Isaac is a science professor in San Francisco to give a speech about how there is no such thing as beauty because it doesn't last. He hasn't met Aurora, though. And he's about to get married but doesn't seem all that enthusiastic about the idea. Immediately after the speech he has to fly back to New York for the wedding.
Tali is a quirky and pretty hooker who was supposed to go to Arthur's room next to Isaac's. After her misadventures cause Isaac's one pair of good shoes to get messed up, he puts them out in the hall to be shined. For some reason he ends up with only one shoe.
In the process of trying to find the other shoe, he meets Aurora, who wants to leave ... no, KILL ... her abusive husband Walter. The two spend a lot of time together and learn a lot about each other and about themselves. Aurora likes to have fun while Isaac is cynical. Arthur and Tali also have a good time together and Arthur, who is overly enthusiastic about dumpsters because his company makes them, reveals a lot about himself. He has such a positive attitude, despite his bad luck with women.
A crime is committed and someone ends up in jail. It's really funny, but not always funny. It is always entertaining.
And we have one of those Hollywood endings you just wouldn't expect in real life. Really exciting, romantic, outrageous.
Timothy Hutton and Maria Grazia Cucinotta both do a very good job. And Cucinotta is gorgeous too.
Natalie Shaw is so adorable and funny, plus there is this great song that gets played almost every time she is on screen.
Udo Kier's abusive husband is written more intelligently than the average abusive husband. And he delivers a more complex performance than one might expect.
Robert Easton has only a couple of lines, but they're great. It's one thing to be drunk. It's another to forget you're driving.
And Don Novello is memorable as a philosophical drifter. He is so laid-back so it's a shame he runs into the jealous Walter.
There's only one security guard in the credits, so that would be Bobby Cooper. His reaction to the crime he witnesses is very unusual. But it's all fun, really. At first. Later there will be a price to be paid.
Animation during the opening credits and between scenes adds to the cute factor.
And one of the best things about this film is the music. There's something for almost everyone--most of the music is jazz or smooth jazz. There's a difference.
This is really worth seeing.
