Xn3cTs

something i wrote in 2005…

—

Must Love Humankind: Bits, Bites, Bones, and Pieces on Light Romantic Comedies

(For Incorrigible, Hopeful Romantics)

by Michael Ian Lomongo, August 25, 2005

Saw “Must Love Dogs,” featuring Diane Lane and John Cusack last week, triggering these early-morning perorations on light romantic comedies…

(I’m talking of a rather loose classification. Most of these romantic films are rather light, and usually comic. Some are tragi-comic, e.g., “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” But all are comedies, not in the sense that they make a conscious effort to make the audience laugh, but in that they have a “happy ending,” i.e., boy finally gets girl, or vice-versa. One exception, in that it had a happy ending but girl doesn’t get the boy: “My Best Friend’s Wedding.”)

It was better than most of the films of this genre. I think its main strength comes from the rather okay writing and the competence of its actors. Aside from Diane and Cusack, it had great support from Gregory Peck, Dermot Mulroney, the actress who was in “Grease” but whose name escapes me right now, and the actress who here plays a “booba” character. I didn’t get to see who wrote it but it reminded me of “When Harry Met Sally” (which was written by Nora Ephron, who later started directing her own films), mainly because of its use of a series of “interviews with couples.” “Must Love Dogs” (MLD) had them framing the film in the beginning and end, while “When Harry Met Sally” (WHMS) had them scattered throughout the film. But while it was quite obvious that MLD used actors for the interviews, you don’t have that kind of obviousness in WHMS. (Yes, they’re most likely actors but you can never be too sure…)

I think one of its weakness (which, ironically is one of its strength too) is the amount of attention it paid to the minor characters and subplots. You somehow get to know (like, and even love) the father, the sister, the meat vendor, even the clueless “booba” character. Oh yes, of course, we get to know the leads as well but not enough for us to empathize fully with their eventual reunion and the supposed highlight of the film, which is the jumping off the boat of Lane’s character (complete with “dramatic” swelling background music). We know she’s rather desperate and can be quite impulsive. Her “leap of faith” fails to attain that quality which should make it a leap of faith. A failure of writing. Because Lane’s acting was great.

Compare it with Tom Hanks’ character jumping off the bridge to follow Daryl Hannah’s mermaid in “Splash.” Here, we understand Hanks’ hesitation and dilemma: the love of his life and an uncertain future under the sea, or his beloved brother and a quite comfortable life in New York City? If he takes that leap of faith, he won’t be able to go back to his old life, to his beloved brother… (Which is why “Splash 2″ was a gross mistake. It dilutes the power of Hanks’ “leap of faith.” Probably the reason why Hanks was no longer in it.)

Neither does MLD add a new insight about love in the time of internet. You’ve got “You’ve Got Mail.”

—

My Favorite Romantic Comedies of All Time:

(Not Ranked; Order, Random)

1. When Harry Met Sally (with Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan)

2. Splash (with Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah)

3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (with Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet)

4. Groundhog Day (with Bill Murray and ?)

5. So I Married an Axe Murderer (with Mike Myers and ?)

6. Punch-Drunk Love (with Adam Sandler and Emily Watson)

7. 50 First Dates (with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore)

8. Love Affair (with Warren Beatty and Annette Benning)

9. As Good As It Gets (with Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt)

10. Before Sunset (with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy)

11. Chance or Coincidence? (A French Film I saw years ago in a French Spring Film Festival)

12. Somewhere in Time (with Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour)

13. Destiny (a silent movie by Fritz Lang)

—

(more…)