Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past

Sunday 3rd May 2009, 8:51AM BST.

Charles Dickens is an unlikely well of inspiration for a romantic comedy about an incorrigible bachelor who learns the errors of his womanising ways.

Yet screenwriters Jon Lucas and Scott Moore employ the dramatic structure of A Christmas Carol for this schizophrenic confection.

Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past is misconceived from the moment the supernatural elements are introduced, creating abrupt shifts in tone between slapstick and tearful confession.

Strip away the otherworldly dramatic device and there are some lovely interludes here, including a monologue from the lead character’s brother, defending his honour in the face of justified criticism, which tugs the heartstrings.

Climactic scenes after the womaniser’s moment of self-realisation a la Scrooge, when he races to make amends for myriad errors, are equally moving.

Yet to savour the good stuff, you have to wade through too much dross and schmaltz.

The film’s anti-hero is celebrity photographer Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey), a towering hunk of a man who adores his job and loves women even more, not that he treats them with respect, jettisoning girlfriends without a care in the world.

Connor’s reckless attitude towards relationships is in stark contrast to his hopelessly romantic, younger brother Paul (Breckin Meyer), who is about to be married to his highly-strung sweetheart, Sandra (Lacey Chabert).

Unfortunately, Connor almost ruins the pre-wedding celebrations with one of his cynical outbursts.

‘Love is comfort food for the weak and the uneducated,’ he sneers.

The bride’s parents (Robert Forster, Anne Archer), the three bridesmaids – Donna (Camille Guaty), Deena (Rachel Boston) and Denice (Amanda Walsh) – and Connor’s childhood friend Jenny (Garner) are horrified.

Retreating to the guest bathroom, Connor comes face to face with the ghost of his idol, Uncle Wayne (Michael Douglas), an aging lothario who instructs his nephew that he will be visited by three spirits who will show him a glimpse at his past, present and future.

Sure enough, the Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past (Emma Stone), Present (Noureen DeWulf) and Future (Ola Maliouk) drag Connor on a whistle-stop tour of the key moments in his life.

In the process, Connor realises that the person he has always loved Jenny but she already has an admirer in the very eligible Brad (Daniel Sunjata).

Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past has one surprise: McConaughey keeps his shirt on for the entire film.

He struggles to expose enough glimmers of likeability beneath Connor’s oafish facade that he would be a credible rival to dreamy Brad for Jenny’s affections.

Garner is luminous and brings out her character’s vulnerability while Meyer’s nice guy warrants a big hug every time he strays into shot.

Scenes between McConaughey and a scenery-chewing Douglas elicit the odd chuckle but most weddings are funnier than this, whether it be a relative cutting shapes on the dance floor under the influence or embarrassing anecdotes in the best man’s speech.

Waters’ film has almost nothing we remember with fondness the morning after.