The Sweetest Thing (2002)

26% of critics liked it
(107 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(182,106 ratings)

Former South Park writer and Win Ben Stein's Money sidekick Nancy Pimental makes her feature screenwriting debut with this relationship comedy. Cameron Diaz stars as Christina Walters, a jaded, club-hopping single woman in San Francisco who has given up trying to find the perfect mate to focus on… More Former South Park writer and Win Ben Stein's Money sidekick Nancy Pimental makes her feature screenwriting debut with this relationship comedy. Cameron Diaz stars as Christina Walters, a jaded, club-hopping single woman in San Francisco who has given up trying to find the perfect mate to focus on "Mr. Right Now." Her equally cynical friend, Courtney (Christina Applegate), a divorce attorney, shares much the same attitude, while their pal, Jane (Selma Blair), is more starry-eyed and naïve. Christina's attitude gets an unexpected makeover one evening at a nightclub when she meets Peter Donahue (Thomas Jane), a real estate agent she finds adorable and just about perfect. Unfortunately, Peter leaves and all Christina knows about him is that his brother, Roger (Jason Bateman), is getting married soon in their small hometown. Recognizing her friend's romantic distress, Courtney suggests they road trip to the wedding and Christina agrees, leading to encounters with a series of obstacles, including some funky leftovers, a filthy service station restroom, and a rather unpleasant revelation once the women arrive at the nuptials. The Sweetest Thing co-stars Parker Posey. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Roger Kumble
Written By: Nancy M. Pimental
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Apr 12, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Aug 20, 2002
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune
Female characters should be allowed to engage in raunchy humor on the big screen; they already do on the small one with Sex and the City. But unlike that HBO series, The Sweetest Thing has no guts.
Charles Taylor, Salon.com
This picture is one of the flattest, stupidest, unfunniest sex comedies -- as well as one of the worst all-round pictures -- I've ever seen.
Dennis Lim, Village Voice
Seems to have been assembled (at short notice, with blindfolds on) by people who have never seen any movies outside of Cameron Diaz vehicles.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Loses its sense of humor in a vat of failed jokes, twitchy acting, and general boorishness.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
The Sweetest Thing has nothing insightful to say about relationships, and nothing funny to say about the singles scene.
Joel Siegel, ABCNEWS.COM
Remember the movie critic Sony invented to give their films good reviews? Not even he would like this movie.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Extremely lowbrow -- definitely not for kids.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
It's not great or inspired by any means, but it's cute and amusing enough.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Call it a younger, West Coast cousin to Sex and the City, or There's Something About Mary from the woman's point of view.
Harry Guerin, RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)
If a date suggests the two of you should go and see this film dump them.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
...Mixes smut and wacky girlfriend antics in equal parts, often scoring the guilty chuckle in spite of itself, with plenty of bra-and-panty shots to please the guys.
Andrew Manning, Radio Free Entertainment
Just when you think it's going to be a sappy chick flick, The Sweetest Thing surprises with a lewd joke or half-naked girl.

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

moon r

The idea forwarded here seems to be that cows can be just as stupid and lewd and backward as bulls (!!!). The result amazingly reaches the same conclusion: boring, and embarrassingly so. The cast, however brave, fails to lift the material. The groaning you will hear, that'd… More
The idea forwarded here seems to be that cows can be just as stupid and lewd and backward as bulls (!!!). The result amazingly reaches the same conclusion: boring, and embarrassingly so. The cast, however brave, fails to lift the material. The groaning you will hear, that'd be you.
Bethany M

Hilarious! Some of the scenes were cringing but you couldn't help but laugh.
Jennifer X

This movie is one big hot mess, but it's so disastrously, disgustingly fun I don't even care.
Spencer S

Unfunny, gross, and a little strange. Thomas Jane gives a good enough performance, but there's no excuse for Applegate, Blair, and Diaz.
Nicki M

I don't think anyone in their right mind would call this a good movie, but it is a lot of fun and has a good cast. Some of it is so bad you don't know whether to laugh or cringe. Definitely falls into the guilty pleasure category.
danny d

horrid in every way. one of the worst films of an already terrible genre, every attempt at humor fell immeasurably short of even a single laugh. i actually enjoy appelgate and this is one of the rare films where diaz has actually looked attractive, but watching pretty people on… More
horrid in every way. one of the worst films of an already terrible genre, every attempt at humor fell immeasurably short of even a single laugh. i actually enjoy appelgate and this is one of the rare films where diaz has actually looked attractive, but watching pretty people on screen does not make a film worth while when every aspect of it is so dreadful.
Tony G

Bitter to watch. Made barely tolerable by Applegate.
Josh L

Generic romantic comedy with lots of pointless slapstick humor that falls flat. Decently entertaining, but that just isn't enough.
Cassie H

I only saw half of it,but it was super FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dean M

Cameron Diaz and Christina Applegate are excellent as best friends and career singles undertake a road trip in an effort to locate a specific guy who initiated more than a few sparks during a brief nightclub chat. This ribald sex farce, belying its name, is a tawdry little flick… More
Cameron Diaz and Christina Applegate are excellent as best friends and career singles undertake a road trip in an effort to locate a specific guy who initiated more than a few sparks during a brief nightclub chat. This ribald sex farce, belying its name, is a tawdry little flick lacking anything in the way of redeeming social values, which panders to crude and smarmy sexuality, demeans the very nature of love, and turns the battle of the sexes into a sparring ground of smut.
Rachel F

Really funny. This is definitely a feel good movie. It's good.
jay n

truly awful
Sanjaya &

One of the craziest film i've ever seen!!! I love Cameron and Applegate performances... They're rocks!!!!
Emily A

Ugh. Why do I keep watching this damn movie? It's almost like the only reason this movie exists is because someone bet the director that she couldn't make a gross-out comedy as "well" or as repulsive as a guy. Right! I only wanted to see this because I liked Tom… More
Ugh. Why do I keep watching this damn movie? It's almost like the only reason this movie exists is because someone bet the director that she couldn't make a gross-out comedy as "well" or as repulsive as a guy. Right! I only wanted to see this because I liked Tom Jane in The Punisher. If you're in the same situation, don't rent this. Rent Stander instead. I mean, this was funny a couple of times, but you could do MUCH better.
Jason S

Not good.
Jose Z

this is just as There's Something About Mary but with a female touch
Stuart B

A girl gross out comedy for a change... good
Leigh R

It was okay.
Luke C

A fun and enjoyable rom-com that has a few tricks up it's sleeve to make it stand out above the average. Overall this film does deliver laughs but sometimes feels forced and unnatural, this hinders the enjoyment a bit. The story for this film is quite good and you connect with… More
A fun and enjoyable rom-com that has a few tricks up it's sleeve to make it stand out above the average. Overall this film does deliver laughs but sometimes feels forced and unnatural, this hinders the enjoyment a bit. The story for this film is quite good and you connect with the characters involved bar Selma Blair who comes across a bit to open minded about her personality. This film is everything you expect with a few surprises that really make this much fun to watch but it is things like the forced jokes and the unnecessary songs that come in a couple of times that put you off. But if you like the genre or cast list then I am sure it will satisfy you with some factors that very slightly raise the bar.
Steven V

Funny movie. Cameron Diaz and Christina Appleagate are really an odd couple in this movie. There are a few laughs as they get about their business but the humor is a bit basic for me.