts whilst actors (and I use the word tentatively) like Jon Bon Jovi were given a substantial part of the film and storyline. This film could've been quite good if the focus had been correct. Instead it seemed a bit all over the place with the only thing tying it together being that it was new years eve for them all and some of them were related.

 On a positive note, it doesn't take itself too seriously. It is a nice little film to put on, not really think about too much and just kind of enjoy each of the stories for what they are individually. So if you get the opportunity to watch it, give it a go, but I wouldn't go out of your way to see it, it is only okay after all.