La fille en rouge

Wilder's best loved comedy. It's nice to see him behind the camera also in this witty picture about a man enthralled by this model of beauty, played sumptuously by LeBrock, only to find that there's more to loving someone than just a great body. Wilder performs some of his finest screwball comedy and is given great support from Grodin, Ivey, Bologna and Gilda Radner. Stevie Wonder's song is also catchy and adds plenty of flavor to a fun romantic-comedy.

I first seen this movie years ago and really liked it, and now after checking it out again, it still has that magic. It also includes a fine cast of stars. Gene Wilder is pretty funny in this. There are plenty of gags too. But, unlike most comedy films, there is a decent and enjoyable storyline included as well. So I'd say there's something for everyone in this movie. It's romantic, funny, engaging and damn right crazy at times! Check it out! 8/10

I literally laughed till i cried at this super piece of work. I am a big fan of Gene Wilder, he seems to have a natural ability to make me laugh, so i knew i was in for a good laugh here. I must have seen The Woman in Red about 12 times now over the years and it just keeps getting better. What a shame Gene Wilder doesn't make movies any more, i feel there is no good talent around for comedy these days. It seems to be just young guys who are good looking so people would like them whatever they do. Gene Wilder on the other hand is a comedy legend, not just an actor but a director and writer, he is a man of many talents and i really miss him. Also worth noting about The Woman in Red is the soundtrack by Stevie Wonder, it's so 80's and it just brings me back to those days again. Gene Wilder plays a man seeking adventure in his life and becomes obsessed with the woman in red played by Kelly LeBrock. That's your basic storyline, simple and straight to the point so the laughs begin immediately as Teddy (Wilder) pursues Charlotte (LeBrock) and gets into all kinds of trouble as he chases after the woman in red. Hilarious.

Teddy Pierce (Gene Wilder) works in a San Francisco ad agency and finds himself on a ledge wondering what went wrong. Four weeks previous, he sees the woman in red Charlotte (Kelly LeBrock) doing the Seven Year Itch dance in the parking lot. He tries to make a date with her despite being happily married to Didi (Judith Ivey) with kids. Miscommunication leads to Ms. Milner (Gilda Radner) getting the call who assumes that she's going on the date. His womanizing friend Joey (Joseph Bologna) loses his wife who takes everything. He continues with plans for the affair anyways while the guys Buddy (Charles Grodin) and Mikey take Joey for a night out. He has second thoughts and stands up Ms. Milner while Charlotte doesn't even know who he is.

There is no redeeming Teddy's antics but Gene Wilder gets a few good laughs in. I love Gilda Radner in this when she takes it out on Gene. The movie works best when Teddy gets put down. It doesn't work as much knowing he's lying to his wife. This movie should have more misadventures and hitting Teddy's nuts.

The movie begins with Teddy apparently about to jump off a ledge nine stories up. Why? He starts to tell us how it all began, and we go back to that day with the scene straight out of 'Seven Year Itch', only Charlotte has dark hair and is dressed in red. And it turns out she is a model for the San Francisco cable car ad campaign, which Teddy is involved with. Despite that, Teddy has a lot of trouble meeting this woman, and his attempts meet with humorous results. For example, on more than one occasion he thinks he is talking to her but it turns out to be Ms. Milner, and this is good for a number a laughs.

Teddy, however, shouldn't be thinking about another woman. He is married to Didi and they have two daughters. If Teddy needed any incentive to behave himself, he should keep in mind what happened to Joey when he cheated on Teresa (Joey and Teresa's young son is staying with Teddy and Didi). And apparently he is not destined to have a relationship with Charlotte, because his attempts are just one disaster after another.

Gene Wilder is good as always, especially with physical comedy and when he has to talk his way out of jams. Kelly LeBrock is pleasant and sweet, with a slightly naughty side (I saw an edited version, so I surely didn't see all there was of her). Gilda Radner is nasty in a way that didn't appeal to me, but others might like it. I liked most of the songs by Dionne Warwick and Stevie Wonder, some of which they did together--though one gets played entirely too much on the radio all these years later and I got tired of it long ago. There is some physical comedy, but plenty of funny situations too. But the movie is not all funny. Some of it is touching, and some parts are depressing.

Some highlights, in addition to Joey's nasty surprise and Ms. Milner's bizarre behavior:

-We hear one side of what may be a very naughty phone conversation at Teddy's workplace.

-A hilarious scene in a nice restaurant where one of Teddy's friends pretends to be blind and causes chaos.

-Shelly, whose hairstyle sort of looks Native American (while black on the sides, it's red and blonde in the middle) even though his parents are Jewish, has come to take Teddy's daughter Missy to a David Bowie concert.

-Didi explains what happened to Joey and Teresa but doesn't say everything.

-Teddy and Didi are getting ready for a big night, but that gets interrupted.

-Teddy's grandmother Mama Dell is celebrating her 85th birthday. I can't say more, but from the time Teddy arrives at her apartment until the end of the movie, everything is great and most of it is very funny. I can say, since this is how the movie began, that Teddy does end up out on a ledge.

This was a pleasant, slightly naughty farce that was really worth seeing.