When Will I Be Loved (2004) - Movie Review

The sexually charged "When Will I Be Loved" may get some attention due to the fact Neve Campbell bares all for the first time, but viewer beware: it is one of the most boring films ever conceived.

"When Will I Be Loved" is, roughly, about a young woman who agrees to have sex with a rich Italian media mogul at her boyfriend's request, in exchange for money. It's basically an incoherent version of "Indecent Proposal," only none of the characters are interesting, very little happens and what does happen makes little sense.

Most of the movie seems to be improvised, as the first half features nothing more than the characters walking around New York City talking, arguing, flirting and screwing other people, with no plot development and backwards character growth. The movie reaches its apex when it actually uses a script, a.k.a. when Campbell and Dominic Chianese (Junior from "The Sopranos") meet for the first time, but that single scene isn't enough to save "When Will I Be Loved."

On top of everything else, the choice of music is just terrible. James Toback, the director behind "Harvard Man" (not a movie you'd want on your resume), mixes and overplays rap and classical music resulting in a very jarring experience. During the opening credits, he interchanges rap and classical every ten seconds - after the first minute, I had already lost interest in the film. Beyond that, the music just overpowers anything that's happening on screen, and that's not a good thing.

Toback should be given props for getting Neve Campbell's clothes off, but other than that, he should not be commended. Sadly, "When Will I Be Loved" will never be loved and will quickly be forgotten.

Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.