I Could Never Be Your Woman
(B- or 2.5/4 stars)
'I Could Never Be Your Woman' is a comedy written & directed by Amy Heckerling (Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Look Who's Talking, Clueless). Rosie (Michelle Pfeiffer) is a 40-ish yr. old mom who falls for Adam (Paul Rudd) a 30-ish guy who's hired to act in the TV show she is producing. Meanwhile, Rosie's daughter, Izzie (Saoirse Ronan of Atonement), is struggling with her own school-based romantic issues. Throughout the film, Tracey Ullman pops up as a sarcastic Mother Nature, guiding Rosie along, and making sure she realizes, 'Hey, don't forget, you ain't a spring chicken. Don't fall head over heels', type thing. The plot is fairly thin. It isn't as hysterical or biting as the Junos, Knocked Ups, or Cluelesses of the world, but it IS sweet, and offers a fair amount of wit.
Rosie is the producer of a Saved by the Bell-like sitcom. And she's constantly struggling to make the show survive by employing clever lingo from the youth of today. She's often getting tips on what and what-not to say from her loveable daughter, Izzie. When Adam walks into the audition room & nails the new part that's being offered in the TV show, Rosie starts to become self conscious about her aging looks (why, I have no idea, Pfeiffer is a knock out). Adam is very interested in Rosie, but she can hardly believe it. He takes her to a dance club where he proceeds to make a fool of himself by dancing in the middle of the dance floor; presumably to put Rosie at ease (it's an amazingly funny scene). Because Mother Nature (literally & figuratively) is creeping up on her, it's hard for her to relax.
Together, the zany, full-of-life Adam & the likeable Rosie make a cute couple. But who (at her job) will try to sabotage their budding relationship? Does Adam genuinely care for Rosie, or is he using her as a step ladder to stardom? You'd hardly imagine the latter, given the awful TV show she's tried so desperately to save. The only ally Rosie has in life is her daughter, Izzie. Through thick & thin, they are there for each other, come what may. It's actually the mother-daughter relationship that works best in this movie, not the older woman dating the younger man relationship; but it has its' moments.
This was a bizarre movie-watching experience for me. It's one of the few times where the actual PLOT (or lack thereof) had very little to do with my enjoyment of the film; usually, it's a pivotal aspect of my critique. I mildly enjoyed 'I Could Never ...' for 4 particular reasons. 1) To watch Michelle Pfeiffer do her thing. 2) To watch Paul Rudd do his thing. 3) Admiring Saoirse Ronan's acting ability. This is a girl whom we loathe in Atonement, yet LOVE here. Also, she had to employ a British accent in Atonement, and an American accent in this film (which she nails perfectly). Ronan is Irish, and carries a heavy brogue in reality. 4) this film does well what 2007's The TV Set could not do ... offer intelligent, humorous takes on pop culture within the television writing world.
I had NO intention of liking this going in; heck, I'd barely heard of it. And there's really nothing special about this feel-good contemporary comedy. The subplot(s) actually outshine the main plot (Rosie & Adam get together for no other reason than to create a movie around it). But the movie is definitely bright enough and clever enough to have a go at it. I also enjoyed a few alumni from 1995's Clueless. Throw Jon Lovitz & Fred Willard in for good measure & it makes for a fun, low key flick. With a bit more focus, 'I Could Never Be Your Woman' wouldn't have been quite so disposable. Mild recommendation here.
Rosie is the producer of a Saved by the Bell-like sitcom. And she's constantly struggling to make the show survive by employing clever lingo from the youth of today. She's often getting tips on what and what-not to say from her loveable daughter, Izzie. When Adam walks into the audition room & nails the new part that's being offered in the TV show, Rosie starts to become self conscious about her aging looks (why, I have no idea, Pfeiffer is a knock out). Adam is very interested in Rosie, but she can hardly believe it. He takes her to a dance club where he proceeds to make a fool of himself by dancing in the middle of the dance floor; presumably to put Rosie at ease (it's an amazingly funny scene). Because Mother Nature (literally & figuratively) is creeping up on her, it's hard for her to relax.
Together, the zany, full-of-life Adam & the likeable Rosie make a cute couple. But who (at her job) will try to sabotage their budding relationship? Does Adam genuinely care for Rosie, or is he using her as a step ladder to stardom? You'd hardly imagine the latter, given the awful TV show she's tried so desperately to save. The only ally Rosie has in life is her daughter, Izzie. Through thick & thin, they are there for each other, come what may. It's actually the mother-daughter relationship that works best in this movie, not the older woman dating the younger man relationship; but it has its' moments.
This was a bizarre movie-watching experience for me. It's one of the few times where the actual PLOT (or lack thereof) had very little to do with my enjoyment of the film; usually, it's a pivotal aspect of my critique. I mildly enjoyed 'I Could Never ...' for 4 particular reasons. 1) To watch Michelle Pfeiffer do her thing. 2) To watch Paul Rudd do his thing. 3) Admiring Saoirse Ronan's acting ability. This is a girl whom we loathe in Atonement, yet LOVE here. Also, she had to employ a British accent in Atonement, and an American accent in this film (which she nails perfectly). Ronan is Irish, and carries a heavy brogue in reality. 4) this film does well what 2007's The TV Set could not do ... offer intelligent, humorous takes on pop culture within the television writing world.
I had NO intention of liking this going in; heck, I'd barely heard of it. And there's really nothing special about this feel-good contemporary comedy. The subplot(s) actually outshine the main plot (Rosie & Adam get together for no other reason than to create a movie around it). But the movie is definitely bright enough and clever enough to have a go at it. I also enjoyed a few alumni from 1995's Clueless. Throw Jon Lovitz & Fred Willard in for good measure & it makes for a fun, low key flick. With a bit more focus, 'I Could Never Be Your Woman' wouldn't have been quite so disposable. Mild recommendation here.