You’re all about that vanity, thinking this rundown is totally about you—and if you’re a sucker for flicks like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, you’re spot on.
Picture this: a $50 million movie starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey that ends up banking a whopping $177 million at the box office. Yeah, it smashed all expectations and became one of the most unexpected mega hits in 2003. Fast forward almost two decades, and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days still stands tall as a classic rom-com. Why? Well, the amazing chemistry between the main duo plays a massive part.
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The plot? Easy-peasy. You’ve got Andie Anderson (Hudson), an advice columnist, and Ben Barry (McConaughey), an advertising exec. They’ve got entirely different work goals: She wants to dump a dude in less than two weeks for a juicy column piece, while he’s out to make a lady fall head over heels in that same span. Get ready for love ferns, cringey karaoke to “You’re So Vain,” and even a friendly round of “Bulls–t.”
But hold on tight, ’cause before you think it’s all Hudson and McConaughey, let me drop some backstage intel on you. At first, a bigwig like Gwyneth Paltrow was attached to the project, and a director was lined up too. But things got messy and Paltrow bounced to film another flick. Then, Kate Hudson, fresh from her big moment in Almost Famous, snagged the lead as Andie Anderson. No sweat, right? Well, not exactly. Finding the perfect guy to be Benjamin Barry was a headache, according to director Donald Petrie.
Casting McConaughey was like threading a needle. He needed to match Hudson’s energy without overshadowing her. You know, being a team player and all. They even tested the waters with some romantic scenes to see if sparks would fly. At the end of the day, Hudson had McConaughey’s back in a studio meeting, backing him up while the suits were pushing another actor. But she stood her ground, and guess what? McConaughey landed the gig.
Now, let’s talk about the age thing. McConaughey was a decade older than Hudson, which was a bit of a worry for Petrie. But hey, they worked it out in the script, making his character a Navy brat from the South who moved around. And before Hudson stepped into Andie’s stylish shoes, she got all cozy with Anna Wintour from Vogue, trying to grasp that ambitious magazine columnist vibe. Forget the glamour mags, she dived deep into Cosmo and Glamour’s how-to guides.
Oh, and guess what? This whole shebang is inspired by a cartoon book with the same name, written by Michele Alexander and Jeannie Long. And guess who’s named after them? Andie’s work buddies, played by Kathryn Hahn and Annie Parisse. See, it’s all connected.
Now, let’s chat about that iconic yellow slip dress that Andie flaunts at the fancy ball. Designed by Karen Patch, it’s all about that diamond necklace it shows off. When Hudson strolled out in that silk beauty, everyone on set was blown away. And oh, that diamond? It’s called the “Isadora Diamond,” with an 80-carat yellow dazzler at its heart. Worth a jaw-dropping $6 million, that’s no joke.
And when it comes to Andie’s style, it’s a blend of designer awesomeness. The costume whiz, Karen Patch, mixed it up with Yves Saint Laurent, Prada, Marni, Narciso Rodriguez, and Marc Jacobs to create Andie’s fashionable wardrobe. So there you have it, all the sweet tidbits about How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, just in time for McConaughey’s birthday bash. Time to water your love fern and dive right into these behind-the-scenes gems! ,more movies on reeltip.com and 99reel.com
