Intolerable Cruelty Review
by Shannon Patrick Sullivan (shannon AT morgan DOT ucs DOT mun DOT ca)October 27th, 2003
INTOLERABLE CRUELTY (2003) / *** 1/2
Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen. Screenplay by Robert Ramsey, Matthew Stone, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, based on a story by Ramsey, Stone and John Romano. Starring George Clooney, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Edward Herrman. Running time: 100 minutes. Rated PG for mild language and mature theme by the MFCB. Reviewed on October 26th, 2003.
By SHANNON PATRICK SULLIVAN
Synopsis: Miles Massey (Clooney) is a top divorce attorney who falls for conniving beauty Marylin Rexroth (Zeta-Jones) when he helps her wealthy husband Rex (Herrman) dissolve their marriage without losing a penny. Miles is certain that Marylin only wedded Rex for his fortune, and is therefore astonished when she turns up with another rich fiance (Billy Bob Thornton), seeking Miles' help to sign a prenuptial agreement to protect his fortune. Has Marylin really had a change of heart?
Review: The Cary Grant/Katharine Hepburn classic "Bringing Up Baby" is one of my favourite movies, so it's pretty obvious that I've got a soft spot for the screwball comedy. Unfortunately, it's a genre that's particularly difficult to get right -- if the filmmakers try a little too hard, or not quite hard enough, they'll invariably end up with something that's either too stupid or too bland. "Intolerable Cruelty" is not quite on the same level as "Baby", but it makes a very game effort. The Coen brothers certainly assemble all the right elements. Clooney and Zeta-Jones might not be Grant and Hepburn, but their charisma and comic timing are still commendable, and they're ably supported by an entertaining and memorable cast. The dialogue is cranked into high gear with the stars, in particular, engaging in some tremendously amusing repartee. And there are all the madcap antics, misunderstandings and bluffs we'd expect from a screwball comedy; for a time it appears as though the Coens have tilted the balance a little too much into silliness, until the sequence in question is capped by one of the funniest death scenes I've ever witnessed. True, a few elements don't work, like Massey's creepy, corpse-like boss. But I have a feeling that "Intolerable Cruelty" is a movie which will only be appreciated more with each subsequent viewing.
Copyright © 2003 Shannon Patrick Sullivan.
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