The star-studded Valentines Day movie, although lambasted by critics, topped the box-office race in the US and the Philippines.

The film boasts of a starry line-up which include Jessica Alba (“Fantastic Four”), Academy Award® winner Kathy Bates (“Misery”), Jessica Biel (“I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry”), Bradley Cooper (“The Hangover”), Eric Dane (TV’s “Grey’s Anatomy”), Patrick Dempsey (“Enchanted”), Hector Elizondo (the “Princess Diaries” films), Academy Award® winner Jamie Foxx (“Ray”), Jennifer Garner (“Juno”), Topher Grace (“Spider-Man 3”), Academy Award® nominee Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”), Ashton Kutcher (“What Happens in Vegas”), Academy Award® nominee Queen Latifah (“Chicago”), Taylor Lautner (“The Twilight Saga: New Moon”), George Lopez (“Beverly Hills Chihuahua”), Academy Award® winner Shirley MacLaine (“Terms of Endearment”), Emma Roberts (“Hotel for Dogs”), Academy Award® winner Julia Roberts (“Erin Brockovich”) and award-winning singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, in her feature film debut.

Film critics were not starstruck and they have no love for the Gary Marshall-helmed movie which debuted in the US and the Philippines last February 12, 2010 in time for the celebration of Valentines Day. It even got a very low 16% at Rotten Tomatoes.

Here’s what they say about “Valentine’s Day”:

“I loved a couple of the scenes in Valentine’s Day: the opening credits and the closing credits.”
– Gary Wolcott (Tri-City Herald)

“More geared to celebrity-spotting than cinematic storytelling, it’s fluffy and flimsy.”
– Susan Granger (SSG Syndicate)

“Unoriginal sitcom squanders bounty of A-List stars.”
– Kam Williams (Sly Fox)

“The demographically friendly Valentine’s Day boldly asserts that it’s a film made for everyone, but look closely and you’ll find a center as squishy as that of a melted chocolate caramel nougat.”
– Matt Brunson (Creative Loafing)

“As I started to type out the plot threads, it struck me that none of the storylines are that interesting to read. They aren’t that much fun to watch either.”
– Dan Lybarger (eFilmCritic.com)

“You’re going to like half of the fluff, but it’s ultimately very forgettable.”
– Jeff Bayer (The Scorecard Review)

“A galaxy of stars can’t make us fall for Valentine’s Day, but it sure can keep us distracted for two hours.”
– Christian Toto (What Would Toto Watch?)

Despite the bad reviews it received, Valentine’s Day still managed to top US box office with an opening weekend haul of $52,410,000 beating two other debuting films, Percy Jackson and The Wolfman.

TOP 10 FILMS AT US BOX OFFICE
(February 12-14, 2010; Box Office Mojo)

1. Valentine’s Day – $52,410,000
2. Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief – $31,100,000
3. The Wolfman – $30,627,000
4. Avatar – $22,000,000
5. Dear John – $15,300,00
6. Tooth Fairy – $5,600,000
7. From Paris with Love – $4,740,000
8. Edge of Darkness – $4,585,000
9. Crazy Heart – $4,000,000
10. When in Rome – $3,429,000