El novio de mi madre

I Could Never Be Your Woman is the first film directed by Amy Heckerling (Clueless) in like 7 years. I ended up unexpectedly loving Clueless back then, and this film definitely has that same vibe, as well as many of the same cast members, including Rudd, Stacey Dash, and Wallace Shawn. The movie was a light, fun romantic comedy that I enjoyed quite a bit (though I could have done without Tracy Ullman's "Mother Nature"). Michelle Pfeiffer makes a nice return from her movie hiatus in the lead here, after easing back in with her smaller supporting role in Hairspray earlier this summer. Her daughter is played by Saoirse Ronan, a talented young woman who is gonna be breaking out in a big way in the next year with this and roles in several other really big-name films. But the real star here is definitely Paul Rudd, who has proved to be one of the funniest guys around right now. Between this, his involvement with the Apatow crowd, his participation in all manner of projects by alumni of The State, and the rest of his work, he definitely knows how to find good projects and surround himself with equally talented people.

Probably the best reason to see this film is to see a young Saoirse Ronan doing devastating parodies of some pop songs. She's also great fun also. Pfeiffer is always at least agreeable, Paul Rudd here is totally Paul Rudd, Tracey Ullman as Mother Nature is a nice touch. But really there isn't much meat here, comic or not. The little intrigue there is is weak and the central romance proceeds pretty much because, well, it has to, not because it is especially motivated. I'm really not sure when it actually begins. There is some fun parody of the TV business along the way. If you're not watching it too hard, you might not mind you're watching it at all.

I saw this last night (6/15/07) at The Maui International Film Festival. It is going to be categorized by some as a "Chick Flick", however the chemistry between Michelle Pfeiffer and Paul Rudd is undeniable. Since the film won't be released for a few months, I'm not going to go into any specific plot details, however Hollywood's obsession with youth, plastic surgery, and untalented pretty people is amusingly (and sometimes disturbingly) exposed.

Pfeiffer is a true movie star -- a brilliant actress and shamefully underrated comedian. And I would imagine that this film will likely be Paul Rudd's star-making vehicle. He's a talent power-house.

Other notable fine performances are give by the one and only Tracey Ullman as Mother Nature, and Saoirse Ronan as Pfeiffer's daughter.

I haven't laughed out loud at a movie in a long time, however I did last night -- many times. Judging from the reaction, laughter and applause of the hundreds of others in attendance, this movie is a winner.

Rosie (Michelle Pfeiffer) is divorced mother of Izzie (Saoirse Ronan) and a producer of a silly high school TV show. She falls for new actor Adam (Paul Rudd), but the age difference is driving her crazy. I like Michelle Pfeiffer and Paul Rudd as a lovely couple. That is certainly a huge chunk of the movie, and is a lot of fun. But there are two things that are constantly annoying me in this movie.

First, writer/director Amy Heckerling wants this to be The Graduate with a different ending. Only Michelle Pfeiffer looks way too hot for the Anne Bancroft role. And Paul Rudd look older than 29. It makes the age difference look insignificant, and takes away much of the drama. Second, I couldn't stand Mother Nature (Tracey Ullman). She causes every scene to get off the narrative. It's very distracting. She's part of a whole series of overwritten jokey setups.

In the end, I like the leads. Saoirse is cute as the kid. That's enough to recommend this movie marginally.

Considering the talent involved - writer/director Amy Heckerling and actors Michelle Pfeiffer and Paul Rudd - I Could Never Be Your Woman could contend for the most high-profile motion picture yet to take the direct-to-DVD route. This wasn't intended to be the path traveled by this motion picture; had all gone well, it would have been on multiplex screens a year or two ago. Financial mismanagement and bad decisions made the movie unreleasable and it languished until The Weinstein Company executed their home video rights. The result is a mixed blessing for Heckerling - her movie gets to see the light of day but it does so with the unenviable "direct-to-DVD" label. It's good enough to warrant better than the curt dismissal it is likely to receive in some corners.