Slotted to hit theaters Friday, May 1, the made-in-Boston flick “The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” revisits familiar territory where several lackluster made-in-Boston comedies like “Bride Wars,” “The Women” and “Pink Panther 2” failed miserably.Boston is once again a stand-in for NYC. In fact, streets in Boston were transformed to look like the gentrified SoHo district in lower Manhattan.
In the film shot in various locations throughout Boston from February to April 2008, Matthew McConaughey plays celebrity photographer Connor Mead, a perpetual bachelor haunted by the ghosts of his past girlfriends at his younger brother's wedding, awakening feelings for his first love (played by Ben Affleck's wife Jennifer Garner). Michael Douglas, Anne Archer and Robert Forster also co-star in this made-in-Boston flick.
Think Ebenezer Scrooge and "A Christmas Carol" but with a much hotter looking leading man.
In honor of its big-screen debut this weekend, we offer you inspiration from the movie's locations. Listen up all of you playboy wannabes.
WHERE TO VISIT:
South Street in the Leather District was transformed to look like a Christmas wonderland in SoHo. In fact, set designers spent days putting up holiday decorations on lampposts, adding Christmas wreaths to shop doors and dropping fake snow on ground to simulate the season. There was even a larger-than-life Santa propped up near the South Street corner overlooking the makeshift set.
While most shops in the scene were unrecognizable SoHo storefronts, crews transformed a then vacant building (it’s now a less-than-stellar Chinese-sushi restaurant called Beijing Kyoto) into a fab, mannequin-adorned Betsey Johnson shop. For those wanting to visit the real deal in Boston, Betsey Johnson has a must-see flagship store located at 201 Newbury St.
Also, West Street in the Downtown Crossing area of Boston was closed down for a scene featuring McConaughey and Douglas. The company called "Rain for Rent" provided atmospheric rain for the scene. While you’re on West Street, check out the Brattle Book Shop, located at 9 West St, one of America’s oldest and largest antiquarian bookstores established in 1825.
WHERE TO EAT:
A romantic dinner scene was shot at Sonsie, 327 Newbury St., with both Garner and McConaughey. After wining and dining in the Back Bay and Garner making a dash to the North Face store for a winter jacket, the duo ended up filming in front of Marlborough Street brownstone Autumn-colored leaves were attached to the leafless trees to create a fall setting for the scene. Oh, the magic of Hollywood.
Also, while filming in Boston, Garner and real-life hubby Affleck frequented Henrietta’s Table in the Charles Hotel. Affleck, currently in town filming the downsizing drama “The Company Men,” frequents the wholesome restaurant committed to promoting organic produce and herbs from local vendors located at One Bennett St. in Cambridge.
WHERE TO STAY:
There was a dance-club scene shot at Saint located at 90 Exeter St., where Mead’s playboy uncle played by Douglas gets slapped for making advances at women at a nightclub. Next to Saint is the Copley Square Hotel, located at 47 Huntington Ave., which recently underwent a $17 million facelift. The revamped hotel boasts a new martini bar, formerly Domani Bar & Trattoria, called Minibar. Inspired by lounges at the W Hotels and Miami's Delano, designer/architect Stephen Sousa's Minibar boasts modern design elements including a black-and-metallic color motif and gray-leather seating surrounding a minimalist U-shaped bar area.
WHAT TO DRINK:
Actor Matthew McConaughey must have made one helluva impression on the staff at The Beehive, 541 Tremont St. while he was filming "The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.”
Bartender Frank Reardon was inspired to concoct what he calls the "Matthew McConaughey cocktail" after watching the Texas-bred actor on "Jimmy Kimmel" recently. Reardon jokes, "I decided to make a drink that would both give the celeb a shout out ... and also leave people with the same confused state as the actor after drinking a few."
