archer1267 Reviews

If Lucy Fell (1996)

Has its moments, but kinda insulting to all involved.

[7 January 2001]

I saw this movie in the theater - TWICE - when it first came out. I became smitten with Eric Schaeffer and thought If Lucy Fell was hilarious. Now that I caught it on USA (or TNT, whatever) recently, I'm able to see how flawed this romantic comedy really is and wondering why I was so taken in by it before.

First of all, I found the titular character to be pretty unlikeable. She's quick to point out everyone's shortcomings in a cold, clinical sort of way yet can't even look her father in the face when she talks about things that are important to her. She knocks her roommate for being afraid to talk to Jane when *she can't even talk to her own father*! She carries on this passion-less relationship with Dick, not even thinking that it might hurt him less to just cut it off.

I liked Joe, esp. his diatribes (still love that job in Central Park scene) but he too was hard to relate to. He hasn't had sex in five years because he's obsessed with Jane, the woman next door? OK, so I know this is Hollywood and things are exaggerated for comic effect, but what are we supposed to think of "Bwick?" The guy doesn't speak in complete sentences at first and seems near illiterate (or, I guess he's so enmeshed on the artistic plane that he can't be bothered with the concrete). I could have cried for Ben Stiller when again I saw the scene of him "painting" (i.e. yelling and hurling paint-coated body parts at canvas) - totally ridiculous. I know, that was the point... hook Lucy up with a nutter so that she'll realize what's under her nose.

When I first saw this movie, I think I was 28, and the idea of 30 still loomed ahead. Now, at 33, the idea of two single people taking their lives because they haven't found reasonable relationship material is not only beyond crazy, but it's insulting. (Well geez, maybe these guys would have found love if one hadn't wasted years obsessing over an unattainable woman and the other had extricated herself from a dead-end relationship!) It feeds into this ridiculous notion everyone under 30's got that somehow, single life goes downhill after one hits 30. (I can tell you it only gets better!) Still, "every pot finds its cover," and these two half-wits "find" each other by the end of the movie, so all's well that ends well.

Survivor (2000– )

Totally addicting, and I don't even watch reality/game shows!

[9 June 2000]

Let me clarify that I'm not a Real World fan, nor do I watch Cops or When Animals Attack or any of that stuff...I watch the occasional Jeopardy episode. That's it. This has me totally addicted. Sure, parts of it are contrived (choosing contestants who will no doubt mix as poorly as oil and water, showing select footage to "sway" viewers' opinions at home) but it's all in all a fascinating sociological study of people behaving under extreme conditions. Call it cheesy - sure, it's got that (well-rested host Jeff Probst popping up on the beach to give narrative, the indigenous wailing that announces each return from commercial breaks) but there's no denying that it all makes for great programming.

I didn't know about the "voting" at first and was initially disappointed that survival was largely based on popularity and politics rather than sheer ingenuity and physical survival skills, but the former definitely add an interesting edge to the show. It's fascinating to see what motivates people - whether some value physical ability and work ethic in that situation, or amiability and flexibility.

One gripe I have is that while there's a large gap between the oldest and youngest cast member (50 years), there's not enough age diversity among the group. Ten of the sixteen are 30 or younger. I don't know if this was slick marketing on CBS' part (i.e. an attempt to appeal to the fickle marketing segment, the young'uns) or what (it's obviously paying off).

As much as I'm enjoying it, I hope it doesn't become a series the way The Real World did, with a different location/cast picked each year. It would just become rote and a lot less fun.

British Men Behaving Badly (1992–2014)

Inspired, raucous...I miss it so much!

[5 June 2000]

Not since The Young Ones have I been so hooked on a British comedy!

I lived in England for a brief period and while over there was introduced to Men Behaving Badly, possibly THE funniest sitcom I've ever seen. I was embarrassed when we (that is, the United States) tried to remake it with Ron Eldard and Rob Snyder (how does this guy continuously get work??). As TV censors are more uptight here, it was impossible to replicate the show's madcap, off-color humor, which is what made it work in the first place. (Ditto when High Society - another sitcom that thankfully flopped - tried to mimic Ab Fab.) The part where Gary finds his girlfriend's diaphragm and tries fitting it in his mouth - the way little kids do orange sections - was priceless, and would never make it past censors here, aside from maybe a Saturday Night Live sketch.

As a woman, I probably should have been repelled by some of Tony and Gary's antics, but found them oddly endearing and fun to watch. (Of course, if I was dating either one, the story would be different!) The only complaint I have was that the Gary-Dorothy romance wasn't very convincing...but then again, maybe she dated him because "I wanted someone I could feel superior to!" as she herself once said.

Gary's dad/officemates are also a hoot...I don't know if it's just because ageing British eccentrics are played for laughs (see The Major on any Fawlty Towers episode) or what.

I wish this show would come out on video!!!!!!

The Story of Us (1999)

Treacly and embarrassing. Beware.

[10 May 2000]

OK, not as much yelling as Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? but still...

Michelle Pfeiffer was an ice queen who suspiciously did none of the things women do when they're upset/stressed out...where was the ashtray, the pint of Ben & Jerry's? When she *does* get her Big Emotional Scene, it's a big cringe-inducer. (Scenes like this give the term "chick flick" a bad name.) Bruce came off much better and as a far more likeable character, but that could have been the fault of the script. (Perhaps, as a single person, I didn't "get" a lot of the nuances or whatever...to me, it just seemed like a case of two people who didn't know how to talk to each other, and who had let resentments fester to the point where all they COULD do was unleash it all. Get counseling and shut up already!)

This would have some use in couples-training workshops on how NOT to act. Otherwise, it's best avoided.

Btw, I'm tired of seeing Rita Wilson in these "zany best friend" roles, zinging off rather unfunny lines. She deserves more than this.

Tommy (1975)

Campy fun if you don't take it seriously.

[10 May 2000]

While I'm a big Who fan, I didn't see this movie until 1989 or 1990...which obviously made it seem less cutting-edge, daring and/or relevant than it must have in 1975. It's one of those unintentionally funny movies that MSTK3 would have a field day with...and I'm sorry, but I LOVED Oliver Reed's infamously bad singing. (I kept thinking of it while watching him in Gladiator...I was half-expecting him to bark, "Yes, I think it's all right, Yes I think it's all riiiiiight...." Roger Daltrey's cartwheels too. It's a bit of a camp classic in my circle of buddies.

The fact alone that Ann-Margret garnered a Best Actress Oscar nomination for this movie makes me damn glad I live in the times I do. She certainly is gorgeous and has a good enough voice, but an Oscar?! Maybe it was an especially fallow year for female performances.