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Modern love

Maybe the whole thing is a bit predictable, but the cast of “Must Love Dogs” makes the obvious seem fresh. Diane Lane and John Cusack star opposite each other as two middle-aged people on the rebound from love and life. Thanks to the Internet and their mostly truthful profiles, the two meet. It’s not love at first sight or even second sight. Eventually they do connect, of course and the movie can end on a happy note.

Throughout, there are fine performances from the supporting cast, which is what makes this movie palatable. Elizabeth Perkins is great as Lane’s meddling sister. Christopher Plummer is Lane’s widower father who has more dates than all his children put together. Dermot Mulroney is the father of one of Lane’s preschool kids and a very possible beau.

Stockard Channing plays one of Plummer’s casual love interests. It all makes for cute and clever situations.

Nothing terribly heavy happens in this movie. It’s a romantic comedy after all. This is the kind of film that doesn’t take itself too seriously, so the audience can relax and enjoy the proceedings. There are plenty of chuckles throughout and a few tender moments as well. All in all, it has a fair balance of sweetness and light put forth with expert timing by the likes of Lane and Cusack and company.

Cusack’s obsession with the film “Dr. Zhivago” is a good example of one quirk given the main characters. He bores his best friend with repeated viewings and analysis until said friend drags Cusack to a topless bar. Friends help friends and family helps family in this world, which makes it a nice place to visit for an hour or so.

Lane has repeated run-ins with the local butcher that leads to one of the film’s sweetest moments. Only a black-hearted creep could see this movie and hate it. The director has given it just the right amount of warmth and humor.

Certain other romantic comedies of the recent past come to mind like “Frankie and Johnny,” which is far superior to this one. That doesn’t mean you won’t have a perfectly lovely evening if you decide to take a date to see this clever little date movie. However, it may make you rethink that profile you put on Lovelorn.com. Or you may just decide to delete it all together.