Appuntamento col ponte

I saw this in the movies. I think it was the one and only time in my entire life I've fallen asleep in public. But that might have been my date. Either way, this movie was terrible. Now, I've seen it again. It wasn't just age or what was going on with my life - or who I was with. This is a terrible movie. The two lead characters who are supposed to be best friends are mean to each other and do not communicate clearly. Joe, the lead "male" and writer of the movie, dresses like a girl - complete with headband and dresses and leggings. In fact, he dresses like a little girl in the 1980's. The lead woman, played by SJP, who I can never hate, is just not likable. Nor does she make sense. One second she likes Ben Stiller's pointless character, the next she's rolling her eyes at him like the rest of us. The base story is interesting and one of my favorites, I won't spoil what that is, but suffice it to say there was plenty of potential. This movie doesn't carry it off. The editing is bad - but perhaps that's mostly the fault of a shallow script and unlikeable characters. The actors can't be faulted. They do their best with virtually no material.

I rented this movie some time ago, thinking it would be great, especially with Sarah Jessica Parker and Ben Stiller. However, I found the movie very disappointing . It did not keep my attention and I kept waiting for it to "get good". It never did. I ended up falling asleep. Unlike other movies I have fallen asleep on, I did not feel the need to try to watch it again, especially when spending money to rent it. In fact, I could not wait to get the tape back video store. However, whenever I have trouble sleeping, I do consider purchasing a copy of this movie to help me fall asleep.

After reading other comments, I see that some people liked this movie and thought it was clever and smart, so it must have some enjoyable and entertaining value from a view point I am either lacking or just have not applied. However, it is definitely no Something About Mary, or You Got Mail which are wonderful romantic comedies, yet very different from each other.

I saw this movie in the theater - TWICE - when it first came out. I became smitten with Eric Schaeffer and thought If Lucy Fell was hilarious. Now that I caught it on USA (or TNT, whatever) recently, I'm able to see how flawed this romantic comedy really is and wondering why I was so taken in by it before.

First of all, I found the titular character to be pretty unlikeable. She's quick to point out everyone's shortcomings in a cold, clinical sort of way yet can't even look her father in the face when she talks about things that are important to her. She knocks her roommate for being afraid to talk to Jane when *she can't even talk to her own father*! She carries on this passion-less relationship with Dick, not even thinking that it might hurt him less to just cut it off.

I liked Joe, esp. his diatribes (still love that job in Central Park scene) but he too was hard to relate to. He hasn't had sex in five years because he's obsessed with Jane, the woman next door? OK, so I know this is Hollywood and things are exaggerated for comic effect, but what are we supposed to think of "Bwick?" The guy doesn't speak in complete sentences at first and seems near illiterate (or, I guess he's so enmeshed on the artistic plane that he can't be bothered with the concrete). I could have cried for Ben Stiller when again I saw the scene of him "painting" (i.e. yelling and hurling paint-coated body parts at canvas) - totally ridiculous. I know, that was the point... hook Lucy up with a nutter so that she'll realize what's under her nose.

When I first saw this movie, I think I was 28, and the idea of 30 still loomed ahead. Now, at 33, the idea of two single people taking their lives because they haven't found reasonable relationship material is not only beyond crazy, but it's insulting. (Well geez, maybe these guys would have found love if one hadn't wasted years obsessing over an unattainable woman and the other had extricated herself from a dead-end relationship!) It feeds into this ridiculous notion everyone under 30's got that somehow, single life goes downhill after one hits 30. (I can tell you it only gets better!) Still, "every pot finds its cover," and these two half-wits "find" each other by the end of the movie, so all's well that ends well.

I first saw this movie as a teenager and loved it just as much as *When Harry Met Sally*. However, rewatching it as an adult, my feelings have changed significantly. While the movie was good for its time, I now see that Sarah Jessica Parker and Eric Schaeffer have no chemistry together. Eric Schaeffer, though talented, doesn't quite fit the role he plays.

I also feel his character could have had a more compelling storyline with Elle Macpherson's character. Despite their minimal chemistry, it still surpassed that of his with Sarah Jessica Parker. Perhaps the issue lies in the "platonic best friends fall in love" cliché, which wasn't as overdone when the movie was first released. A different narrative focus might have resulted in a more engaging love story.

Additionally, while *When Harry Met Sally* remains timeless despite its use of clichés, this movie hasn't aged as well. The supporting cast, while enjoyable, doesn't quite make up for the central lack of chemistry.

"If Lucy Fell" tells of a man and woman who have known each other since childhood, live together platonically, and are both single and looking for love unsuccessfully. Hmmm...what do you suppose is going to happen??

Schaeffer's shot at telling this old no-brainer in "If Lucy Fell" doesn't distinguish itself in any way and though it has it's moments they are few and far between. The film has many deficits with the most obvious being the lack of sincere sentiment and the usual gushing emotional crescendo at the end. What sentiment there is seems forced and awkward. A so-so little indie romcom which is watchable but not recommendable. (C)