You might have seen this movie before when it was called Valentine’s Day. It could even be called Valentine’s Day 2, except that it all takes place on New Year’s Eve.

But it’s the same mishmash of stories directed, produced and written by the same people; even a couple of the same actors show up. What the hey! The first movie made $110 million, maybe lightning will strike again.

There are enough stars for several movies, but not enough plot as people cope with the end/beginning of a new year. Babies are born, one sad soul (Robert De Niro) is dying, two people stuck in an elevator fall in love, couples argue and separate then get back together, a single mom worries about her daughter’s growing independence; there are many stories in New York on New Year’s Eve.

Some of the stories come together by the end of the movie, some don’t. The biggest problem is that you don’t care about any of them. You really don’t care if Hilary Swank’s character gets that lighted ball to fall in Times Square on time.

Performances are all over the map. Zac Efron exudes energy but he’s cast opposite a bedraggled, sad sack Michelle Pfeiffer going thru a mid-life crisis. Halle Berry shines as a dedicated nurse, but comes and goes in a flash.

It’s not terrible. There are a couple of laughs and surprises, but not enough of them to redeem this seasonal slush. Watch Love Actually again instead.

Rating: two deer out of five

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Alf Cryderman is a Red Deer freelance writer and old movie buff.