Animal Attraction (2001) - Synopsis

Animal Attraction (2001) - heading

Jane Goodale (ASHLEY JUDD) is a young woman living in New York who is determined to succeed both professionally as a talent booker for a popular talk show, as well as romantically. When the show's dashing new executive producer Ray Brown (GREG KINNEAR) begins to woo Jane, she is on top of the world. Soon Ray's uttering those three little words, and the besotted couple find a cozy love nest to share. But when Ray inexplicably cools their sizzling hot romance, Jane is absolutely floored - and unmoored.

In order to survive the breakup, Jane searches fervently for an explanation of Ray's behavior and thinks she's found it, in of all places, the animal world. Discovering an eerie correlation between men and their bestial brethren, Jane researches animal mating habits.

Because Jane gave up her apartment when she was about to move in with Ray, she must frantically search for a new place. She finds a "home" of sorts, plus some inspiration, in the most unexpected of places: Her womanizing co-worker Eddie Alden (HUGH JACKMAN) not only provides her with a spare bedroom but with a prototypical example of the male animal to study.

Jane shares this newfound knowledge with her equally single friend Liz (MARISA TOMEI), an editor at a men's magazine, who convinces her to write a pseudonymous sex column. Jane's column quickly becomes a sensation and she unwittingly finds herself the most talked-about woman in the nation.

But despite Jane's attempts to de-mystify romance, and as things heat up between her and Eddie, Jane finds that after all, the human heart - even a man's - is more complicated than mere instinct.

ANIMAL ATTRACTION stars Ashley Judd (Double Jeopardy (1999)), Greg Kinnear (As Good As It Gets (1997)), and Hugh Jackman (X-Men (2000)). Directed by Tony Goldwyn (Walk on the Moon, A (1999)). The film is produced by Lynda Obst (Fisher King, the (1991) Sleepless in Seattle (1993) Hope Floats (1998)).

ANIMAL ATTRACTION also stars Academy Award-winning actress Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny (1992), Slums of Beverly Hills (1998)) and Ellen Barkin (Sea of Love (1989), Big Easy, the (1987)). The screenplay by Elizabeth Chandler (Little Princess, A (1995)) is based upon the novel Animal Husbandry by Laura Zigman. Jim Chory ("The '70s" mini-series) is the executive producer. Anthony B. Richmond, ASC/BSC (Walk on the Moon, A (1999), Men of Honor (2000)) serves as director of photography, while Academy Award-winner Ann Roth (English Patient, the (1996)) and Michelle Maitlin are the costume designers, Dan Leigh (Basquiat (1996), Walk on the Moon, A (1999)) is production designer, and Dana Congdon (Walk on the Moon, A (1999)) is the film editor.