I have really got to get through this Atkins Diet so I have the confidence to ask out women and have a date to watch romantic comedies. It's kind of awkward being a single 27-year-old male alone in the theater filled with couples and groups of ladies.

You know, the confidence that Catcher Block (Ewan McGregor) has in Down With Love. Look at that, I can link my personal life with the review - that's genius! Okay, so it ends there, since I've never seduced a woman, let alone dozens, further let alone a women's rights crusader and wasn't born until 1975 so otherwise I'm a little out of my element with the plot.

Critics tell me that the movie is a tribute to the Rock Hudson/Doris Day movies of the early 60s, but since I haven't seen any of those, I'll take them for their word. What I do know is that this is an off-beat, charming, but ultimately tiresome movie that is worth it if only for Ren�e. And Ren�e. Oh, and did I mention Ren�e?

But she's not alone. Ewan is a delightful cad, and David Hyde Pierce is the best character as the neurotic boss/friend, and Sarah Paulson is delectable as Ren�e's chain-smoking editor. Also, Tony Randall makes a cameo to bring some 60s relevance to the production, and Jeri Ryan has a brief role as a stewardess sexpot (who'd of thunk?). (and since it's the 60s, I can say stewardess and not flight attendant, right?)

The place is New York City in 1963, and all is well. Sure, men keep women married in the kitchen with kids, but life is clean. All the normalcy, though, is about to hit the skids as the Battle of the Sexes takes place between two key foes on the extreme, Block and "New England spinster librarian"-turned-author Barbara Novak (Zellweger).

The film sets a mood from the start with narrative and announcing it's a "CinemaScope production." Oh, goody, a film in color! From there, the bouncy score to Ren�e's colorfully outrageous wardrobe, ridiculously elaborate apartment, split-screen phone conversations and fake background scenes during cab rides convey a viewer-pleasing environment.

Being that director Peyton Reed's only other major film was the cheerleading flick Bring It On, I'd say he does a fine job guiding our disposition.

Now that we have the look down, it's time to make our heroes click. Ren�e writes a chick-empowering manifesto that says women don't need love but should strive for equality with men by playing by The Man's rules of meaningless sex and smashing the glass ceiling with sledgehammers.

McGregor is Catcher Block, a playboy Pulitzer Prize-winning magazine journalist who takes on the challenge of bringing nationally-loved Novak down a notch.

Even the names set the mood. Can't you tell without my saying that Catcher Block is a playboy and that Barbara Novak is a feminist?

Cute back-and-forth games between Ren�e and Ewan ensue, so we're just along as voyeurs. Rightfully so, that word. Most of the dialogue revolves around fun wordplay, full of metaphors and double entendres. Heck, just downright entendres!

Down With Love is predictable in the plot and results, but there's an amusing twist near the end that is partly unnecessary, but fun for the audience in its absurdity.

The movie is lovable, but not funny ha-ha. Once it tried to be too adorable with the faux sexual acts between the split-screen as the leads talked on the phone, I grew bored of the cutesy style.

In the end, I oh-so-barely decline to recommend this unless you just really want to see Ren�e or see Ewan out of his Jedi getup. But if you're a fan of the Hudson/Day flicks of this type, then you may get something else entirely out of the picture.

Stick around for the credits, as Ren�e and Ewan perform a nice little musical number.