Hudson is so impressive than she could charm the paint off the walls. She brings a pixyish refinement to what in other hands would be just a silly role. Just try not to fall in love with her -- it's nigh impossible. The surprise is that McConaughey, fresh off his popcorn actioner, REIGN OF FIRE, is perfectly cast opposite Hudson. Using a series of carefully delivered facial reactions, he managers never to be upstaged and, instead, adds to the film's hilarity. Their chemistry together is completely believable and intensely cute.

The imaginative setup has Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson), an ambitious writer for a women's magazine called Composure, taking on an assignment of her own design. She will attract a guy and then proceed to do all of the stupid things that women do that cause a guy to leave. She has exactly ten days to get her prey to dump her.

At the same time, Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey), an up-and-coming ad exec, wants to lead his firm's new diamond account. In order to do that, he has to prove that he understands women so well that he can get a woman to fall in love with him in -- you guessed it -- ten days.

Thanks to devious competition at the advertising agency where Ben works, Andie and Ben become each other's guinea pigs. Each thinks they are in complete control. Andie tries to be a clingy, needy, whiny and generally obnoxious girlfriend, while Ben attempts to be unflappably charming. Typical of her stunts is the time that she makes him miss the last few seconds of a Knick's playoff game in order to go to the concession stand to get her a Coke. And, oops, it's not diet. He's got to go back and get her another soda just as the winning shot is about to be thrown.

No matter how awful Andie is, Ben grins and bears it. As you are laughing hard, you'll come to realize that, as mean as she is to him, if you were him, there is no way you'd let go even without the competition. She's a real prize and so is this movie.

HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS runs 1:56. It is rated PG-13 for "some sex-related material" and would be acceptable for kids around 9 and up.

My son Jeffrey, age 13, loved the picture, giving it *** 1/2. He isn't a big laugher, but he laughed long and often this time. He had nothing but praise for the movie, highlighting everything from the acting to the script.