How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
By Common Sense Media,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Battle-of-the-sexes romcom has language, sexual references.

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How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
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How to lose a guy in 10 days
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What's the Story?
In HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS, journalist Andie (Kate Hudson) meets ad salesman Ben (Matthew McConaughey), and the two embark on a romantic relationship. But behind the scenes, Andie is on an assignment for a women's magazine -- and she must do everything in her power to make Ben dump her in 10 days. Ben, on the other hand, has made a bet that he can make any woman fall in love with him in the same amount of time in order to win a high-flying account. Will either of them emerge victorious?
Is It Any Good?
Hudson and McConaughey go for a Doris Day/Rock Hudson-style battle of the sexes in this romantic comedy, but their deceptive behavior irritates more than charms most of the time. But How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days does have some clever jabs, and there are likable moments for the characters, too.
A lot of the things Andie does feel like binary, stereotypical examples of "female behavior." But we also see how well-suited Andie and Ben are for each other when they're being themselves, which helps viewers root for the couple on some level. The film is far from groundbreaking and feels behind the times, even for its 2003 release, but solid performances and familiar territory make it an easy watch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how gender is portrayed in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. What stereotypes does it use? What do you think is the effect of portraying such stereotypes on-screen?
Andie and Ben begin their relationship in a lie and gradually grow to care for each other. Why do you think truth is important in a relationship? Why is honesty a positive character trait?
What romcom cliches do you notice in the film? Can you spot any similarities with other films in this genre?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 7, 2003
- On DVD or streaming: July 1, 2003
- Cast: Adam Goldberg, Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey
- Director: Donald Petrie
- Studio: Paramount Pictures
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 115 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: some sex-related material
- Last updated: March 8, 2023
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