I almost let myself be convinced by the negative reviews in the local papers that I shouldn't bother with this movie. I am very glad I didn't let myself be deterred. This was a funny movie, the ultimate test of a comedy.

French Stewart, of 3rd Rock from the Sun fame stars as Seth Winnick, a successful writer/producer of a television sitcom. There is an amazing similarity between the character of Winnick and the real-life person behind this movie, Jeff Franklin. Franklin, best known as a producer of television series including Full House and Malcolm and Eddie wrote and directed Love Stinks and I couldn't help but ponder whether or not there is some of his own real life experience up there on the screen.

Anyway the film opens with Seth on-board an airplane with his fiancee Chelsea Turner (Brigitte Wilson, beautiful, but this role doesn't call for a lot of acting talent), his best friend and writing partner Larry Garnett (Bill Bellamy) and his wife Holly (Tyra Banks). Larry takes Seth into the bathroom on the plane and we are told the story of how they've gotten to this point in "flashback mode".

Chelsea and Seth met at the wedding of Larry and Holly. As groomsman and bridesmaid respectively, the two march down the aisle together and eventually end up as a romantic item of their own. But it doesn't work out, and the breakup shows the worst side of love. A kind of hell develops and this is where the best comedy comes from, as Seth and Chelsea engage in causing each other misery. The whys and wherefores aren't important. Just know that each goes out of their way to make life as awful as possible for the other.

As I've said over and over again, what's important about a comedy is whether or not it makes you laugh. Love Stinks made me, and the rest of the audience in the showing I viewed, laugh a lot.