New Year's Eve (2011)

Movie Summary
New Year's Eve is an American romantic comedy-drama motion picture, a follow-up to the Valentine's Day movie from a year prior, created by Garry Marshall. The storyline meticulously intertwines the lives of several characters as they browse love, hope, forgiveness, and clean slates on the last night of the year in New York City.

Plot
The movie states the intertwined lives of different characters as they deal with the evening in anticipation of New Year's Eve. Among the characters are Claire Morgan (Hilary Swank), vice-president of the Times Square Alliance who is in charge of the ball drop ceremony; Stan Harris (Robert De Niro), a passing away guy in a hospital hoping to see one more New Year's eve; Kimberly (Halle Berry), a nurse caring for Stan and wanting to connect with her far-off soldier sweetheart; and Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer), a secretary looking for a better life.

Character Developments
Paul (Zac Efron) assists Ingrid to complete all of her New Year's resolutions in a single day in return for tickets to the Ahern Records Masque Ball. They end up becoming friends. The movie also reflects on the stretched relationship of a rock star named Jensen (Jon Bon Jovi) and chef Laura (Katherine Heigl), which is primarily fixed up at Ahern's celebration. Laura's pal, Ava (Sofia Vergara), is the comic relief in their scenes, including a light and amusing edge.

Celebrations
Sam (Josh Duhamel) who has fulfilled a lady (Sarah Jessica Parker) a year ago plans to fulfill her again at midnight. These stories interweave and connect around Times Square's iconic ball drop event. Meanwhile, Sarah Jessica Parker also depicts a single mother with a teenage daughter (Abigail Breslin) who wants to celebrate New Year's Eve with her crush at Times Square away from her mommy to establish her independence. The movie culminates in an uplifting grand finale with a ball drop in Times Square, marking a fresh year's start.

Styles Addressed
The movie explores styles such as love, forgiveness, the significance of maximizing life opportunities, and accepting hope and clean slates with the dawning of a new year. The main concept that binds all these stories together is the magic of the New Year's Eve and the universal hope for a much better tomorrow.

Critical Reception
New Year's Eve, released in 2011, got blended reviews. Some critics praised the film for its ensemble cast, including a number of A-list Hollywood stars, and its heartfelt endings. Nevertheless, the film dealt with criticism for its cliched plotlines and shallow characters. In spite of the mixed reviews, the film was a commercial success. While it might not be a critical marvel, New Year's Eve delivers a feel-good vibe that complements the universal styles of hope and beginning anew, which certainly resonates with the spirit of the New Year's Eve event.

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