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How entertaining? ★★★☆☆
Thought provoking? ★★☆☆☆ 1 July 2008
This article is a review of I COULD NEVER BE YOUR WOMAN. |
"So that's how it ends? The most powerful male gets the most babelicious female?" Rosie
A film within a film (THE PLAYER). A comic book within a comic book (WATCHMEN). A play within a novel (ATONEMENT). A play within a novel within a film (ATONEMENT). Layers of reference and self-reference, mmmm, tasty! Who does not love a bit of tricksiness with their art-forms? Do it right, and get a round of applause from your audience; do it wrong, and the sounds of the characters clapping their own work will echo cringily round the cinema/living room. This plot mechanic is very popular of late: BEWITCHED, EXTRAS, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, THE COMPANY, STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP and 30 ROCK to name but a few.
A film within a film (THE PLAYER). A comic book within a comic book (WATCHMEN). A play within a novel (ATONEMENT). A play within a novel within a film (ATONEMENT). Layers of reference and self-reference, mmmm, tasty! Who does not love a bit of tricksiness with their art-forms? Do it right, and get a round of applause from your audience; do it wrong, and the sounds of the characters clapping their own work will echo cringily round the cinema/living room. This plot mechanic is very popular of late: BEWITCHED, EXTRAS, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, THE COMPANY, STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP and 30 ROCK to name but a few.
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Michelle Pfeiffer’s Rosie appears a bit frazzled. As a TV writer-producer she has a show on the air that hits its demographics, but Rosie is constantly at war with the boss (the always good value Fred Willard) over ratings and dumbing down. Divorced, and seemingly resigned to singledom, out of the blue comes Adam (Paul Rudd) who not only joins the show boosting viewing figures but also wishes to win her heart. She is in her early 40s, he is 29. Mirroring her own romantic travails, is Izzie (ATONEMENT’s Saoirse Ronan), her bright, love-struck teenage daughter.
All these goings on are being commented upon and discussed by Mother Nature (Tracey Ullman), who seemingly argues for the status of women to return to pre-feminism. This ambitious film attempting to deal with talented women, double-standards, ageism, celebrity obsession, appealing to the lowest common denominator and romance is rare in the romantic-comedy genre, but is fumbled along with the awful TV show within this film.
I COULD NEVER BE YOUR WOMAN feels like a personal film trying to appeal to everyone.
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