Made-Up

With the same sort of unabashed honesty that helped make "Something's Gotta Give" such a hit with the 40+ set is Emmy-winning "Monk" star Tony Shalhoub's directorial debut. This "middle age comedy" features his wife, the still-lovely Brooke Adams ("Days of Heaven"), as an actress in her 50's who laments both the fading of her looks and the social nether-strata she has been banished to by a youth-worshipping public. With a warm and deft emotional sense, writer Lynne Adams, who is Brooke's sister, provides Shalhoub's cast, which also includes Eva Amurri of "The Banger Sisters", Gary Sinise ("The Human Stain") and Shalhoub himself, with plenty of ripe material to explore. Without rising to the preachy "these kids today" levels to which Clint Eastwood often rises in celebrating age and wisdom, Shalhoub's love for not only his wife, but also telling a good story, shine through. Score: 3.5/5

Although I am not a 40 something or even female, I loved this movie. It presents a fresh and honest take on women's issues, and at the same time provides some scrumptious slices of comedy....Shalhoub is unbelievable in this, maybe even better than in "Big Night"; he is the master of subtle humour imo. I liked what they did with the mockumentary angle; slightly frustrating (disorienting) for the first 10 minutes I'd say, but well worth hanging in there. The script is inventive and not predictable. There were one or two choices written for some of the supporting > characters that threw me a bit, but it didn't take away from the comedy, the sense of fun and artistry, or the moral statement that was being made.

This low-budget movie just had some kind of magic, integrity, brazenness, and uniqueness that really entertained me on multiple levels. Go into it expecting something a little different from the usual Hollywood/TV formula and you won't be disappointed.

Women over 40 treat "Made Up" like a religious event. They come away raving about how someone finally made a movie for and about them. Not being in that demographic, I don't have the same feelings, but I can see what they mean. Doesn't this group deserve a movie or two of their own?

Lynne and Brook Adams give solid performances as sisters whose relationship is strained when one makes a documentary of the other's life. Director Tony Shaloub makes a small role into one of the brightest parts of an otherwise dark comedy. The real standouts in the cast are Eva Amurri and Light Eternity. Both provide memorable performances.

Mockumentaries are beginning to feel played out, but Made Up finds some new ground by making the hapless filmmakers central characters. Hidden cameras--and the idea of hiding cameras--provide some of the movie's best laughs.

There are certainly missteps in this film. It feels a bit long at 90 minutes. The central character lacks a clear goal--something that's even mentioned within the film. And the movie feels more like it stops than ends. But it is more enjoyable than most studio product, and it provides a few great moments plus real standout performances by Amurri and Eternity. And, if you're a woman over 40, expect to find Enlightenment.

The Los Angeles opening of `Made Up' on February 6th garnered a screening with director, star and writer in attendance for a Q & A. The Arclight does this kind of thing well. There was even rumor of a little party after. That made things irresistible, being that it was Tony Shalhoub, Brooke Adams and Lynne Adams who work out to be director-actor-husband, actress-producer-wife, writer-actress-sister-producer. Almost more hyphens than even we can stand. And this is Hollywood.

A festival darling (Santa Barbara, South by Southwest to name a few) is finally in theaters on an independent and limited run. Great reviews on both coasts, in both Times, are furthering the buzz.

Clever and cute, in the vein of `Best of Show,' this mock-umentary is a film about making a film. Turning the mirror on yourself to look inside and check your lipstick. How to age gracefully, get a make over from your rebel grrrrrl daughter, finish the project, get the deal, make the ex-husband jealous and spoil the trophy wife's homeless woman art exhibit, not drink and do cartwheels.

Playing roles that they live each day, Brooke Adams is the actress, Lynne Adams is a film maker and newcomer, kick-in-the-pants, Eva Amurri plays the actress' daughter. Little Eva made her film debut as a sick kid in the hospital in her step-dad's directorial debut, `Bob Roberts.' Let's hope this kid can keep her mojo working and Tony Shalhoub's first at-bat behind the camera will lead to more.

The post film forum revealed one of the director's greatest challenges was to light his leading lady with an un-flattering light. `I mean, just look at this,' meaning Brooke. It got a nice 'ahhhhhh' from the audience. This made up for the evening's intro by an Arclight staffer, who expressed admiration for Mr. Shalhoub's role on TV's `Wings.' `I grew up watching this man.' That got an 'oooohhh' out of the audience. (`What? That was '97?')

A way-cool website will give you step by step instructions on the Tivey Facelift Kit (as seen in the film). Your cost? Seventeen cents!

I fail to see why this movie seems to be regarded as fresh and groundbreaking. The central concept is that the aging process and its impact on women's physical appearance, as well as society's expectations of how women should look as they age, can affect a woman's self-image, and even her self-worth.

Gee, there's a big revelation. Except, not. It seems to me that this idea has been done to death by everyone from filmmakers to sitcom writers to pop psychologists to Oprah.

For a film that alleges to be only 96 minutes long, it is unspeakably slow-paced and boring. I can't think of a movie that made me check my watch more frequently. The main characters, played by Brooke Adams & Lynne Adams, are both prone to long-winded, whiny speeches that seem self-indulgent and pointless, and make the characters nearly thoroughly unlikeable. Like a big, drawn-out, very-special-episode of "Thirtysomething." And oh, yeah, boring.

Also, I cannot imagine why this film is classified as a comedy. I didn't laugh once during the whole movie, and anyone who did needs to get out more. Sometimes, I could spot the strained dialogue or physical hijinks that were probably supposed to be funny, but just made me cringe. The rest of the time, I couldn't even guess where the "comedy" was supposed to be.

The only thing that makes this film unique (besides taking the audience to new heights of boredom--did I mention that it's boring?) is the "mockumentary" conceit, which is annoying at best and confusing at worst. Really, the only good thing I can say about it is that Eva Amurri, who plays Brooke Adams' daughter, is delightful.

As a 34-year-old woman, I am not that far removed from the concerns about aging and appearance that are debated ad nauseam by the main characters in this film. Unfortunately, everything they have to tell us about this subject, women already know.