Herbert Ross (1) (1927–2001)

2025 movie #122. 1984. Sandy (Hawn) accidently twarts an assassination attempt against a visiting Emir. The US govt uses her as a pawn in negotiations with the Emir for a mil base. A little screwball comedy mixed with some good satire that still works 40 years later.

A big city kid in a small conservative town just wants to dance.

2.5/4 (Okay).

It's got some serious rough patches, especially in the beginning. Twenty minutes in I was just about ready to walk away. Then it started to get kind of weird and caught my attention. And then they started to have genuine conversations, and to develop the character I expected to be a villain.

Written by Buck Henry, starring Goldie Hawn and a great supporting cast. After the success of Private Benjamin, Hawn was looking for a vehicle that would show she had staying power. While this movie lacked the substance to become a classic like Private Benjamin, Hawn’s effervescence in it cemented her future as a big screen comedy star.

The movie suffers from a feel good ending ala Frank Capra – but this was in a time when the US was smug about the sanctity of Democracy and Hollywood show more demanded an upbeat ending

The plot is reminiscent of Christopher Buckley’s Florence of Arabia (written in 2004) but only on the most superficial level. Buckley is hysterically funny but draws blood. Protocol is Rom/Com cute.

Fortunately, in this case, Rom/Com cute is enough. Fun movie that stands up to multiple watches. show less

Six women in the American South have very different personalities, but a strong bond. Julia Roberts is about to be married at the start of the story, but I felt Sally Field, as her mother, was the real star.

Some humour, mainly from two of the women played by Shirley MacLaine and Olympa Dukakis, some light-hearted asides from the hairdresser, played by Dolly Parton, and some very serious moments too. The climax was shocking the first time I saw it, very moving on seeing it again ten years show more later.

Unlikely to be of interest to children though the rating is PG; 12 would be more appropriate although there's nothing explicit and not a huge amount of bad language.

Latest review here: https://suesdvdreviews.blogspot.com/2020/05/steel-magnolias-julia-roberts.html show less