A Hilarious Hollywood Parody: America’s Sweethearts
Forget the svelte image! In Joe Roth’s comedy, aptly titled “America’s Sweethearts,” you’ll see America’s sweetheart, Julia Roberts, sporting a decidedly different look – think plump, double-chinned, and with a bit of a tummy. But this transformation is just one of the many delights this weekend must-see offers. After a series of comedic misfires like “Miss Congeniality,” Hollywood has finally struck gold.
A Sparkling Comedy in the Classic Style
What emerges is a delightful confection, a witty and sophisticated comedy reminiscent of the “drawing-room comedies” of the 1930s, the kind that made stars of Jean Harlow and Katharine Hepburn. It seemed that genre had vanished, but it turns out that Hollywood itself, in all its staged glory, is the perfect setting for such a comedy.
The plot revolves around a divorcing Hollywood power couple (Catherine Zeta-Jones and John Cusack). As it happens, their latest film is about to be released. To boost ticket sales, the studio needs to orchestrate a reconciliation. The problem? The wife has a “Latin lover” (Hank Azaria), and the husband has spent the last six months in a psychiatric facility. To make matters worse, the premiere is looming, but the eccentric genius director (Christopher Walken) hasn’t delivered the film. All of this lands squarely on the shoulders of the studio’s press agent (Billy Crystal), who enlists the help of the leading lady’s sister and personal assistant (Julia Roberts). The entire charade unfolds over a couple of days at a secluded luxury hotel.
Clever Writing and Unexpected Twists
While the premise isn’t groundbreaking, the film executes the genre flawlessly. Each scene is a well-paced, self-contained joke that seamlessly connects to the next. The dialogue is sharp, the plot is packed with action, and the ending is surprisingly satisfying. There’s no excess, and the film reaffirms the age-old truth about cinema: “The most important thing in a movie is the script. – And the second? – The script. – And the third? – The script” (Billy Crystal and Peter Tolan). The film is shot with a classic Hollywood glamour (on a $48 million budget). The film elevates the genre with modern cinematic techniques. There are pools, restaurants, long dresses, fights, squabbles, and revelations, but also “a movie within a movie,” television, and special effects.
A Star-Studded Cast and Crew
The idea for this stylized parody came from Billy Crystal, a popular comedian and long-time host of the Academy Awards. Director Joe Roth, the adopted son of producer Sam Z. Arkoff, is a seasoned producer himself, known for films like “The Three Musketeers” and “Exorcist 3.” The cast is equally impressive, with each actor playing against type. Cusack portrays a wimp, Zeta-Jones a shrew, and Roberts a downtrodden relative. Hank Azaria’s portrayal of the passionate Latin lover and Christopher Walken’s send-up of Abel Ferrara are particularly delightful.
The film’s success suggests that Hollywood creatives are united in their desire to satirize the industry that feeds them. It seems they’re so fed up with the “dream factory” that they jump at any opportunity to poke fun at it. The result is a film that’s energetic, witty, and thoroughly entertaining.