An actor takes a role for a few reasons. His agent says its good for his career. The actor may be under contract forcing him to accept the role. The actor may be doing a favor for a friend. it is best to think that Matthew McConaughey chose the third option. A person would like to think that McConaughey, just showed up on the set, without looking at the script beforehand. He should have said no if he did read it. There are many actors who’ve taken roles they regret. Matthew McConaughey would be one of them.
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past is a very loose,comic adaptation of A Christmas Carol. The writers may have read the book. Even if they did not, the chances are good, that they have seen at least one good movie version of it. The movie, has nothing in common with Charles Dickens masterpiece. Many literary works are barely recognizable, after Hollywood grabs the rights to them. This movie, whose scribes have written successful comedies is only humor,in the mind of the publicist for the film.
The leads in the film, Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner, play Connor Mead and Jenny Perotti, who are people who have drifted apart, since growing up together. Garner who is a mid level actress, doesn’t really have much to do in this movie. McConaughey, later won an Oscar, and appears in many commercials. His character isn’t a miserly old man. He is a very successful photographer, who is a womanizer. Conner Mead is a person who was a loser in high school. He was raised by his late Uncle Wayne,(Michael Douglas). The actor is the best thing about this movie. Uncle Wayne plays a twisted version of Jacob Marley. In life he only cared about sex. This is the lesson he passed on to his nephew. Uncle Wayne is the spirit guiding Connor on his journey. This of course involves the familiar visitation by the three spirits. None of the actresses who play them merit any real mention. The good versions of the Carol, do have enjoyable performances by the actors who play the ghosts. There is one scene where Christmas past shows all the women who slept with Connor Mead. It is a long line and they berate him. Mead has these dreams while at a rehearsal dinner for his brother. The only reason Connor attends is to persuade him to keep his bachelor status. Connor like Scrooge, sees the world in a selfish way. His uncle and his status have corrupted him.
Ghost of Girlfriends Past, is a very odd version of A Christmas Carol. It makes Scooged look like a cinematic piece of art. There are so many films that range from mediocre to bad. Some despite their flaws, have something that stands out. There really isn’t anything substantial that comes to mind about this movie. A famous group of puppets have starred in a version of Dickens novel, and have been better. Charles Dickens ghost would have read this script,and haunted the writers for their waste of everyone’s time. This movie can be skipped at Christmas or simply altogether.