Another romcom

It is either a testament or detriment to Matthew McConaughey’s career that when audiences see his name on the marquee, they know exactly what they’re getting. He continues to star in by-the-numbers romcoms because audiences continue to pay to see them. Sometimes his choices are solid (“Edtv,” “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”) and other times we get “Fool’s Gold.”

“Ghost of Girlfriends Past” is somewhere in the middle.

Famous photographer Connor Mead (McConaughey) sleeps with every woman he can and rarely calls again. When Mead goes to his brother’s wedding and causes a ruckus through his drinking and anti-love agenda, he’s visited by his uncle (and three other ghosts) to traipse through his love history in hopes of finding what went wrong. Except Connor already knows it stems from his 20-plus years of feelings for the maid of honor, Jenny (Jennifer Garner).

And really, that’s all you need to know to base your judgments about this film.

“Ghosts” uses the Charles Dickens storytelling technique for a few laughs – most of which come from Emma Stone’s portrayal of Connor’s first partner – but to say there is one original moment in this film would be giving it too much credit.

McConaughey plays his normal character, though Connor is a tint seedier, but his chemistry with Jennifer Garner, who gets to do nothing but look good and toggle between glaring and doe-eyed looks at him, is solid. It’s hard to feel sorry for Connor, but also hard to deny the cheesy, emotionally fueled speeches he gives in the film’s third act. Of the supporting cast, Breckin Meyer shines as the only character resembling a real person, while Michael Douglas chews up every scene as the old playboy.

Devoid of any originality with a weak high-concept, “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” is a mildly enjoyable romcom because of McConaughey’s charisma and chemistry with Garner. If only someone would do an intervention with McConaughey and his career choices.