The film’s most radical move is to refuse a cure. There is no miracle drug at the end. Instead, Jamie and Maggie choose each other knowing that the future holds decline and caregiving—a commitment that the pharmaceutical industry (which profits from acute, not chronic, solutions) has no interest in fostering. In this sense, Love & Other Drugs critiques not only capitalism but also the romantic comedy genre itself, which typically ends with a wedding or a kiss. Zwick ends with a quiet acceptance of imperfection and finitude.
Illouz, Eva. Why Love Hurts: A Sociological Explanation . Polity Press, 2012. [Theoretical framework on capitalism and intimacy] love & other drugs film
Dumit, Joseph. Drugs for Life: How Pharmaceutical Companies Define Our Health . Duke University Press, 2012. [Context on pharmaceutical marketing and patienthood] The film’s most radical move is to refuse a cure