Et la femme créa l'homme parfait

An bright, smart, beautiful woman named Frankie Stone (Ann Magnuson) is public relations executive. She been hired by a huge technology company to "humanaize" their latest work. An dorky, curious, android named Ulysses (John Malkovich). Which Ulysses is been trained to be an astronaut. Ulysses is the likeness of a cold-hearted scientist named Jeff Peters (Also played by Malkovich). At first, Frankie finds her latest assignment to be truly strange. As she gets to know Ulysses much better than Peters, she slowly falls in love with Ulysses! Ulysses starting to be more curious about the human life than being an astronaut. Which Peters is absolutely furious, since it taken him years to train Ulysses and drives him crazy that Ulysses only wants to know about love!

Directed by Susan Seidelman (Cookie, Desperately Seeking Susan, She-Devil) made an amusing romantic comedy with superb comic performances by Malkovich and Magnuson. "Making Mr. Right" was an flop, when it was released in 1987. But the movie did went on to have an loyal cult following. It is fun to watch Malkovich in a charming, extremely funny and touching role. Which it is rare for Malkovich. Magnuson is certainly an knockout in her role. Glenne Headly does have some very amusing moments as Stone's best friend and Laurie Metcalf does have some good moments as the annoying woman in Peters' life.

DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer (also in Pan & Scan) and an good Dolby 2.0 Surround Sound. DVD's only feature is the original theatrical trailer. In a way, "Making Mr. Right" is a odd romantic comedy with some original effective moments that makes this movie unique. The movie has an great if unusual ending as well. Die-fans of Malkovich certainly should check the movie out. Great use of "The Turtles" song titled "Happy Together" at the end. "Making Mr. Right" is certainly an curio. (****/*****).

If there were more genuine laugh-out-loud moments in this film, it could have achieved more commercial success. OR, if it hadn't been pitched to audiences as a straight comedy, it could have achieved later status over time as a cult film. This is the approach I think the producers should have taken. This would have made a great indie(rather than a mainstream release by the fledgling Orion Pictures) with Ann Magnuson still as the star. Have the actors play it straight as a character study and let the subtle natural comedy shine through. Laurie Metcalf's dingy character would have to be dismissed or toned down a bit, but otherwise this would work with the same quirky charm that made Mystic Pizza (released the following year) a success.

As it is, the film is sweet more than it is funny. And it works thanks to John Malkovich's great dual performances and Magnuson's ability to carry a film (the only time she's been allowed to do so before or since--pity). Believe it or not, this was the film in which I discovered them both, and they should still be proud of having it on their resumes, even with all they went on to accomplish.

I shouldn't be too hard on Orion, though. After all, they did put out "The Silence of the Lambs", but they also let "Blue Sky" sit on a shelf until they went belly-up and another studio had to release it four years after it was completed. The only flaw is not in this film itself, but in the way it was marketed and what I as an audience member expected going into it. This film deserves rediscovery--and if it gets it, there's the added bonus of '80s nostalgia in the fashions and some of the dialogue.

This is a fantastic film, it really is. The director took a risk in casting a relatively unknown actress (Magnuson) in a lead role, but that risk paid off - she turned in a faultless, feisty performance, and I really believed that she was a top notch confidant businesswoman whose love life was a mess. John Malkovich is equally good, and it is so nice to see him cast against type and doing comedy for a change - and two roles to boot - which he manages very well. A far cry from "Dangerous Liaisons", Malkovich works hard to give the android depth and character, when Ulysses could have easily become so two-dimensional. Instead we have the pleasure of watching him grow and gradually develop the emotions and human characteristics that we take for granted, so that if you rewind and watch how Ulysses was at the beginning, he will seem completely different. Equally, Dr Peters, though arrogant and dispassionate, does evoke some sympathy and compassion with the audience. In an ironic turn, watch how machinelike Jeff seems in comparison to Ulysses towards the end, you will be surprised!

Brilliant! The scene at the wedding when Ulysses tells Frankie he loves her was perfect and particularly moving.

What a nice change: a movie I first saw as a wee lad and remembering liking then, only to revisit it decades later and liking it more (for the opposite reaction, see PLAYING FOR KEEPS).

The movie popped up last Saturday afternoon on pay cable so I decided to why not see if it holds up, instead of watching a block of "Scrubs" on Comedy Central again. My main memory was the fabulous production design and costuming, like back then the movie was set in an alternative '80s galaxy with cute convertibles and kitchy-cool high heels.

I enjoyed it before, but this time I literally ROARED with laughter! I guess I paid more attention to the acting this time 'cause I sure didn't recall John Malkovich being so absolutely heedlessly hilarious playing an automaton trying to pass as human. Watch his body language, the way he walks and processes the world around him. Comedy ain't easy, but the Malk is committed and focused, and really brings Ulysses to (pseudo) life. Bravo, you idiosyncratic weirdo.

Ann Magnuson is terrific too - she's easily believable as a smart PR drone with an effed up love life. Why didn't she become a big star? I remember her on the show "Anything But Love" and there again she clearly exuded competent business acumen. Where you been, girl?

There is one character in MMR that was difficult to watch when I was 13, one that remains an uncomfortable viewing experience today. That's Laurie Metcalf's desperate single gal looking for love with the wrong man. The humiliation she endures during the mall date wasn't funny then, and it's not funny now. I dunno, I just felt, and feel, awful for her; she's so forlorn and sad it's a bit depressing - I had to turn away. Poor thing.

But anyway, I had to have the DVD to show my mate - we watched SYNECDOCHE NEW YORK last week and neither of us were able to make a lick of sense of it, but then the mate revealed he's never seen ADAPTATION, so by the powers of the Philadelphia Library we're watching it this weekend. (How could he have never seen it? He's a big Tilda Swinton fan!) It's Malkovich Week at Casa de Ogorek (I wonder if he's seen PLACES IN THE HEART or IN THE LINE OF FIRE). Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich.

One last thing: my newest DVD reads, "Ann Magnuson (PANIC ROOM)"...really? That's what FOX/MGM hopes to remind us of who she is? Well, I guess that'd be less embarrassing than "Ann Magnuson (GLITTER)"...

A sweet romantic comedy, that has an interesting twist. A image consultant named Frankie Stone(Ann Magnuson) who just dumped her philandering congressman boyfriend(Ben Masters). Is asked to help an android named Ulysses(John Malkovich), to help polish his social graces, before he is unvaled to the public. Much of the dismay of his of his creator Dr. Jeff Peters(Also John Malkovich). A good romantic comedy of it's time. Ann Magnuson is great. John Malkovich is terrific in duel roles has the sweet and sincere android Ulysses, and has the uptight and cynical Dr. Jeff Peters. A great movie to rent for your date.