Hollywood has a funny way of pairing people up and then forgetting it ever happened. If you look back at 2009, there was this specific moment where Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston were basically the "it" duo for a second. They were starring in a movie called Love Happens. It was supposed to be this massive, heart-wrenching romantic drama that would finally prove Aniston could carry a heavy dramatic role and that Eckhart was more than just the guy with the chin from The Dark Knight.
But here we are in 2026, and most people barely remember the film. Honestly, the story behind the scenes and the weird chemistry—or lack thereof—is way more interesting than the plot itself.
The Rumors That Actually Started It All
Before the movie even hit theaters, the tabloids were losing their minds. You’ve probably seen this script before. Two single, high-profile stars get cast together, and suddenly they’re "inseparable." Back in early 2008, while they were filming in Vancouver (the movie was originally titled Travelling), reports from The Daily Mail and The Sun claimed they were totally in sync.
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Some "insiders" even said Jen only signed on because Aaron personally requested her. It’s kinda funny looking back because the rumors were so intense. People really wanted them to be a thing. Aaron had recently ended a long-term relationship with Ashley Wicks, and Jen was, well, Jen. Every time she breathed near a costar, the world assumed a wedding was being planned.
Why the Chemistry Was... Complicated
When the movie finally premiered, the "dating" rumors died a very quick death. Why? Because critics and audiences felt like they didn't have much of a spark on screen. It’s a bit of a paradox. You have two of the most attractive people in the world, yet they felt like strangers.
- The Plot: Aaron plays Burke Ryan, a self-help guru who’s secretly a mess after his wife dies.
- The Twist: He meets Eloise (Aniston), a florist who writes words on hotel walls and pretends to be deaf to avoid talking to him.
- The Result: A lot of awkward scenes in the rain.
Some critics, like those at The Seattle PI, straight up called the romance "tepid." They spent more time talking about a subplot involving a kidnapped parrot (yeah, that really happened) than the actual lead relationship.
The "No Sleeping Together" Comment
One of the most bizarrely honest things that came out of the press tour was a quote from Aaron Eckhart himself. During the L.A. premiere, he told Extra that their chemistry worked because they didn't hook up.
He basically said that staying professional was the key to a "longer and lasting relationship." It was a weirdly blunt way to shut down the romance rumors that had been fueling the movie's marketing for over a year. Jen, for her part, just talked about believing in love at first sight. She stayed classy, he stayed a bit too honest, and the movie eventually drifted into the "afternoon cable TV" void.
The Career Shift for Both Stars
For Aniston, Love Happens was part of a very busy streak. She had four movies hit theaters in ten months around that time. She was trying to break out of the Friends mold, but the script for this one didn't give her much to work with. She was "plucky" and "resilient," which are the words people use when an actress is doing her best with a bland character.
Aaron Eckhart was in a different boat. He had just come off the massive success of playing Harvey Dent. People expected him to become the next huge A-list leading man. Instead, he took a role as a grieving widower who walks on hot coals. It didn't quite land the way his team probably hoped.
What We Can Learn From the Eckhart-Aniston Pairing
Looking back at the Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston era, it's clear that star power doesn't always equal box office magic. Sometimes, two great actors just don't click in the specific way a romantic drama needs them to.
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If you're looking to revisit their work or understand why this pairing still pops up in trivia, here’s the reality:
- Watch it for the supporting cast. Honestly, Judy Greer and Dan Fogler do a lot of the heavy lifting.
- Don't expect a Rom-Com. Despite the marketing, it’s a heavy movie about grief. If you go in expecting The Break-Up, you're going to be bummed out.
- Check out the soundtrack. It actually featured some great indie tracks from Rogue Wave that still hold up.
The "romance" was likely just a product of a very active 2000s PR machine. They were coworkers who respected each other, made a movie, and moved on. Sometimes, that’s the whole story.
If you want to see what these two are up to lately, check out Aniston's recent production work or Eckhart's move into more rugged, independent action roles. They’ve both found much better grooves than they had in that rainy Seattle hotel lobby.