jn1356

I rate this movie this highly because it does extremely well exactly what it sets out to do--provide a couple of hours of entertaining fluff. In the wake of the news of the death of Sandra Dee, I was asked for my favorite Sandra Dee movie, and I realized this is it! The ever-delightful Celeste Holm and the protective stage mother, George Hamilton too perfect as the snotty boss, the late Bill Bixby, for whom I'll never stop mourning, the sweet friend wanting to help out, and an enjoyable appearance by Mort Sahl, a groundbreaking comedian of the time who now is, unjustly, almost completely forgotten.

A movie that does what it sets out to do and does it well deserves praise, and this one has mine.

Today, Sandra Dee joins my "eternal mourning" list.

The TV was my babysitter when I grew up. I know all the plots, all the twists. When a movie surprises me, it's a cheat, a fraud, a deus ex machina. Or brilliant.

This movie is brilliant. Not a slow moment, a gory movie that is not a gore-fest, a shocking movie which does not rely on FX for shock, plot-driven, character-driven, absolutely brilliant. There are no loose ends, no descents into cliche. I thought that was where we were going: the hard-bitten veteran sparring with, and eventually becoming best friends with, the naive newcomer. But no!

I've said very little about the movie. I don't want to give anything away. SEE IT!

When Anne Hathaway's name came up first in the opening credits, my wife and I first thought, "Who is this infant, and how does she deserve to be billed above Hector Elizondo and Julie Andrews?" The answer is she is an amazingly talented actress who flawlessly carries a delightfully charming film! She is in almost every scene, and she does better than hold her own with Elizondo and Andrews. Check out the scene near the beginning where she is making faces at herself in the mirror, trying to see if she likes any look! What adult has the courage to be filmed doing that? Anne Hathaway is fearless!

The movie itself is better than fluff. But not a lot. It is nothing life-changing. It is cute.

Julie Andrews has done much better. She did better than phone it in. But not much. Still, she is Julie Andrews, and who better to play the regal Queen?

Hector Elizondo is one of my favorite actors, but he had little with which to work here, though not as little as he did in "The Runaway Bride". But I don't think he stretched any thespian muscles here either.

My recommendation? Go see it NOW! Remember the name Anne Hathaway. I hope she will be around for a long time. If her skill increases with age and experience, I can't wait to see it!