La chance de ma vie

Compare the hollywoodian 'bigger than life' approach of "The Family Man" -- luxurious flat/sports car/supermodel girlfriend vs perfect family, nice house, lovely wife -- with down-to-earth approach of "Me Myself I" -- single professional woman living alone vs housewife in the suburbia. That's a script: about credible characters, a touching slice of life, real people. A pleasure to watch.

No denying the talents of Rachel Griffiths and her turn in this "dual" role shows that she is quite capable of carrying a film. Also, a great comic turn, with a flush of drama.

The film goes where we would all like to go, (It's a Wonderful Life style) the path not taken. Answers to the "what if's" that plague a person over time.

Terrific handling of the subject matter and great performances by the supporting cast.

Me, Myself, I combines two genres of romantic comedy: the "body swap" with the "what if?" story (you know, Dating the Enemy meets Sliding Doors). The film flounders a little in the first twenty minutes or so as it establishes Pamela (Rachel Griffiths), single and luckless in love. Pamela is a journalist, and has just met a fellow writer (Sandy Winton) who seems to be the perfect mate. Until she sees him with his kids... Pamela is wondering what her life would have been like if she'd married high school sweetheart Robert Dickson (David Roberts) when WHAM! she's hit by a car. She comes to in the arms of married Pamela (also Rachel Griffiths) who takes her home to her suburban house, three kids and married life with Robert.

This is writer-director Pip Karmel's first feature (she received an Oscar nomination for editing Shine). Karmel is obviously close to her material, but she's not overly protective of it - she wants us to enjoy her conception. She has the perfect star in Rachel Griffiths, who we're more used to seeing in supporting roles (most famously, Muriel's Wedding and Hilary and Jackie). She carried a film in Amy, but she played a glum, washed-out single mum. Here, she's a lot of fun. You want to know more about Pamela, and the subtle differences between the single and married Pamelas are simply, but impressively, conceived. She's well supported by David Roberts and Sandy Winton, as husband and potential boyfriend. Refreshingly for a romantic comedy, the men aren't thoroughly likeable or dislikeable. I found it easy to suspend my disbelief with Me, Myself, I. It's that rare beast: an Australian romantic comedy that's funny, and leaves you with a warm glow inside when it's over.

"Me, Myself and I" is for fans of "little romantic Australian movies" like "Hotel de Love" and "Muriel's Wedding" (which I am a sucker for) or "alternative universe/what if movies" like "Sliding Doors" and "Twice Upon Yesterday" or sort of "Next Stop Wonderland" (of which I am also a sucker for) or even "mid-life crisis movies" like "Metroland" (which I deeply went through when I turned 40 so can really relate to).

Except for a tacked-on romantic ending in the closing moments, this is a charming tour de force for Rachel Griffiths (Hilary of "Hilary and Jackie") as she plays both "what if's" in her life. I liked that each parts of herself learn from the switch.

I would think that both singles and confirmed marrieds would enjoy what each self goes through as they seemed realistic to me. Well to women at least (the women in the audience were rolling in the aisles at the scenes of the single woman suddenly having to cope with how a married woman deals with birth control).

(originally written 4/8/2000)

I have to admit, the only reason I watched this is because I'm a die-hard Christine Stephen-Daly fan. However, although she didn't feature in it as much as I would have liked, Rachel Griffiths provided a fairly compelling performance which kept me happy throughout the rest of the movie.

I was a little disappointed by all the characters EXCEPT Pamela though, and I'm afraid not even the girl who played Stacey can sway me on that. I felt that they were all very 2D.

I am glad I've seen the movie (if only to get a glimpse of Christine in such AWFUL tights) but I'm also glad I didn't have to pay any more than £4.99 for it.