L.A. Story (1991) Film Review

Steve Martin plays a wacky weatherman, Harris K. Telemacher, in LA, who is unhappy with his life until he meets Sarah McDowel (Victoria Tennant), a British reporter. However she is going through the motions of recociling with ex-husband Roland Mackey (Richard E. Grant), while Telemacher is dealing with his girlfriend Trudi (Marilu Henner) and cute shopgirl SanDeE* (Sarah Jessica Parker). All of this with the backdrop of crazy, happy, vacuous LA – and the assistance of a electronic sign with personaility.

I seem to recall quite liking this film. There are certainly some quirky things that I kind of like – especially the sign. But overall, it’s a real mess – the gags tend to get in the way of the story, it’s just messy and silly. And fun! But messy.

 

The First Wives Club (1996) Film Review

When their college friend Cynthia (Stockard Channing) commits suicide after her husband remarries a much younger woman, friends Elise (Goldie Hawn), Brenda (Bette Midler) and Annie (Dianne Keaton) realise they have all been thrown over by their husbands in the same fashion. Instead of risking bottoming out, they support each other in seeking creative revenge.

One of the characters mentions that what they are doing is just what people expect – and it is ugly and makes them seem very ugly. And there is an aspect of that – but what it seems to be more about is three women who had become defined by their marriages, none of which were that healthy, who stand up and take charge of their lives. They are not prepared to just let their ex-husbands treat them like crap but it become about more than simple revenge. Oh, and did I mention that it is a really funny film with some great female characters? Well, it is.

The First Wives Club was nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score.

Failure to Launch (2006) Film Review

 

A romantic comedy with Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew McConaughey – what could go wrong? Well, with my cynicism, I expected this would be awful. I was pleasantly surprised.

McConaughey plays Tripp, a thirty-something guy who, like all his close friends, still lives at home with his parents. Parker plays Paula, a girl who has made a business becoming romantically involved with guys who are stuck in this situation and giving them the confidence to move on out into the real world. However, despite her plans seeming to go well, everything turns bad, and it is up to the parents and friends to save the couple.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; I’m not a massive fan of romantic comedies. But, when they work for me, they really work, and this one worked. Why? I’m not sure. It surprised me. I’ve always liked Sarah Jessica Parker and I think she worked extremely well in this role. Plus Zooey Deschanel played her housemate, and was not bright and perky as usual, but dark and moody, and I liked that too.

Look, if you don’t like Hollywood romantic comedies, don’t try this one, it won’t be worth your time. But if you don’t mind them, give it a go. Just try to ignore the stupid animal attacks scenes. They were crap.