Dedication (2007)

"I've spent my whole life wanting something and doing my very best not to find it. Never even going near the places it might be, and suddenly I got the god damn thing practically chained around my neck."

Billed as a romantic comedy, this is the quirky story of neurotic children's book writer Henry Roth (Billy Crudup) who is chronically in writer's block and a frustration to his only friend and long-time collaborating illustrator Rudy Holt (Tom Wilkinson).

When Rudy dies, Henry is devastated and uncertain he can continue on the book whose deadline is looming. But his editor (Bob Balaban) demands that he settle in with a new collaborator and get the job done.

The obsessive-compulsive, misanthrope Henry, who is also a misogynist, is not at all happy about working with the unproven young illustrator the editor sends over to Henry.

Lucy Reilly (Mandy Moore) just wants to sink herself in her work to help her get over the boyfriend who dumped her two years before. When the former lover, Jeremy (Martin Freeman), returns to tempt her, Lucy must decide what she's going to do while also dealing with Henry's annoying idiosyncrasies and the deadline approaching.

Also starring Christine Taylor, Amy Sedaris, Dianne Wiest.

Directed by Justin Theroux.

Run time: 1 hour, 35 minutes

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

My personal rating: B-