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A not so happy review of THE RUNAWAY BRIDE
As with all films, you have your supporters and your detractors... after a pretty darn positive review the other day of Richard Gere and Julia Roberts' latest... well we get this review that describes it in a quite a different light. So who's right? I don't know... neither... both... It just depends, both opinions are possible, so the only way to know for sure... is to see it yourself... right?
I was quite shocked by the positive review that was posted on AICN last
Thursday from the RUNAWAY BRIDE test screening the day before on the
Paramount lot. Although the movie is not an abomination, it is a major
disappointment considering the talent involved.
The keyword here is DULL. The script has become infamous in Hollywood,
having survived development hell for at least 6 years. Some of the writers
who have toiled away include Sara Parriott and Josann McGibbon, Leslie
(outrageous fortune) Dixon, and Audrey (truth about cats and dogs) Wells.
Directors came and went, and numerous actresses flirted with the lead,
including Sandra Bullock, Tea Leoni, and god help me, Ellen DeGeneres. The
script was solid and intelligent, so it seemed a good idea to reunite the
team from Pretty Woman -- Roberts, Gere, and god help me again, Garry
Marshall (perpetrator of Beaches, Dear God, Exit to Eden, and of course
Pretty Woman). Wrong.
I am not going to rehash the plot once again. Suffice to say that this was
evidently the first test screening of the film, which brought out the
googly-eyed Jonathan Dolgen (why not put him in a horror movie?) and the
tight-skinned dragon lady Sherry Lansing. The movie is dull, dull, dull,
running at a snail's pace for a full 2 hours without credits. Marshall's
direction is strictly pedestrian and flat. The wide-screen cinematography is
bland. The script, which on paper seemed sophisticated and smart, lacks
surprise and spontaneity and most of all, charm.
How's the acting? Richard Gere wins the honors, giving a fun and engaging
performance. Julia Roberts, on the other hand, has done this kind of role
many times too many in the past and she appears to know it. Maybe with
another actress playing the role of a flighty bride-to-be the part would have
seemed fresher and less of a drag -- maybe Angelina Jolie or Renee Zellweger
(or god help me Jenna Elfman)? With Julia in the part, we know what's going
to happen 5 minutes into the movie and it takes WAY WAY WAY too long to get
there.
As for the supporting cast, Hector Elizondo, in his customary supporting role
in a Garry Marshall "film", steals his few scenes. Completely wasted is Joan
Cusack as Julia's best friend; it's too similar to pretty much every role
she's ever played before from Working Girl to In and Out, and she has
virtually no laughs. Laurie Metcalf should be cut entirely in a pointless,
laughless role as a town baker. Sela Ward has barely a cameo as does Larry
Miller (thank God for small miracles, the man is completely pathetic and
unfunny in everything he does). Worst of all is Mrs. Tom Hanks (aka Rita
Wilson) playing Gere's ex-wife and editor; why not give the role to someone
more deserving and talented? Wasn't Mrs. Spielberg available? Along those
same lines, why not Theresa Russell or even Shelley Hack? (Hell, I'd prefer
Shelley Long over Mrs. Hanks.)
Again, the movie isn't the worst romantic comedy of the decade. (That would
be Till There was You, hands down.) It's just boring as hell. It says
something if Richard Gere is the best thing about a romantic comedy.
Incidentally, the audience didn't seem too responsive to the movie either.
There were no applause when the movie ended (or even when the inevitable
resolution finally came to be), and the temperature in the theater was
noticeably FREEZING as if to keep the audience awake. (Cold air was pumped
not from the ceiling but from vents in the fucking floor.) I think we were
just grateful the thing ended so we could get some coffee to warm up - and
wake up.
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Hey, speaking of "The Princess Bride," anyone know what happened to Robin Wright? You know, at the credits it says "introducing Robin Wright." Where has she been since then? The only other film I can recall seeing her in was "The Crossing Guard."
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I take exception to the characterization of "Til There Was You" as the worst romantic comedy of the decade. Sure, I didn't appreciate it the first time out, but upon repeated viewings (due to the mind-numbing repetiveness of cable) I have come to love this movie on several different levels. I won't go into my personal 7 rings of appreciation here, since I'm sure most of you share the reviewer's opinion, but it's one of my old reliables (you know, there's nothing else on, you're flipping through the movie channels, and OH! Cool! A nice comforting showing of a movie you know line by line!) I'm not sure I have a definitive choice for worst romantic comedy of the decade - this week it would be "Forces of Nature" - but I don't foresee hating anything with Richard Gere and Joan Cusack, who as far as I'm concerned, even made a piece of utter shit like "A Smile Like Yours" bearable. (Now THERE'S an worst of candidate!) Sure, I'm easy to please, as far as romantic comedies go, I don't expect them to change my life or even linger in my long-term memory for more than 15 minutes, so I guess I'm fairly dreck-tolerant in this genre. But don't get me started on life-draining so-called mystery thrillers ...
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Uncle Cracky, didn't you see "Moll Flanders" or, god help us all, "Message in a Bottle"? Well, okay, neither did I. Okay, neither did most people. The point is, Robin Wright Penn (Sean was apparently more stern with her than with Madonna -- he couldn't get her to take ANY last name, let alone his) was featured in both. I like RWP, but she hasn't found her proper vehicle yet. And I further admire her for refusing to fake enthusiasm for "Message in a Bottle" and pissing off all the publicists. I agree with the first poster, BTW -- this reviewer seems inclined just to trash everyone in the cast, which rather destroys his/her credibility. In particular, why pick on the lovely, talented Rita Wilson? I find her to be a wonderful, understated actress with lots of down-to-earth charm, much in the vein of Mary Steenburgen.
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Brief FYI...Robin wright Penn is also in the film She's So Lovely with her husband and John Travolta. It's directed by Cassavetes' son...anybody seen it? cuz all i've done so far is look at the video box and consider renting it....
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...I've not seen any of those films, and I doubt I will. That's too bad. I think she has a great screen presence. Thanks for the info! Off the subject, but what is up with keeping a maiden name when you get married? Is it just for famous people who don't want to risk being forgotten? I'd really like to understand. Does it have to be sexist that tradition dictates that the male's name is taken by the female? I thought marriage was all about the union of two people to form a sum that is bigger than the parts...
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Robin Wright was in a small movie called "Forrest Gump" or something stupid like that.
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To scorpioRising: I saw She's So Lovely, and I gotta tell you, I LOVED it! Couple of disclaimers: I haven't seen any John Cassavetes movies, so I can't compare this to them and say it sucked in comparison, and I also don't think the movie's for everyone. But it was written by Cassavetes and directed by his son. All the performances in it were really affecting, especially Sean Penn, adn John Travolta (not specifically playing against type, let's just say, he's acting in a part that's miles away from the Aw Shuck! bullshit of Phenomenon, Mad City, Michael, blahblahblah: This movie looks like he came to play.
The best thing about the movie? One of the cruelest, ambiguous endings I've seen in a long time!
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To Scorpiorising: I saw this movie and I do not reccomend you wasting your time or money on it. It went from having potential to absurdity and ultimately, a big dissapointment. The acting was mediocre, except for Travolta (how many times did Robin Wright's accent change during the course of the film?)and the screenplay was ridiculous. This is just one man's opinion.
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Damn! I completely forgot RWP was in "Forrest Gump"! Robin, if you're reading this -- sorry about that.
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If JULIA ROBERTS wants to be in romantic movies she go to INDIA cos they make the best romantic movies.She should do a movie with SHAH RUKH KAHN.
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they are sick and tired of seeing the same crap over and over again. Julia Roberts and Will Smith are a match made in heaven. Both talented people that refuse to play anyone but themselves. My take on Julia? She is not going to have any chemistry with a costar unless she actually FALLS in love with them. That's where most of her chemistry comes from, it's not ACTING. There's just nothing here for her to work with, as she's already swooned over Richard during Pretty Woman. Look for that same bland chemistry in the Nottingham Hill or whatever the hell it's called...
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I like Robin Wright Penn. She's a talented woman. Funny story, though... during my first summer working at the local movie theatre, we had She's So Lovely playing. I think maybe 50% of our customers walked out of that flick. I worked box office and I always had people coming up to me and demanding their money back. Never seen it, so I don't know why...but there's always at least one film a year that pisses people off in droves. Last summer it was Slums of Beverly Hills. Offended people by the dozens. But ya know, I once had a couple customers come out of Jerry Maguire demanding a refund. Everyone ELSE seemed to love it, so you can never tell what people are gonna hate.
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...was also in a pretty decent movie called "State of Grace" about the Irish Mob. It also had Sean Penn and Gary Oldman in it. Judging from the timeframe, I guess this is where she met Mr. Ex-Madonna. Off the subject, did anyone see SP on Letterman a few years back when Dave was saying that a bunch of Sean's off-camera antics must have been exaggerated by the press? He then went on to ask about Sean's divorce with Madonna. Penn looked him right in the eye and said "That's another thing that's been exaggerated. We've never met." I laughed for about a week.
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-wasn't it great when you saw her breasts in Pretty Woman
-see point 1 -
Garry Marshall made this little trainwreck of a migraine headache that won't go away called "Dear God" starring Greg Kinnear as, well, Greg Kinnear. Also shoring up the formidable powerhouse of acting talents are: Tim Conaway, Ellen Cleghorn, Maria Pitillo showing a huge depth in range ... as a brunette. A black-as-night brunette. Even the eyebrows are black. She looks kind of formidable, anyway. Then there's Timothy Stack in a bit part, Sam Macmurray as the D.A., Nancy Marchand as the judge, and Hector Elizondo makes his custmary Garry Marshall appearance. Garry Marshall himself shows up late in the movie. What am I talking about, this movie rocks! I worship this movie! Beware the fluffy green dragons!
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i just came back from seeing this movie and it was BORING. i like romantic comedies but this movie was so predictable and so slow and so formulaic. i absolutely aggree with the review with excception about the lady that played the baker. it is the sister fom roseanne and she has such an energetic talent that is a joy to watch. she is like caroll burnett. she is never advertised for being in a movie so i love it when she just pops up into the film im watching. i also dont aagree about julia roberts. i think she has a lot of talent and put more effort in this movie than it deserved.
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