Sandra Bullock continues to hit and miss on the romantic comedy scripts she chooses. Miss Congeniality was one of the worst rom-coms I've ever seen. The Proposal was one of the best. I'm going to rank All About Steve somewhere between those two.
Bullock, as Mary Horowitz, creates crossword puzzles for her local Sacramento newspaper. Her research has given her a seemingly endless knowledge about everything (except knowing when to shut up!) She's a non-stop motormouth, a trait that annoys a lot of people--including handsome TV news cameraman Steve, (Bradley Cooper) who gets set up with her on a blind date. They've just gotten situated inside his SUV, when Mary (who hasn't gotten much lately) decides to jump Steve's bones right then and there. As they're writhing around, unbuttoning and unfastening things, Steve figures he's hit the jackpot. (Ironically, Bullock exposes more of her boobs in this movie than she did in the much ballyhooed, so-called "naked" scene in The Proposal--go figure.) But it doesn't take long for Mary's nuttiness to make Steve consider himself lucky to be sent on assignment with reporter Hartman Hughes (Thomas Haden Church) as they cover a number of breaking news stories for their cable news network, CCN. (No, you're not dyslexic.)
Madly in lust with Steve, (and convinced that the feeling is mutual) Mary pursues him around the country in a manner that would fit the legal definition of stalking--though the script would have us ultimately believe she's just UNDER APPRECIATED and MISUNDERSTOOD, and not a totally clueless, can't-take-an-obvious-hint PSYCHO chick.
Thomas Haden Church has found his niche as a self-serving prima donna type who has his sights set on an anchor position with the network.
There are some good LOL moments--as when Mary participates in one of those "career days" with a group of feisty young kids who grill her about her job, living with her parents, etc.
I'm giving All About Steve a better grade than the majority of reviewers out there, because it doesn't go for the totally predictable, standard rom-com ending--and provides a philosophical message at the end.
After watching this film, one is left to ponder which will occur first: Sandra Bullock(age 45) will stop trying to pass herself off as an age match with her younger leading men, (Bradley Cooper is 34) or Madonna (in her fifties now) will quit gyrating about the stage in her underwear like someone who desperately needs to find a restroom in the next fifteen seconds.
By the way, be sure to sit through all the rolling of the credits at the end of All About Steve, because there's a little more movie left at that point. (I'll wager that I'm the only person in America who's actually seen this!)
GRADE : B -
I thought I'd hop over here to see what it was about, so hello again! I rarely ever see movies, even to bring home. But when I do see them, I love them! The escape aspect, the voyeurism aspect, the movie star aspect, the great story (or not). Sandra Bullock is one of my favorite actresses, but I agree that at 45 she needs to stop with the romantic comedies with younger men, or altogether! I'm one of the few people, apparently, who loves Hope Floats and who has seen it a million times as I own it, (and still tear up when the dad drives off and leaves the little girl crying). And The Lake House is one of my other favorites, though it is so totally unbelievable!
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned in your comment that people can have much in common but still see a certain movie differently...I recently rented some movies when my husband was out of town, that got HUGE reviews and awards, and thought they sucked! I'm having trouble even remembering their names! Hmmm. The Duchess. And that one with Merle Streep and ...oh, I remember, Doubt. Well, I did like Benjamen Button, but was surprised that it wasn't as good as all the buildup. Now, I'm going to run off and read some more of your reviews!
LINDA,
ReplyDeleteThe Lake House was good, and it shows Sandra Bullock can do a serious role--hopefully she'll gravitate toward more of those instead of playing airheads in romantic comedies.