Cowboys and Angels

I've seen this film several times and it has never failed to move me or hold my interest right to the end. The film starts out with Danny, a lovely guy that has just been ditched by his future wife. In coming to terms with this he meets Jo Jo, a mysterious and attractive woman that takes over his life. Danny is so overwhelmed by her that he follows her on her favourite pastime of attending weddings all over town, uninvited and somehow unnoticed. There is a surreal feel to many of the scenes with the aid of an enigmatic soundtrack. Particularly memorable is a scene where Jo Jo goes to the aid of a bridegroom having doubts and whispers to him some magical words that lift his state of confusion. There's clearly something out of the ordinary about Jo Jo and yet Danny seems too besotted with her to probe into her background. But one day Jo Jo disappears leaving Danny in a bigger muddle than ever. After being knocked-out by some louts outside a bar he is woken by Candice, and on the story goes. The film works thanks to the natural feel to the acting and the clever handling by the director of the paranormal subject matter, i.e. angels. A wonderful idealistic romance that resolves well, but tinged throughout with sadness.

Any modern contemporary-set movie featuring a hero in a cowboy hat and a raft of C&W ballads is usually in trouble from the opening credits, and this flick doesn't do much to buck the trend. From the opening scene ( a woman in white strolling through a field of flowers in brilliant sunshine, joined by a cowboy on a white horse...) we are firmly in romantic territory, albeit tinctured with a hint of fantasy.

Haynes' direction is irritating at times. Although he already had three movies under his belt before this effort, with his jarring switch of styles (jump-cutting, hand-held, slo-mo, etc) he gives the impression of an eager young director fresh out of film school, which sits uncomfortably with the sophisticated air he seems, at times, to be striving for. However, there are some good touches in this movie (for some reason, the fat guy biting into an apple in the supermarket then replacing it on the display struck a chord), and some gentle, endearing humour. Nevertheless, watching this movie is a bit like watching a naive sixteen-year-old girl trying to fool you she's really twenty-eight.

What a nice surprise to see Mia Kirshner in a movie where she doesn't take off her clothes or kiss other girls or look anorexic... I think Mia is an amazing actress, and I was surprised by this movie. It's one of those that you see in the video store and say, "I've never heard of that - wonder if it would be worth my time." It's certainly not the best movie I've ever seen, but it was refreshing to watch a love story where the characters didn't have to have sex on their first date to know they were compatible. I liked the story. The angel bit was a little strange, but who hasn't wondered if there are angels among us? This was my introduction to Adam Trese, and I found his character likable and believable. I was annoyed with Radha Mitchell. She kept getting in the way. I suppose she was included so that the movie would be called more than just "Cowboys." Because that might be lame. Anyway, a refreshing change from what Hollywood believes love is all about. Three cheers for Greg Haynes for tackling this project.

This isn't an awful film, it's just very, very weak. It deserves its obscurity.

Radha Mitchell's character, JoJo, is a total Manic Pixie Dream Girl. She loves to crash weddings and attends one every week! How whimsical and charming! Like most Manic Pixies, JoJo sweeps forcefully into the hero's life and teaches him about life... and himself. There's not a single thing about JoJo or her relationship with Adam Trese that rings true. And most of the first act is given over to this unconvincing character and relationship. (A later revelation about JoJo that explains some of her oddness seems awfully forced.)

When the focus shifts to Trese and Kirshner, things pick up a little, but only a little. To give you an idea of the level of plotting here, Trese and Kirshner meet when a group of threatening guys get pushy with Kirshner and a friend, and Trese steps in and gets beaten up protecting them. It's ridiculously contrived.

And while JoJo is the least believable character, none of the characters seem authentic. Trese is apparently a lawyer who dreams of being a cowboy, but all this seems to mean is that he wears suits at work and cowboy hats in his spare time. Kirshner is cute, but who is she? Who are any of these people? Good romance is about unique relationships between distinctive, believable characters, not 2-dimensional "cowboys" and "angels."

On the plus side, Radha Mitchell and Mia Kirshner both look beautiful. They're not overly glamorized, just healthy and glowing and gorgeous. And the relationship between Trese and Kirshner develops sweetly, if you make it that far. The country music on the soundtrack is pleasant enough, but there's a repeated music cue that rips off the Enigma sound and seems really, really out of place.

I guess if you want a wholesome romance with a focus on weddings rather than cussin' and sexin', maybe this will work for you, but if you like good movies, look somewhere else.

I rented this movie ready to be disappointed as what many other typical Hollywood movies have done. But I was nicely surprised. It is, actually a sweet and heart-warming romantic comedy.

Yes, I know it is a bit unrealistic and cliché but life is already so dark and heavy, why not open our little hearts to embrace a little fantasy and a touch of Heaven? I know in reality I may never find the one. Nevertheless, it's nice to see that others do - even on a screen.

In an age in which violence and horror movies rampant, a film of such touches my heart in its subtle yet powerful ways.

A plea to my own angel, please come unlock my jaded heart.