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America's Sweethearts 2001 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Joe Roth
PG-13, 100 min. (profanity, crude and sexual humor) |
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Starring: Julia Roberts, Billy Crystal, Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Cusack, Hank Azaria, Stanley Tucci, Christopher Walken
Producers: Susan Arnold, Billy Crystal, Donna Roth
Screenplay: Billy Crystal, Peter Tolan
Cinematography: Phedon Papamichael
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Released: 7.20.01 (Wide) |
Rating:
  (out of ) |
America's Sweethearts seems to be poking fun at an issue that has been a Hollywood mainstay for years - that of the
movie star couple. Much like Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman or Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, this film's central figures are a
couple that must cope with their failing image as their relationship goes south. With comedy provided by Billy Crystal and
a smart script, this film moderately succeeds as a self-inflicted parody of the movie industry today.
Eddie Thomas (John Cusack) and Gwen Harrison (Catherine Zeta-Jones) must make an appearance together to help promote
their latest film, which is still being secretly finished by the editor (Christopher Walken). Their two publicists, Lee (Billy Crystal),
and Gwen's sister, Kiki (Julia Roberts), must successfully pull off the appearance that Eddie and Gwen are a couple again while
at the press junket for the upcoming film. Gwen has recently started an affair with Hector (Hank Azaria), and Eddie is distraught
and in mourning in a temple. Meanwhile, Kiki's infatuation with Eddie has threatened to throw a monkey wrench in the whole
works.
The film's strength is in its acting, which is no surprise considering the long list of talent on hand. Several supporting roles, led
by Stanley Tucci, as a movie producer, are top-notch efforts and help make the film believable. John Cusack has been
one of the better actors in Hollywood for a decade now, and of course Roberts is maybe the top box-office draw today.
Zeta-Jones is also very believable as the selfish movie star who must look her best at all times, and is pampered by her sister
Kiki, who is essentially at her beck and call. Crystal has moments of genius, much like a few of his landmark performances
in City Slickers or Analyze This.
Directed by Joe Roth and written by Billy Crystal (an impressive comeback for him after some disappointments), this film
has just the right amount of satire and comedy to keep the audience's attention, without going over the top. The film's final
scenes are borderline hilarious, and each character seems to get what's coming to them, so to speak. The fun of the movie
is watching just about every profession in Hollywood being poked fun of throughout the film, and I think many people were
wanting to see a film with the guts to do this. Well, America's Sweethearts does, and it doesn't flinch in its effort to cover all
the bases. It's an enjoyable two hours in the theater.
© 2001 Jonathan Cornwell
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 |
 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
| Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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