Love and Other Drugs (2010)
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A pharmaceutical salesman in 1990s Pittsburgh finds himself navigating the complexities of a relationship with a woman battling Parkinson's disease.
The story
In 1996, womanizer Jamie Randall is fired from a Pittsburgh electronics store for having sex with his manager's girlfriend. His wealthy brother Josh refers him for a job as a pharmaceutical sales representative. After attending a Pfizer training program, Jamie begins working to get doctors to prescribe Zoloft. He is eventually tasked by his manager, Bruce, to get Dr. Stan Knight to prescribe Zoloft instead of Prozac. During his efforts to reach Dr. Knight, Jamie encounters Maggie Murdock, a patient of the doctor who suffers from early onset Parkinson's disease. The two begin a casual relationship while navigating their respective lives and the challenges of the pharmaceutical industry.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1996, Jamie Randall, a womanizer in Pittsburgh, becomes a pharmaceutical sales rep after being fired from an electronics store. He begins promoting Zoloft and, under his manager Bruce's direction, targets Dr. Stan Knight. While trying to win over the doctor, Jamie meets Maggie Murdock, a patient with early-onset Parkinson's. The two begin a casual sexual relationship. Amidst the corporate pressure of the pharmaceutical world, Jamie learns about the upcoming launch of Viagra and becomes a top seller. Despite the success, he realizes he wants a serious commitment, which Maggie initially rejects. After a series of events, including a confrontation at a bus stop and a realization of their mutual feelings, they reconcile. Following a medical conference where Maggie's condition is discussed, she confesses her love. Jamie then helps her navigate various specialists. After a misunderstanding regarding a rescheduled appointment leads to a temporary breakup, Jamie eventually chooses to forgo a promotion to Chicago to stay in Pittsburgh and be with Maggie, ultimately choosing love over his career advancement.
- First release year
- 2010
- Runtime (minutes)
- 112
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Edward Zwick
- Writers
- Charles Randolph · screenplay; Edward Zwick · co-written; Marshall Herskovitz · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Jake Gyllenhaal · Jamie Randall; Anne Hathaway · Maggie Murdock; Oliver Platt · Bruce Winston; Hank Azaria · Dr. Stan Knight; Josh Gad · Josh Randall; Gabriel Macht · Trey Hannigan
- Genres
- romantic comedy drama; sex comedy-drama
- Themes
- love; illness; career vs. personal life
- Tone and mood
- romantic; serious; comedy
- Premise and plot tags
- pharmaceuticals; medical condition; romance
- Source material / true-story basis
- Jamie Reidy's 2005 non-fiction book Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the performances and the mature handling of the romance, while others criticized the pacing and the inclusion of sex scenes.
- Production trivia
- The film is based on a non-fiction book about a Viagra salesman.; The film was a posthumous release for actress Jill Clayburgh.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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