I Could Never Be Your Woman: A Rom-Com with a Twist
Rosie (Michelle Pfeiffer), a television producer churning out sitcoms, juggles single motherhood to her punk-rock daughter while sidelining her own romantic prospects. Enter Adam (Paul Rudd), a young, talented, and charming actor who auditions for her show. Rosie is instantly smitten, despite her conviction that the 15-year age gap is an insurmountable obstacle to any potential relationship.
Her anxieties (“He’s bound to leave me for someone younger!”) are compounded by the antics of a jealous secretary and her daughter’s first, unrequited crush.
However, the true star of this film isn’t the ever-glamorous Pfeiffer. It’s Tracey Ullman, adorned in a tunic and questionable floral accessories, who steals the show. She embodies Mother Nature, constantly appearing to the protagonist, delivering cynical remarks, swearing, and railing against aging “baby boomers” who resist growing old, embrace plastic surgery, and defy her natural order.
A Satirical Edge Lost in Romance
Embedding such satirical commentary into a typical romantic comedy is a bold move. However, director Amy Heckerling buries the themes of battling fate under so much romantic fluff that the underlying irony becomes diluted.