The Sweet Life

Featuring rock n' roll star Joan Jett, this film shows us a side of her that we don't get to see much in her tough rocker persona- her funny side. And she's genuinely very funny. I think this is closer to the real her than her character in the 1987 movie "Light of Day".

So many of her fans assume that they are watching Joan be Joan in "Light of Day" but the only similarity between Joan and Patti is the love of being in a band. That's it. But, this character Joan plays here- I can see some of the real her spill through in the sense that she is a fun-loving and humorous woman in real life, and some of that quality certainly shines in this role! So, even though she only has about 14 minutes total in the film, this movie is great if you love the real Joan like I do.

As for the film itself, it's low-budget and a tad crude, but mostly funny, cute, and sweet- and I appreciated the references to classic cinema in it. A nice little movie.

And 10 stars for the scenes between Joan Jett and James Lorinz. Made me laugh out loud! On the whole, I like the movie, but as someone who dearly loves Joan Jett, I wish it would've focused on her and him mainly. And it would have been another "Mr. Wrong" (1996) except in reverse! Oh, what a hoot, LOL!

This film is kinda rough around the edges and has harsh language in spots (and it is very low-budget), but it was indeed genuinely funny and sweet. And the nods to other films in this movie made this film lover happy!

THE SWEET LIFE (2002) *** James Lorinz, Barbara Sicuranza, Robert Mobley, Joan Jett. Very funny romantic comedy with 'nice guy' Lorinz (sardonically apt) attempting to find true love in the unlikely form of his ladies' man brother's latest fling (sexy Amazon Sicruanza), a rough-around-the-edges barmaid with a quick tongue and a heart of gold. Hilarious dialogue and frequently amusing moments of pitfalls Lorinz faces on a daily basis and the frustration of Sicuranza wanting something better in her life blends well as does Mobley as the borderline misogynistic elder brother. Jett gives an unforgettably comic turn as Lorinz' blind date from hell that provides his destined relationship with Sicuranza. Screenwriter Rocco Simonelli makes his directorial debut winningly with his sharp slightly skewed valentine to true romance of the flawed. Echoes of Woody Allen, Rob Reiner, Ed Burns and Kevin Smith prove throughout as influences yet the comedy remains solid as it is by itself. A sleeper indie that should be seen by anyone whose lost in love.

I recently saw the leading man of this quirky "Sweet Life" flick in the demented cult classic "Frankenhooker". James Lorinz, he is amazing, a one man riot, a genius. A must see. I laughed I cried, it was better than Cats. (I know, what isn't, but seriously)... First time director Rocco Simonelli moves away from boring romantic cliches in this dark and sometimes uncomfortable comedy. Just when you think you know where it's going, things take unpredictable turns. Joan Jett both scares and excites me. That BJ scene is hot & hysterical. What about the lesbian action though? I mean Lila (Barbara Sicuranza) and Sherry (Joan Jett) lived together, right? I mean, what was going on there? Inquiring minds like to know, and so Mr. Simonelli I anxiously await the pre or sequel..."sweet life 2, the sugar substitute."

WOW! This could quiite possibly be one of the worst pieces of American cinema since Battlefield Earth! Everything imaginable was terrible. The acting (with the exception of the brother) was BAD. The script was BAD and the music was BAD. I almost lost my lunch half-way through this film (and I'd like to think I can stomach a lot.) This was one of the first films I saw this year at the New York Independant Film and Video Festival.----bad, very bad.

You know you have a problem when one of your minor characters (but more famous person) takes up most of the space on your DVD box.

I was wrestling between a few good and a many very poor elements in this picture.

The lead was charming but in a way you've seen a thousand times before. Old jokes. Very tired and old jokes.

Nice guy can't find love. But done in a very stale, direct and familiar way. The crazy ex's vignettes thing has been done before and never works.

Some of these low-budget movies seem to cast the first person who walks through the door. They were not bad actors but not quite good for the roles.

I think I have decided what is the most annoying word that a woman can speak, and it was used a lot in the beginning of this movie: "WOOO!" In conjunction with heavy metal devil horns and my manly parts crawl up into my body (and I'm not a picky man!). (The often-misused word "amazing" is #2.)

What was Joan Jett doing there? I thought she was a Joan Jett lookalike and, to my shock, found out it was HER. Was she actually drunk and wandered into the production? Why would she bother?

I did like the message. Respect people, whoever they are. But it ended up being so clunky and day-old. New York movies seem to insist there is a charm about all these rough-edged people and dirty streets. I don't see it.

All these people seem to be so very tired. Probably 'cause they've been in all those other tired New York movies.