Sweet November

• Directed by Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz\n• Starring Chris Rock, Eugene Levy, Regina King\n• Rated PG-13\n• Now playing at ShowPlace East 11\nSweet November" is often unfortunately paired with such disasters as "Autumn in New York" and "Here on Earth," as it depicts one man's love for a dying woman. But this movie is different, if only because it explores the love and life between the characters, without the illness sucking up too much time and plot to annoy audiences. \nCharlize Theron stars as Sara Deever, a free spirit who takes men into her life, one month at a time, to help them overcome some flaw. Her October, for example, overcame his shyness with her help. But Sara's commitment of one month means just that -- no more, no less. Partly to keep men from getting too involved with her, partly to keep them at a distance from knowing the truth: She is dying of lymphoma. \nNelson Moss (Keanu Reeves) is a heartless advertising executive with a workaholic mentality that is shattered when he suddenly is fired from his job after attacking a client who hated his "edgy ideas." When he cheats on his driver's test and causes Sara to be kicked out of the exam without the hope of renewing her license, she asks for a ride, and the opportunity to help him.\nWith some time on his hands, Nelson agrees to leave his world and come into Sara's. Along the way he will find he has the capacity to love and live as he's never imagined. But when he learns of Sara's illness, will she let him go the distance, or will he be her perfect November forever? \nA remake of the 1968 drama of the same name and set in beautiful San Francisco, which since the release of this movie and "The Wedding Planner" has never looked so lovely, "Sweet November" shines with Theron as the free-spirited Sara, who carries this movie with perfection. In her, the audience will see pleasure and pain and will hopefully walk away with a newfound respect for life. Reeves, as usual, isn't completely up to par and hangs in Theron's shadow, but this work is better than his last venture as the abusive husband in "The Gift." Together, the two have explosive chemistry that will leave audiences somewhat breathless at their capacity to love.\nSlow at times with a penchant for too much Enya and culminating with Reeves singing (thank God he only plays bass in his band, Dogstar), "Sweet November" is worth a look just to see the love between the two actors. Take someone you love. I promise you it will be worth it.