Sunday, December 30, 2012
HAVE IT YOUR WAY
Today's NYTimes Critics' Pick film was the delightful romantic comedy
with Zoe Kazan, who also wrote it, and Paul Dano who is her partner in real life. In this case, a very satisfying case for nepotism.
But with Elliot Gould as your therapist, Annette Bening as your mom and Antonio Banderas as your sort of father in law, how can you miss? Steve Coogan is on board as the agent and friend. Chris Messina as the sympathetic brother. Sometimes.
Dano is an author, a one shot wonder like Salinger, with writer's block. He noodles around and invents a girl. His ideal girl. Like a genie, she appears. It turns out he can build the ideal woman. As he is also a lonely misanthrope this seems like a good thing, this appearance, until his own character flaws undermine the project.
This is a sort of Pygmalion story. But Professor Higgins is a lot more sure of himself and Elisa Doolittle is not from thin air. Hardly.
I have liked Dano for a long time. He is a great actor, often cast well in this kind of part, but it is the first time I have seen him modern and pretty much aware. Until he isn't.
This is a very funny, thoughtful picture with a gentle ending. Even the tough times are pretty good and he has a lovable dog at his side the whole time.
I would not mind seeing this again although we know the ending and any spoilers along the way. I have already spoiled it by telling you who is in it because I forgot or never knew and was very excited to see these other actors show up.
A 4 out of Netflix5. Easy.
Labels: films
