Alex & Emma

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Alex & Emma

PG-13

2003

1h 36m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

11%

Tomatometer

140 Reviews

41%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Writer Alex Sheldon must finish his novel within a month. If he doesn't, he won't get paid. And, if that happens, angry Mafia types to whom he owes money will come looking for him. In order to expedite things, Alex hires typist Emma Dinsmore and begins dictating his novel. The book is about a doomed love affair between a character similar to Alex and a character named Polina Delacroix. But, as Alex falls for Emma, his work takes a different turn.

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Critics Consensus

A dull and unfunny comedy where the leads fail to generate any sparks.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Feb 8, 2012

The actors make this fun if you can overlook the ludicrous view of Jeremy Leven's screenplay concerning how novels are written and what publishers generally pay for them.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Sep 9, 2010

2/5

Uninspired -- neither romantic nor comic.

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Empire Magazine

Dec 30, 2006

0.5/5

A miserable failure on every count.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Dec 15, 2025

3/5

Alex and Emma may not rank among Reiner’s strongest films, but it’s a reminder of his continued willingness to explore romance and comedy, even when the results aren’t perfect.

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Nov 6, 2019

Hopefully, Rob Reiner just suffered a case of writer's block/director's block like his character Alex Sheldon with Alex & Emma.

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Film4

Feb 8, 2012

1.5/5

About as funny as root canal work and as romantic as a rainy fortnight in Wrexham. Rob Reiner should make a phone call to Christopher Guest a priority.

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Mohamed S

@Mo_Safwat Aug 4, 2026

Amazing romantic movie not for everyone

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Jun 21, 2024

It was cute but kinda boring. The movie was saved by Luke and Kate.

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Kyle M

@RT77296778 Apr 22, 2024

Appreciatively advocates a writer’s struggles and creative process amidst a story-within-story structure, but some are best left unsaid in addition to its unconvincing situation with the screenplay matching the flawed setting as that should’ve been the first sign of how dull it started to be for easy criticism aside from being predictable at equal rate. (C+)

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Gaylord R

@RT95327010 Dec 24, 2023

I am baffled by the negative reviews of one of the best films I have watched in a long time. Crisp, sharp writing, an undeniably sweet chemistry between the lead actors, good humor paired with some, albeit over-the-top, existential angst. All in all a superb movie that leaves one satisfied and happy.

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steve d

@RT35616104 Jun 29, 2020

Cute update with extremely likable leads.

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Dec 9, 2019

Wait. So let me get this straight. Alex convinces Emma to love him by saying to her, "Sure, the other girl in my life is drop dead gorgeous and perfect in almost every possible way… but your REAL!"??? How is this the same director who gave us Harry and Sally???

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Rob Reiner

Director

Kate Hudson

Emma Dinsmore

Luke Wilson

Alex Sheldon

Sophie Marceau

Polina

David Paymer

John Shaw

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Synopsis

Writer Alex Sheldon must finish his novel within a month. If he doesn't, he won't get paid. And, if that happens, angry Mafia types to whom he owes money will come looking for him. In order to expedite things, Alex hires typist Emma Dinsmore and begins dictating his novel. The book is about a doomed love affair between a character similar to Alex and a character named Polina Delacroix. But, as Alex falls for Emma, his work takes a different turn.

Director: Rob Reiner
Producer: Jeremy Leven, Alan Greisman, Todd Black, Elie Samaha
Screenwriter: Jeremy Leven
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Franchise Pictures, Epsilon Motion Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Some Language|Sexual Content)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 20, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $14.2M
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Surround

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