The Real Blonde

"The Real Blonde" is an easy going romantic comedy with the emphasis on comedy which sticks Modine and Keener in the midst of an ample cast of familiar faces as it spins its lukewarm but likeable story of sitcom type couple vicissitudes. Somewhat ill focused and lacking in coherence but always upbeat and busy, "TRB" makes a good couch potato flick for those in the mood for romantic comedy. (B-)

When I looked at the poster for this film at the theater in Brandon, Florida (I believe the only theater in Florida to show "The Real Blonde") one would assume that the only blonde in the film was Elizabeth Berkley. Elizabeth is the only person displayed on the poster (four times as a matter of fact). Actually there are three blondes (Elizabeth, Daryl Hannah, and Bridgette Wilson) but only one is a real blonde(I won't say who). But the issue of blondeness is important to only one man (Maxwell Caulfield)and strangely considering the title not of any real importance to the story. The story instead revolves around a man (Matthew Modine) and his live in girlfriend (Catherine Keener) who are having problems with their relationship and their individual lives. The film centers around the resolution of their problems making various side trips on the way. Some of these side trips are entertaining and help the basic story. Other do not. Yet the film moves at a nice pace and while sometimes a little confusing is never boring. All persons involved with this film perform very nicely. Bridgette Wilson plays the dumb but loving blonde very well. Darryl Hannah for the first time I know of plays a rather bitchy character but does so with style. Elizabeth in a role smaller that her billing would suggest never-the-less brings life to her character of a young woman who seems to be always left behind. I found this film worth driving 40 miles to the theater.

I heard for the first time about THE REAL BLONDE in May 2020 and when I looked at the cast I told myself that I knew I had to see it. Last March (after nearly two years) I finally saw it and while I didn't loved it, I still liked it for what it was.

Joe (Matthew Modine) is an aspiring actor that works as a waiter in a restaurant. His girlfriend Mary works as a cosmetician and supports him in money. Joe wants more to express himself than work a job with a salary, and is frustrated for not having accepted roles that were up to his standards. In the meanwhile his colleague Bob lands a role in a soap opera and has a fetish for blonde, leading to date a model and then dump her when he discovers her hair is dyed. Joe swallows his pride and meets agent Dee Dee Taylor (Kathleen Turner) that arranges for him to be an extra for the new Madonna music video while Mary goes to a self-defense and anger management class with an instructor (Denis Leary) that encourages her to express her anger. Bob has success with his soap opera and starts a relationship with real blonde Kelly (Daryl Hannah). During the Madonna video the director (Steve Buscemi) treats the extras like contest dogs and Madonna has been replaced by Tina (Elizabeth Berkley), and for an anti-semitic statement Joe is fired.

Dee Dee takes pity for Joe and arranges for him to play the part of a sexy serial killer in a play with Tina as her co-star, and he succedds and goes in bed with Mary after months. In the meanwhile Bob is negotiating a longtime contract for the soap while Kelly taunts him constantly, and Bob hopes to have Kelly's character killed in the show.

While the plot is a bit convoluted and the language a bit too adult in spots, it's still funny and managed to make me crack some smiles here and then. Matthew Modine gives a decent leading man performance and he actually surprised me, Daryl Hannah comes off good along with being gorgeous as the sultry soap opera star, while Maxwell Caulfield was a bit buffoonish with his fetish and needed a break. The supporting cast (Kathleen Turner as a pretentious but still warm-hearted agent, Christopher Lloyd as the head waiter and Joe's boss, Steve Buscemi as a loud video director, Elizabeth Berkley as a sexy Madonna double and part time actress, Denis Leary as the defense instructor) is a hoot and gives their best with the material given. The soundtrack was catchy, with not only Madonna's HANKY PANKY but also BE MY LOVER by La Bouche (a song I really love and now I can't associate it without thinking of this movie) and various other hits of the 1990s.

In substance, this movie is like a satire on the entertainment and fashion industry, and it does it in a nice and, I dare to say it, kid-friendly way. With a star studded cast, lots of great songs of the unforgettable 1990s and some funny moments, do you need more? Perfect for having some sort of voyage back in the 1990s even for folks who haven't lived them (like me that I am soon to be 24).

Tom DiCillo is a wonderful director who should be seen more often. As he has demonstrated with his previous films, he is a man that brings a great dimension to the subjects he selects for his movies. Mr. DiCillo's strength lies in the magnificent performances he gets from his casts by making them underplay their roles and the irony behind his plots.

"The Real Blonde" was Mr. DiCillo's third film and he shows a firm hand in moving all the characters in so many interesting ways as they go about their lives in this complex city of New York. The film deals with the way young people are trying to cope with careers and relationships in this complicated city.

At the center of the action we find Joe, a good guy who works as a waiter in order to pursue his ambition of becoming an actor. Joe seems to be a bit confused about what he wants to do and doesn't have his feet planted on the ground. He doesn't have anyone pushing for him, no experience to speak of, yet he perceives himself into doing roles such as Biff in "The Death of a Salesman". Talk about reality!

Joe is living with a down to earth woman, Mary, who is a makeup artist and knows her way around the city and the people she has to deal with. Bob, who is Joe's best friend, and fellow waiter, lands himself in a soap opera that nets him a lot of money. Joe, the idealist, believes Bob is selling out, going too commercial.

Mr. DiCillo brings together the different worlds in which these characters are living into perspective with great style in a fun movie that is a lot of fun, at the same time.

Catherine Keener, who has worked with Mr. Dicillo in several films, comes out the best in her role of Mary. Ms. Keener is one of the best actresses working in films today and has a natural charm that graces everything she does. Matthew Modine gives a good performance as Joe. Daryl Hannah, Maxwell Caulfield, Elizabeth Berkley, Marlo Thomas, Bridgette Wilson, Buck Henry, Christopher Lloyd, Katheleen Turner and Denis Leary, are seen in supporting roles.

A charming film by one of America's best kept secret director: Tom DiCillo!

Joe is an out of work actor who is also struggling with his relationship with Mary who has lots of rage inside. Joe's actor friend Bob has just got a job on a soap opera but is caught up in his desire for a `real' blonde despite having fallen for the available model Sahara. The films follows their lives in the world of minor celebrity.

Despite having done good with the subject of film making in `Living in Oblivion', the director doesn't do as well when it comes to the world of the minor celebrity. The plot is a little jumbled – it wants to make fun of the world but also seriously follow the people it makes fun of in their relationships. Also it makes fun of Bob's acting but yet has plenty of respect for Joe simply because he keeps quoting `Death of a Salesman'. The satirical edge is nice and produces some funny moments but the relationship stuff is muddled.

There are plenty of famous cameos and most are good. Lloyd, Turner, Leary, Buscemi, Chappelle, Von Bargen etc all show their faces. In the leads Modine is OK but because the director doesn't know if he's part of the joke or a serious character then we don't know how to approach him either. Keener tries hard and is OK but Caulfield is the best of the bunch simply because we know he's meant to be a bit of a comedy figure.

The film manages to loose it's laughs in a sea of serious asides. The worst being the theme of the old black woman and her dog getting stolen. We keep going back to her and she has the last theme in the film – why? If there was a message I must be too dumb to get it and it certainly didn't really fit in with the rest of the movie.

Overall this has enough good moments to justify watching but it clearly lacks focus and loses it's way really easily.