I didn't like this movie when it was called "Autumn in New York" where Richard Gere's life was turned around by a beautiful young thing with only months to live. I like it only moderately better when it's called "Sweet November," where Keanu Reeves is having his life turned around by the sweet young thing with only months to live.

Keanu plays an advertising executive named Nelson who is so repulsive you have to like him. It's obviously a fun role, especially during a sales pitch, where he unveils his plan to market a hotdog as one might a dildo, and then looks totally appalled when the client turns him down.

Charlize Theron is his total opposite. She's a carefree, fun-loving spirit named Sarah, who believes in enjoying each day to the limit. It helps that she doesn't have to work--being carefree and beautiful is obviously enough of a workload, without having to be confined by paying bills or anything like that. But she has have a hobby, she takes in a man for a month to make his live better. Nelson, is November. November is also Sarah's last month to live.

The film is ploddingly dull when it's not painfully annoying. Most of Sarah's scenes seem to be designed to make Charlize Theron look good--romping on the beach with 5 magnificent white poodles.

Nelson is another matter altogether. After being established as a bottom feeder, we actually see him grow and develop during his month with Sarah. And it's believable. I even quite like Keanu Reeves in the role. Most likeable of all, however, is Jason Isaacs as Chaz, Sarah's gay neighbor.

But overall, this movie is a bomb. It fails on all kinds of levels, and can't even be dismissed as a sappy romantic comedy, I'd advise that you leave the tissues behind and take a barf bag instead.


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