Caffeinated Clint
By Clint Morris
Throughout life we’re constantly running into that special someone that just rubs you up the wrong way – be it a bully at school, an egotistical boss at your workplace or a mate of a mate who gets gropey once he’s had a few beers. In Amy Heckerling’s new comedy “I Could Never Be Your Woman”, it’s Tracy Ullman that has you huffing and puffing.
Whether it’s because the film was co-financed by a Brit outfit or Ullman’s good friends with director Heckerling (“Clueless”, “Look Who’s Talking”), her presence in the film feels tacked-on and about as welcome as a fly at a barbecue. It’s not that the comedienne herself is bad in the film it’s just that her character’s so different from everyone else’s in the film – and has little use in the movie – that she sticks out like a splinter on a pinkie.
Still, I’m sure this film’s long-delay – try two years! – has more to do with tyrants and tax-breaks than it does Tracey. Though snipping her character out of proceedings may have initiated a little more confidence in the project. By removing that character from the picture, the film could’ve sustained itself a lot better and in turn stuck to the reasonably matter-of-fact singularly-toned film it should’ve been and not a hybrid of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “White Palace”.
Michelle Pfeiffer plays the producer of a “Saved by the Bell”-like sitcom – and I use the example of “Saved by the Bell” because it’s noted that ‘Screech’ one guest starred on this series – that falls for the show’s new addition, a young actor played by Paul Rudd. He’s zany, full of life and totally smitten with her – and she loves it. Naturally, there are a couple of people that aren’t so nuts about it and are determined to see the romance stall before it starts.
Tracey Ullman pops up as Mother Nature, who messes with their fates.
Ullman’s character aside, this is still a very enjoyable movie – and if you’re a fan of Hecklering’s other films, particularly the vibrant “Clueless” (1995), you’ll definitely go ga-ga for this. Michelle Pfeiffer, looking as beautiful as ever, is wonderful in her role as the aging hot momma (Pffeifer’s best role in years), whilst Paul Rudd is an absolute cack – he’s definitely found his footing in comedy of late; check out “Knocked Out” to see him at his best – as her much younger suitor. But in fact everyone in the film – from Jon Lovitz to Stacey Dash and Fred Willard – are great.
Hecklering is the queen of feel-good contemporary comedies and this one has all the elements of a typical Amy offering – oodles of great pop music, wild production values, cameos, and the always dependable tale of love conquering all. I guess you could say it’s “Clueless for the Baby Boomers”!.
Yes its a little unpolished – and they may have scared the studio so much that they decided not to release it until now – but still “I Could Never Be Your Woman” is stamped in so much sweetness and features one of the best screen couples since Tom and Meg, that it’ll be about as hard to knock back as a free mystery flight.
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