Pssst! Was that line meant to be funny? (Whispering) Can we go?
I always thought Roger Ebert was the smart one. He gave 3/4 for this movie. Was he buddies with the writer/director? Cos make no mistake, David Frankel's movie is like a swimmer caught between two islands called Woody Allen and Nora Ephron, and unable to decide which to swim to...strength failing...going under...(gurgling).
I counted four attempts at humour in the first ninety seconds, none of which actually land and become actual jokes. It's an interesting thought, is a joke a joke if no-one laughs? I'd say a joke is dependent on a comedic talent to activate the humour of the audience, and in Sarah Jessica Parker the director has made a dismal choice. She can't sell the funny lines, or very few of them. She's pretty, tan (it is Miami; Mia Farrow, playing her mother, is wistful and pale, just like in the song), but she's all wrong for the character. Really, her character ought to be played by Woody Allen, or Billy Crystal.
But what's it about? Um, well...It starts off with SJP in a therapy session, then we move back in time, or was it forward? Doesn't seem to matter. The therapist doesn't come back anytime soon, begging the question, what was the therapy bit for? SJP gets engaged to Billy from Ally McBeal. Sorry, that's Gil Bellows, a sort of Matt LeBlanc for projects Matt wouldn't do (he's actually called Matt in this movie). There's a sweet scene where they have a romantic campfire and he slaps her, one of the few times I laughed during Miami Rhapsody. She's very hesitant, hesitant in a way that guy characters usually are. SJP then finds out her mother, Mia Farrow (Boo!) is having an affair (Boo!) with Antonio Banderas (Eww!). Why? Well, for one thing because dad is having an affair with his travel agent (actually he isn't; she just imagines he is). Watching SJP lavish concern and sympathy on cheating mom and then be guarded and distant towards concerned dad is sure to rile-up every guy forced to watch this movie. Blatant double-standard.
So, is the movie about SJP or her parents? Is she going to marry Billy (sorry Gill, no sorry, Matt not-LeBlanc)? I'm not crossing my fingers, and with every punchline telegraphed so carelessly one ends-up ducking (i.e. Not laughing) in order to preserve one's self esteem, I'm not crossing my legs for this movie either. I'm tempted to run to the lobby/kitchen for snacks and never come back.
The Miami setting makes me want to watch something like The Birdcage, and the Louis Armstrong music makes me want to watch a Billy Crystal comedy, Forget Paris, or When Harry Met Sally. And having Rhapsody in the title, well that just makes me want to watch Manhattan.
Oh, by the way, SJP's character is called Gwyn, which is a guy's name. I told you this part should have been played by someone with a winky.
I always thought Roger Ebert was the smart one. He gave 3/4 for this movie. Was he buddies with the writer/director? Cos make no mistake, David Frankel's movie is like a swimmer caught between two islands called Woody Allen and Nora Ephron, and unable to decide which to swim to...strength failing...going under...(gurgling).
I counted four attempts at humour in the first ninety seconds, none of which actually land and become actual jokes. It's an interesting thought, is a joke a joke if no-one laughs? I'd say a joke is dependent on a comedic talent to activate the humour of the audience, and in Sarah Jessica Parker the director has made a dismal choice. She can't sell the funny lines, or very few of them. She's pretty, tan (it is Miami; Mia Farrow, playing her mother, is wistful and pale, just like in the song), but she's all wrong for the character. Really, her character ought to be played by Woody Allen, or Billy Crystal.
But what's it about? Um, well...It starts off with SJP in a therapy session, then we move back in time, or was it forward? Doesn't seem to matter. The therapist doesn't come back anytime soon, begging the question, what was the therapy bit for? SJP gets engaged to Billy from Ally McBeal. Sorry, that's Gil Bellows, a sort of Matt LeBlanc for projects Matt wouldn't do (he's actually called Matt in this movie). There's a sweet scene where they have a romantic campfire and he slaps her, one of the few times I laughed during Miami Rhapsody. She's very hesitant, hesitant in a way that guy characters usually are. SJP then finds out her mother, Mia Farrow (Boo!) is having an affair (Boo!) with Antonio Banderas (Eww!). Why? Well, for one thing because dad is having an affair with his travel agent (actually he isn't; she just imagines he is). Watching SJP lavish concern and sympathy on cheating mom and then be guarded and distant towards concerned dad is sure to rile-up every guy forced to watch this movie. Blatant double-standard.
So, is the movie about SJP or her parents? Is she going to marry Billy (sorry Gill, no sorry, Matt not-LeBlanc)? I'm not crossing my fingers, and with every punchline telegraphed so carelessly one ends-up ducking (i.e. Not laughing) in order to preserve one's self esteem, I'm not crossing my legs for this movie either. I'm tempted to run to the lobby/kitchen for snacks and never come back.
The Miami setting makes me want to watch something like The Birdcage, and the Louis Armstrong music makes me want to watch a Billy Crystal comedy, Forget Paris, or When Harry Met Sally. And having Rhapsody in the title, well that just makes me want to watch Manhattan.
Oh, by the way, SJP's character is called Gwyn, which is a guy's name. I told you this part should have been played by someone with a winky.