Life Or Something Like It Review
by Laura Clifford (laura AT reelingreviews DOT com)April 25th, 2002
LIFE OR SOMETHING LIKE IT
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Lanie Kerigan (Angelina Jolie) has everything going her way - her boss at KQMO has submitted her as a candidate for a network morning show and she's engaged to pro ball player Cal Cooper (Christian Kane, "The Broken Hearts Club"). The fly in her ointment is Pete (Edward Burns, "Sidewalks of New York"), the cameraman she's assigned to work with at her Seattle affiliate. He introduces her to spot subject Prophet Jack (Tony Shalhoub, "The Man Who Wasn't There") who predicts that the Seahawks will win, it will hail in the morning and Lanie will die next Thursday. Suddenly, Laine's seriously assessing her "Life or Something Like It."
Director Stephen Herek ("Rock Star") captures the first natural performance from Jolie, who's finally not playing a weird, rebellious tough chick. The unusual pairing with Edward Burns, always a reliable romantic lead, clicks in this melding of "The Family Man" with "Serendipity."
It's unclear why Lanie dislikes Pete so much. Maybe it's the way he can pinpoint her motivations so well, saying that everything she does is calculated
to foster an image. Maybe it's the way he brags that he's the only cameraman who can get her platinum cotton candy hair to look naturally blonde. Lanie shows a chink in her armor, though, when colleague and best friend Andrea (Melissa Errico, "Frequency") admits to having slept with Pete and liking it.
When the homeless street prophet proclaims her fate, Lanie first tries to prove him wrong. Failing that she begins to let her hair down in some serious ways, culminating in a hilarious drunken broadcast which results in two diametrically opposed lifestyle changes.
The screenplay by John Scott Shepherd (story and screenplay, "Joe Somebody") and Dana Stevens ("For Love of the Game") takes aspects of "It's a Wonderful Life" and blends them with every romantic comedy that rips its heroine from the arms of the wrong guy. Their attempt to flesh out Lanie's driven motivation by giving her an emotionally closed dad (a wooden James Gammon, "The Cell") and a grasping, competitive sister (Lisa Thornhill, "The Family Man") is weak and they play too fast and loose with their plot logic.
It's the lead actors who make this piece work. Jolie is appealing and believable as a hurt little girl masquerading as a shallow career gal. Playing Lanie Kerigan was a smart choice on Jolie's part, softening her own image. Burns is a natural as the caustic but supportive sensitive male who also happens to be a bit of a ladies' man. Gregory Itzin ("Evolution") gets some chuckles as Dennis, sound guy to the bickering couple. In a tiny role, Stockard Channing makes a strong impression as Deborah Connors, a Barbara Walters type journalist. Shalhoub doesn't appear to be particularly inspired with his role as the pivotal prophet. Kane provides the pretty face of Laine's equally shallow fiance while Errico is a fresh face as Laine's supportive and honestly noncompetitive friend.
Cinematography by Stephen H. Burum ("Snake Eyes") is crisp and bright and indulges in its bicoastal locations of Seattle and New York. Time lapse photography is well used to remind the viewer about the passing of Lanie's precious hours. In shaping the film, however, director Herek and his editor Trudy Ship appear to have left lots of Burum's lensings on the cutting room floor as some transitions are awkward. The score by David Newman ("Death to Smoochy") fits the bill.
"Life or Something Like It" is more like it for Jolie. Angelina is appealing doing the girly girl thing.
B-
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