MANILA, Philippines - Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart work for the first time in Love Happens. Aaron (The Dark Knight, No Reservations) plays Dr. Burke Ryan, a successful self-help author who gives pieces of advice on how to deal with the loss of a loved one. While holding a seminar, he meets Eloise Chandler, played by Jennifer (Marley & Me, The Break-Up), and they become attracted to each other. However, Burke secretly hasn’t moved on from his wife’s death and Eloise has sworn off men. As each struggles with the hurt of love and loss, they realize they must let go of the past to have a future together.
Director Brandon Camp (Dragonfly, TV series John Doe) started working on Love Happens after losing his mother. He says, “I found out that there was something very interesting in the process of grieving and what people go through.” Co-writing with Camp is Mike Thompson (Dragonfly, TV series John Doe). For the project, Thompson explains, “We asked, ‘What do you do and how do you react in the aftermath of loss?’ We tried to make light of some of these existential questions and the more absurd aspects of grieving and death — not get mired in the maudlin aspects of it… Our objective was to make a movie about transformation and light, hope and joy, and redemption and rebirth.”
Aaron, who is described by Jennifer as “extremely dedicated and focused,” says, “I hope the audience will find the romance fun and energetic, sweet and charming. I think they’ll find the grieving part of it to be heartfelt, sincere and touching.”
Love Happens is now showing in theaters and is a Viva International Pictures release.