FROM THE AUTHOR OF “THE ICE STORM” AND STARRING MICHELLE PFEIFFER AND ASHTON KUTCHER.

Art reflects life thanks to some rather shrewd casting in Personal Effects, a heart-warming tale of romance and compassion in which Ashton Kutcher (What Happens In Vegas; The Butterfly Effect) stars as a 24-year-old who becomes romantically involved with a middle-aged woman in the form of Michelle Pfeiffer (Stardust; Hairspray; I Could Never Be Your Woman), giving Kutcher plenty of opportunity to draw on his much publicised real-life relationship with his “16-years-his-senior” wife Demi Moore.

Based on a short story by award winning author of “The Ice Storm”, Rick Moody, the debut feature from writer-director David Hollander (creator of the hit US TV series “Heartland” and “The Guardian”) also stars Academy Award winning actress Kathy Bates (The Blind Side; Revolutionary Road; Misery) in a strong supporting role as Kutcher’s recently bereaved mother.

Walter (Kutcher) is one of the rising stars in the world of National Collegiate Athletic Association Wrestling until his life is shattered by the brutal killing of his twin sister. Returning home from college in Iowa to console his mother and young niece during the trial of the man accused of the murder, Walter’s grief turns to thoughts of vengeance. He finds some solace when he meets a beautiful mature woman, Linda (Pfeiffer), who has recently suffered her own loss and, similarly, is having to face the anguish and ordeal of an ongoing murder trial.

As these two kindred spirits bond over their respective tragedies, while Walter also befriends and becomes an unlikely father-figure to Linda’s deaf-mute and emotionally troubled son, Clay (Spencer Hudson), their relationship blossoms into a romantic one that each finds hard to resist. But is their romance merely a fleeting one, borne of two wounded hearts in need of consoling, or is it something more and will it be enough to prevent Walter from going over the edge?

Returning to playing the role of an older woman who becomes romantically entangled with a younger man (as she recently did so playing opposite Paul Rudd in the comedy “I Could Never Be Your Woman”), Michelle Pfeiffer gives another solid, standout performance while proving that the aging process can apparently do nothing to damage her ability to light up the screen.

Personal Effects (cert. 15) will be released on DVD (£15.99) by Anchor Bay Entertainment on 8th March 2010. Special Features include: “Making of” featurette; 2.0 Stereo and 5.1 Dolby audio options; scene selection.

Press contact: Lisa Richards (020 7907 4770)