Chick flick update.

I have now progressed in my chick flick habit from watching them to reading about them. I actually found myself combining obsessions when I read some chapters in I'll Have What She's Having: Behind the Scenes of Great Romantic Comedies while I was watching the movie Definitely, Maybe, starring Ryan Reynolds.

The book first. I really enjoyed the book. It is exactly what it says it is: a series of chapters about various romantic comedies, from early classics like It Happened One Night and Some Like It Hot to later movies like When Harry Met Sally... and Love Actually, and how they came to be, as well as numerous tidbits of trivia. It's well-written and even the chapters about movies I hadn't yet seen made me want to see the movies immediately (Clark Gable in It Happened One Night? I'm going to hook that up.). And the chapters about movies I had seen made me want to re-watch them: Did you know that Rob Reiner, Nora Ephron, and Andrew Scheinman wrote the screenplay for When Harry Met Sally... over the course of years, during which Ephron "essentially interviewed the two men about their relationships and their feelings about love, sex, and women in general. Some of it was hilarious, some of it was appalling, and all of it was grist for the mill"? And that the woman in the diner who said "I'll have what she's having" after Meg Ryan's mock-orgasm was Reiner's mother? Good stuff. I'm seeing the book Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood popping up on a lot of "Best of 2008" lists, and I don't think that book was half as readable as this one. But serious trumps humorous on the "Best" lists every time.

And this week's chick flick nutshell review? Definitely, Maybe was okay. I don't mind Ryan Reynolds (I actually think he was kind of hilarious in the strange and underrated movie Just Friends) and, with the exception of Rachel Weisz, whom I CAN'T STAND, the women leads were also quite likable. But, at an hour and 52 minutes, it was 22 minutes longer than any romantic comedy really needs to be, unless it is superlative. So if you're jonesing for a chick flick, any chick flick, it'll do, but I wouldn't run right out and rent it or anything.

Comments

[Care]

One of my favorite chick flicks is Simply Irresistible with Sarah Michelle Gellar. Love Actually is one I can watch over and over - I might have to make it a Christmas tradition.

I enjoyed It Happened One Night. That's one that they spent only a week or so filming, right? and that they didn't get along? I've never seen Some Like It Hot. I should go netflix that right now.

[Eva]

It Happened One Night is SO good! If you like classic movies, have you seen His Girl Friday? Also lots of fun. And Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is another one of my favourites, although it's not a light-hearted chick flick (I don't think Tennessee Williams knew what that phrase meant, lol). Ok-I'll stop now. But I adore classic movies. :)

[Bibliomane]

Dang it Citizen Reader, stop recommending books that I can't possibly refuse. My New Year's resolution (have a manageable holds list this year) has already gone to pot. Ah well, once I've broken one, I suppose that gives me license to break the other resolutions I've made.

I love the scene in It Happened One Night were Gable and Colbert play the disfunctional couple. Have you seen His Girl Friday with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell? More in screwball territory than romantic comedy, but Russell as a reporter and Grant as her editor/ex-husband trying to win her back is a great bit of witty acting. And I think it clocks in under 90 minutes.

[Citizen Reader]

Care,
Thanks for the suggestion! I've been a SMG fan ever since Buffy so I will check out "Simply Irresistible"! Also good to hear that you like IHON--and DO check out Some Like It Hot. Tony Curtis in drag is too good to pass up.

Eva,
Okay, that's it. I've got to see It Happened One Night! I have seen (and loved) His Girl Friday; it's hard to beat Cary Grant and Russell holds her own against him. I remember always being interested that Russell portrayed such a tough-as-nails career gal in such an old movie. Ooh, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Is that the one with Paul Newman? Now I'm going to have to get that too. Thanks!

Bibliomane,
Well, that is what I do. I want everyone to have as unreasonable a TBR pile as I do. Go on and break those resolutions and put this book on hold--I think you'll like it. Have you ever seen "Bringing Up Baby"? Your mention of screwball comedies made me think of it. I always wanted to see that one but never got around to it.

[Stan]

"with the exception of Rachel Weisz, whom I CAN'T STAND"

Excuse me but Rachel Weisz and the small cameo from Kevin Kline were the only good things about this film which is more bland that funny and is a little long for its own good. Both of them would have made better lead characters than the rest of the cast and both of them blew Ryan Reynolds off the screen while they were on it.

[Citizen Reader]

Stan!
Thank you for the reminder! I wanted to say romantic comedy directors shouldn't cast Kevin Kline unless they want him to steal the show--he was arguably a bright spot in the film. Nothing against Weisz's acting ability--I simply don't care for her, usually because she's often cast as the smoldering temptress. I never find the smoldering temptresses very interesting--I prefer the funny cute girls. I'm glad we can agree the movie is too long for its own good.

[Stan]

"Nothing against Weisz's acting ability--I simply don't care for her, usually because she's often cast as the smoldering temptress."

Really?

Your entitled to your opinion but that's a strange statement to make considering that she really does not play the smoldering temptress all that much.

Hey, if you don't want to like her for what ever reason you have, then that's up to you. I just find your statement a bit off and a little more personal than meets the eye.

Anyway, Thanks for your time and take care.

[Rebecca]

Sounds interesting! It Happened One Night is a very good movie. The oldest film I have seen and it was very worthy. Do, do watch it!