Made-Up

Greetings again from the darkness. OK, I realize I am not the target market - being a middle aged white guy and all. But please tell me that women aren't so dense as to be confused at why they are not in a relationship when they make no attempt to be charming or likeable! Have been a fan of Brooke Adams since "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". In this movie, however, I am not sure who is less appealing, her or the aunt (played well by Lynne Adams). The shining star of the film is the very striking Eva Amurri playing Brooke's daughter. With wise choices, she can go places in the film world. The most intriguing role in the movie is played by the director, Tony Shaloub. Never can decide which he wants more, the thrill of acting or a relationship with a nice woman. Pretty interesting topic, not always handled the best. Shaloub shows a nice feel for camera angles and lighting. A little more warmth and charm and this could have been a real sleeper of a film.

I fail to see why this movie seems to be regarded as fresh and groundbreaking. The central concept is that the aging process and its impact on women's physical appearance, as well as society's expectations of how women should look as they age, can affect a woman's self-image, and even her self-worth.

Gee, there's a big revelation. Except, not. It seems to me that this idea has been done to death by everyone from filmmakers to sitcom writers to pop psychologists to Oprah.

For a film that alleges to be only 96 minutes long, it is unspeakably slow-paced and boring. I can't think of a movie that made me check my watch more frequently. The main characters, played by Brooke Adams & Lynne Adams, are both prone to long-winded, whiny speeches that seem self-indulgent and pointless, and make the characters nearly thoroughly unlikeable. Like a big, drawn-out, very-special-episode of "Thirtysomething." And oh, yeah, boring.

Also, I cannot imagine why this film is classified as a comedy. I didn't laugh once during the whole movie, and anyone who did needs to get out more. Sometimes, I could spot the strained dialogue or physical hijinks that were probably supposed to be funny, but just made me cringe. The rest of the time, I couldn't even guess where the "comedy" was supposed to be.

The only thing that makes this film unique (besides taking the audience to new heights of boredom--did I mention that it's boring?) is the "mockumentary" conceit, which is annoying at best and confusing at worst. Really, the only good thing I can say about it is that Eva Amurri, who plays Brooke Adams' daughter, is delightful.

As a 34-year-old woman, I am not that far removed from the concerns about aging and appearance that are debated ad nauseam by the main characters in this film. Unfortunately, everything they have to tell us about this subject, women already know.

I was sure glad I didn't pay to see this movie, because it was beyond doubt one of the slowest, most unclever attempts at an indie romantic comedy I've seen in a long while. The conceit at making a "mockumentary of the making of a mockumentary" failed to disguise the over-rehearsed, overly-melodramatic scenes between mom and daughter (who, big surprise, don't understand each other), ex-wife and Other Woman (oho, they have issues!) and former actress and schlub (naturally, they'll take to each other with time). The whole point of a mockumentary is to show things in a surprising way, and there were no surprises here, down to the final message that we already learned in "Freaky Friday" and "Pieces of April" (ie, "the kids are alright and we moms ain't bad either"). Aside from Shaloub, the actors fail to convince that they are something beyond ticketholders on the vanity-project train... Brooke Adams is particularly unlikeable as both a character and an actress in this film. What really got me, though, was the transposition of Hollywood youth-worship on Middle America; outside of Tinseltown, some women really do turn 50 looking 50, and they can accept it with the maturity their age has granted them. This movie lets us down because, like "Grease," it perpetuates the notion that all of a woman's relationship problems can be solved if she just fixes her makeup and puts on a push-up bra. The only redeeming quality in this film was Michael Wolfe's jazz piano, which unfortunately probably totals 90 seconds of the movie.

I FINALLY got to see this movie after waiting 3 years. Brooke Adams is my favorite actress, and it was great fun seeing her in this movie. With all the excitement I had built up around finally getting the DVD, I was a little worried that I wouldn't like the movie. How wrong I was. It may be geared more for women, but it was definitely entertaining and very well-acted and written. Brooke, her sister Lynne, and Brooke's husband Tony Shalhoub were all vital parts of this movie both on and off screen. Eva Amurri, as Brooke's daughter, was also very funny and dynamic in her performance. A great movie that I hope will have much success on DVD.

-Jacob

The Los Angeles opening of `Made Up' on February 6th garnered a screening with director, star and writer in attendance for a Q & A. The Arclight does this kind of thing well. There was even rumor of a little party after. That made things irresistible, being that it was Tony Shalhoub, Brooke Adams and Lynne Adams who work out to be director-actor-husband, actress-producer-wife, writer-actress-sister-producer. Almost more hyphens than even we can stand. And this is Hollywood.

A festival darling (Santa Barbara, South by Southwest to name a few) is finally in theaters on an independent and limited run. Great reviews on both coasts, in both Times, are furthering the buzz.

Clever and cute, in the vein of `Best of Show,' this mock-umentary is a film about making a film. Turning the mirror on yourself to look inside and check your lipstick. How to age gracefully, get a make over from your rebel grrrrrl daughter, finish the project, get the deal, make the ex-husband jealous and spoil the trophy wife's homeless woman art exhibit, not drink and do cartwheels.

Playing roles that they live each day, Brooke Adams is the actress, Lynne Adams is a film maker and newcomer, kick-in-the-pants, Eva Amurri plays the actress' daughter. Little Eva made her film debut as a sick kid in the hospital in her step-dad's directorial debut, `Bob Roberts.' Let's hope this kid can keep her mojo working and Tony Shalhoub's first at-bat behind the camera will lead to more.

The post film forum revealed one of the director's greatest challenges was to light his leading lady with an un-flattering light. `I mean, just look at this,' meaning Brooke. It got a nice 'ahhhhhh' from the audience. This made up for the evening's intro by an Arclight staffer, who expressed admiration for Mr. Shalhoub's role on TV's `Wings.' `I grew up watching this man.' That got an 'oooohhh' out of the audience. (`What? That was '97?')

A way-cool website will give you step by step instructions on the Tivey Facelift Kit (as seen in the film). Your cost? Seventeen cents!