Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon's phony romance for 'Rendition'?

By Stone Martindale Oct 25, 2007, 23:18 GMT

10/21/2007 - Reese Witherspoon - Jake- we aren\'t buying it-they\'re friends not lovers... © Insidefoto / PR Photos

“Rendition” stars, Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal are denying rumors of romance but are spending a conveniently cozy weekend together in Rome.

The two were seen holding hands and appeared to be more than “just friends,” as they strolled through the capital city. Witherspoon is now officially single after becoming officially divorced from actor Ryan Phillippe last week.

As for the film the two Oscar darlings star in, “Rendition” has received mixed reviews. Critics seem to like Reese Witherspoon’s and Jake Gyllenhaal’s performances but find the movie fails overall in telling a compelling story.

According to the New York Times, “Rendition” is “A well-meaning, honorable movie. Which is not to say that it is a very good one.” Many critics feel the film’s important and timely message outweighs what it lacks in artistic merit.

“Rendition” revolves around suspected terrorist, Anwar El-Ibrahimi, played by Omar Metwally and his wife’s attempt to find him when he mysteriously disappears after boarding a flight to Washington D.C. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Douglas Freeman, a CIA analyst who becomes conflicted over his part in the interrogation of El-Ibrahimi.

The film’s dismal opening weekend earnings at a little over 4 million dollars aleft critics musing American audiences are plum tired of message-laden political films.

Gossip gangster Ted Casablanca of E! had some scathing rendition of the two alleged lovebirds on his blog:

"Oh! Oh! And speaking of recently snapped duos, Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon were getting all friendly in front of photogs while in Rome promoting Rendition, 'course. Interesting how this par-tick twosome, who took such pains to not get photographed together before and denied their romance right and left, is now doing such an about-face. Could it be they’re trying to bolster box-office sales with a little costar commingling for the cameras?"