My One and Only

It's 1953. Ann Deveraux (Renée Zellweger) lives with her womanizing band leader husband Danny (Kevin Bacon) and her two sons George (Logan Lerman) and Robbie (Mark Rendall) in NYC. After catching him with the latest indiscretion, Ann walks out on him. She's a flaky clueless mother and goes on a cross country road trip looking for a new man.

This shows that Renée Zellweger is actually a real actresses. She's given a couple of great lines and a fascinating character. She does a pretty good job. Logan Lerman is a good young actor. He plays George Hamilton's character in the semi-biopic. It feels a little light weight and meandering. Maybe I just don't know much about George Hamilton or a fan of his work. He's always been just a caricature of the Hollywood guy with too dark of a tan. So I'm not naturally interested in his life.

Wjile maybe not the best film of the year it certainly is better than most of the trash that's been released thus far. No car chases, explosions, killings, drugs or sex nor foul language. No wonder it was a flop at the box office. Tis a pity as this is an exceptionally dramady. Good performances from the entire cast, down to the tiniest bits. Rene Zellweger was at the top of her game here. The boys playing her sons were sensational with the character of Robbie having the best one-liners and delivering them with zest. Very authentic look of the film which makes it even better. An extra scene here and there would have helped with what was going on part of the time. A couple of scenes seem to jump as if there was something missing. The only unreal thing is the taxi driving up to the sound stage at the end. That couldn't happen in real life. It's a shame this didn't have a broader release as no one saw it. Hope the DVD release is seen by many.

Maybe his mother telling George Hamilton that stuck with him. It explains a lot.

This film is beautifully photographed with beautiful people, beautiful sets and beautiful period clothes.

Though the performances are good, something is lacking in this film. The characters are likeable but it moves a bit too slow and lacks drama.

It is definitely worth a watch but don't expect a masterpiece. It is just a simple little film that lacks a bit in plot and character development.

I looked up George Hamilton. Though the basics are there, most of the story is embellished for entertainment.t. It definitely leaves you wanting more from it.

Although many of the male characters depicted in this film are exaggerated and portrayed unsympathetically, I believe it was a cinematic device to move the story along more quickly. It wasn't necessary to further develop the character of the men who sought to marry the down-on-her-luck Zelleweger--it wasn't their stories being portrayed, but that of the story of Zelleweger's determination to provide for her sons. If the men were stereotypical and one dimensional, it was done to make a point. I found a lot of sly humor underlying some of their personalities. Having been raised in the 50's, I know it was a sad reality of that time that most women had fewer choices when it came to relationships. It was a man's world and women very often had to rely on their good looks and being connected to the right man to provide for their needs. If Zelleger's character seemed devious and contriving in trying to find a husband, it was because of those hard realities. Maybe one needs to be a woman who has experienced a similar life to appreciate this. I enjoyed the movie and although it wasn't laugh out loud funny, it was entertaining and worth seeing.

Loncraine's 'My One and Only' is an adaptation of soap actor George Hamilton's mother, Anne. After catching her husband in the act of infidelity, Anne Deveraux takes off with her two teen sons and embarks on an adventurous road-trip hoping to find a man who would take care of them. While Anne's attempts fail, she remains high-spirited and hopeful through her struggles until she learns a most valuable lesson, that the best person to take care of you is you.

Writer Charlie Peters has wonderfully encrusted this period piece with plenty of humour that keeps the viewer amused all the way. The balance between humour and drama is well maintained as the story flows smoothly. While the cross country landscape is stunning to look at, Loncraine brilliantly captures the atmosphere of the 50s through the sets, setups, costumes, languages and music.

Renee Zellweger yet again proves what a tremendously gifted actress she is. She delivers another spirited performance as Anne Deveraux, a lady in the truest sense, and beautifully carries the role. Logan Lerman is wooden for the most parts. Kevin Bacon looks burned out and exhausted but that works for the character. Many familiar actors like Nick Stahl, Steven Webber and David Koechner, make appearances and leave a strong impression.

Unfortunately, 'My One and Only' hasn't gained the recognition it deserved and thus it remains an under-appreciated gem. I couldn't recommend it enough and one can enjoy it with the entire family.