At its core, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" is a metaphor for the games people play in their unconscious efforts to protect themselves from genuine intimacy. Revolving around two very charismatic individuals who look like they belong together but who are in a situation that has disaster written all over it, the film is full of surprises.
As for the film’s two main stars, Academy Award® nominee and Golden Globe winner Kate Hudson ("Almost Famous") and Matthew McConaughey ("Frailty," "The Wedding Planner"), the mix of romance and comedy in "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" appears to be made for them.
"I thought the script was really special. It was clever and even a little edgy, and I liked the way it turns dating on its head," says Hudson. "It was also wonderful having the chance to work with Matthew, who is as sweet as he is handsome."
McConaughey has equal praise for his co-star as well as the film. "I feel really lucky to be involved with a movie that is going to touch so many hearts," says the actor, adding that he couldn’t imagine working opposite anyone other than Hudson. "Kate is unbelievably talented and I think she brought out the best in me.
Director Donald Petrie says that besides the onscreen appeal of the two main stars, what he finds most endearing about "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" is its unpredictability.
"My initial barometer for a funny script is, did it make me laugh out loud, and this one did," says Petrie. "It’s filled with flip-flops and unexpected curves which really make it stand out from other films in the romantic comedy genre.
According to producer Lynda Obst, who has a number of successful romantic comedies under her belt, including the multi-Oscar®, Golden Globe-nominated "Sleepless in Seattle," what makes this film particularly special is the delicate balance it has between witty dialogue and a romance-driven plot.
"Most films in this genre focus more on the potential for love than on the humor, but this movie is unique in that it’s equal/v funny and romantic," says Obst, who points out that one of the secrets to a great romantic comedy is that the audience understands that the characters belong together way before they do. "It’s also very important to design characters that genuinely do fit together," adds Obst, "and to make them real enough to allow people to fantasize about themselves in the roles."
Based upon Michele Alexander and Jeannie Long’s How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, the film, is a clever cautionary tale that illustrates what not to do if you want to hang onto a guy. Producer Christine Peters, president of the Robert Evans Company, who discovered the book, says that from the moment she saw the book, she knew it would make a great film.
"The book was adorable," recalls Peters. "It reflected not only things I’ve gone through, but also what so many others women and men have experienced through their own trials with relationships. The film illustrates it all perfectly."
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