Side Effects, a semi-autobiographical comedy by neophyte writer-director Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau, stars Katherine Heigl (My Father the Hero, The Ringer) as Karly Hert, an employee for a major pharmaceutical house, who deeply values her position at the firm but gently questions company ethics. She meets and falls for Zach (Lucian McAfee who works for a week as a sales rep for Karly's firm before he becomes totally disgusted with shaky corporate mores and books it to head out into the country
and build his own house. Karly is ready to follow him, until the money starts rolling in. Soon, Karly and Zach run into a head-to-head conflict of values, and Karly is forced to choose between the company and her new beau. Side Effects co-stars Dorian de Michele and Dave Durbin. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
While Slattery-Moschkau is obviously coming from a very earnest place -- a card before the final credits compares the annual budget for the pharmaceutical industry to that of her own film -- it doesn't make the overall effort any less clumsy.
The material is all there to be a scathing, timely commentary on the pharmaceutical industry - when presented this way, it's a watered down version of the truth.
I don't think this would be for everyone. It is kind of slow, and anyone expecting a usual Katherine Heigl chick flick type movie will be sorely disappointed. However, having been unfortunate enough to have spent some time working in a pharmacy, this really rang true to me about drug companies and how they manipulate
people. It's obviously very low budget, but the acting is good, and it is thought provoking.
This movie was very cute. Heigl as a sell out pharmaceutical seller is great fun to watch. I love her romance with her ex-coworker - they are the cutest couple in a low budget movie. I love chick flicks with happy endings and any movie that ends by sticking it to the man, This movie has both and kept me entertained the
whole time.
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