Smiling faces

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Before reading this item, please click on this mp3 file -- it'll set the proper mood. Done? Here we go: We all know what the words "directed by Nancy Meyers" mean -- glossy, carefully lighted comedies about smart-but- quirky career women who (a) usually have shiny copper pots hanging in their kitchens and (b) have been hurt in past relationships but are looking to make a new unlikely relationship work, even if they start out hating the guy.

If you look at the trailer for The Holiday (Columbia, 12.8), Meyers' latest romantic comedy, you may say to yourself (as I did), "Well, at least it has Jack Black in it." But it may be okay. I haven't yet seen it (and I most likely won't until the first week of December) but let's give it the benefit of the doubt. Naaah, can't do that. Because the damn poster won't stop irking me. Because it keep telling me "same old, same old" and "asleep at the wheel."

You've got two couples -- Cameron Diaz and Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Black -- making goo-goo eyes at each other. (Black's dippy grin makes him look toothless and deballed, on top of which he looks airbrushed within an inch of his life. We seem to be looking at a John Belushi-romances-Blair Bown Contintental Divide situation here.)

I'm just saying there's something deeply untrustworthy about any poster that says, "Trust these smiling faces." The Temptations didn't trust them and I don't either. What are they smiling about? Nothing, the poster says. It's just chemistry -- Cameron likes Jude and Kate likes Jack and vice versa, and you can count on them getting down in Act Two and putting another log on the fire and turning on the Sinatra and getting to know each other.

It's just too bad that the Columbia ad guys didn't try to convey something besides the same old Nancy Meyers stuff. It tells you it's not exactly the most angular or unusual film she's ever made. I mean, Columbia has actually made an effort to convey this to audiences. I can't be the only one having this reaction.

Jackson "wheee!"<< previous | next >>"Children" = Guernica

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 20, 2006 at 10:47 AM

comment #1

christian says ...

nancy myers is the new nora ephron.

i won't forgive myers for that wretched mel gibson ad guy movie where learns to be sensitive to women and proves it by designing an empowering nike ad for them. while little girls are beaten to make this empowered shoe.

and with this film, jack black succumbs to hollywood and ends a never-promising movie career. back to rock jack. quick.

Posted by christian at November 20, 2006 11:45 AM

comment #2

T. S. Idiot says ...

Poster says, "See this movie because it stars three attractive people and someone who looks just like you."

Posted by T. S. Idiot at November 20, 2006 11:47 AM

comment #3

Dixon Steele says ...

The Jude Law role was written for Hugh Grant, who passed because he didn't want to do yet another romantic comedy.

Guess Chris Rock was right on the Oscars. If you can't get Hugh Grant...

Posted by Dixon Steele at November 20, 2006 11:55 AM

comment #4

actionman says ...

have no use for this movie or movies in this genre but damn both Diaz and Winslet look SUPER HOT in this movie

Posted by actionman at November 20, 2006 11:58 AM

comment #5

christian says ...

if the film was THE SEX HOLIDAY i'd be there...

Posted by christian at November 20, 2006 12:00 PM

comment #6

Josh Massey says ...

The ad had the opposite effect on me: I wasn't truly put off UNTIL I saw Jack Black's face. I can't stand him when he's actually trying to act like a real person.

Posted by Josh Massey at November 20, 2006 12:01 PM

comment #7

Mr. Peel says ...

Isn't this the exact same poster as Something's Gotta Give, with the same font and everything? Guess they figured if it worked once...

Posted by Mr. Peel at November 20, 2006 12:03 PM

comment #8

Haiku Harry says ...

The wife will make me
see this one. Maybe Jack will
be interesting?

Posted by Haiku Harry at November 20, 2006 12:04 PM

comment #9

Dave Polands Gut says ...

Meyers. A huge yawner of a director. WHo runs out to see a movie by her?

And Jude Law hasnt been in something good since Road to Perdition.

Posted by Dave Polands Gut at November 20, 2006 12:12 PM

comment #10

actionman says ...

Closer was pretty damn fine by my estimation and he actually didn't play the typical Jude Law character in that one

Posted by actionman at November 20, 2006 12:17 PM

comment #11

The Movie Man says ...

Nancy Meyers is the master of taking potentially decent war of the sexes premises (asshole reading women's minds, Jack Nicholson falling for newest conquest's mom) and turning them into toothless, vanilla, super boring chick flicks. This one doesn't even have the premise. I'm sure there will be the inevitable comment about us being grouches who don't know how to have fun at the movies. I've seen fun at the movies, and Nancy Meyers is not fun at the movies.

Posted by The Movie Man at November 20, 2006 12:21 PM

comment #12

D.Z. says ...

"We all know what the words "directed by Nancy Meyers" mean -- glossy, carefully lighted comedies about smart-but- quirky career women who (a) usually have shiny copper pots hanging in their kitchens and (b) have been hurt in past relationships but are looking to make a new unlikely relationship work, even if they start out hating the guy."

Isn't that usually the summary of most romantic comedies?

Posted by D.Z. at November 20, 2006 12:28 PM

comment #13

MathewM says ...

The film is a product. It's aimed at a certain audience and the advertising reflects that. I don't see the point in trying to rationalize a different approach to the marketing. It is what it is.

Posted by MathewM at November 20, 2006 12:41 PM

comment #14

Rob says ...

I find it annoying that everyone in these movies is always outlandishly, inexplicably rich (including Diane Keaton in Something's Gotta Give, who was supposed to be a playwright, for Christ's sake).

Also, I don't know what to make of the fact that Cameron gets Jude as a love interest but Kate (with her taboo-smashing three-figure weight) merits a leading man no hunkier than Jack Black.

Posted by Rob at November 20, 2006 12:43 PM

comment #15

Movie fan09 says ...

cue don lafontaine like announcer:

"The.Holiday"

of course kate winslet gets jack black-they're both oh so quirky :squeezums:

and hot normal looking people get each other..'cause hot people and quirky people do not associate.

Posted by Movie fan09 at November 20, 2006 12:52 PM

comment #16

The Winchester says ...

The poster is totally Something's Gotta Give.

Jude Law was great in I Heart Huckabees, no matter what you think of the flick.

That line about the copper bottom pots is brilliant, and oh so true.

And I think it's nice that Winslet would get Black. Because in real life, thenice guys look like Black. And those guys never get the girls like Winslet. Only speaking from experience.

Posted by The Winchester at November 20, 2006 12:52 PM

comment #17

Movie fan09 says ...

nancy myers is the new nora ephron.

new?

nora and nancy have both been around more the less the same time.

Posted by Movie fan09 at November 20, 2006 12:54 PM

comment #18

Gabriel says ...

"Jude Law was great in I Heart Huckabees, no matter what you think of the flick."

Amen, Winchester. And that was the best movie of 2004, in my opinion.

Posted by Gabriel at November 20, 2006 1:02 PM

comment #19

Movie fan09 says ...

Winchester:

Because in real life, thenice guys look like Black. And those guys never get the girls like Winslet.

whatever..in these types of movies, quirky people can ONLY get Winslet who represents the outsider...I personally love outsider chicks..but what this movie tells us is that insiders and outsiders don't mix.

Posted by Movie fan09 at November 20, 2006 1:06 PM

comment #20

Thrudvangar says ...

About Last Night for the 21st Century. We need some chubby, regular guy for the Belushi role...

Posted by Thrudvangar at November 20, 2006 1:15 PM

comment #21

nola says ...

I will see this movie but Cameron annoys me. I'm curious to see Jack Black play opposite Kate Winslet.

Jude Law was also great in Talented Mr. Ripley. I remember the audience gasping at the first shot of him on the beach.

Posted by nola at November 20, 2006 1:19 PM

comment #22

christian says ...

alfred, nora ephron has been a public writer/figure since the early 70's.

nancy myers not so much.

Posted by christian at November 20, 2006 2:02 PM

comment #23

Craig Kennedy says ...

Bitching about a boring poster for a Nancy Meyers movie is a bit like complaining the Superbird you had Denny's was 'just ok'.

They're not trying to push the boundaries of cinema here, they're selling the familiar. If they had tried to sell it as something quirky and interesting I would just be pissed when it turned out to be the same old model.

By the way, I love me a Superbird at 2 in the morning, but it's not filet mignon.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at November 20, 2006 3:22 PM

comment #24

The Winchester says ...

My superbird was "just ok".

Posted by The Winchester at November 20, 2006 3:29 PM

comment #25

Craig Kennedy says ...

I Heart Huckabees was better than OK.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at November 20, 2006 3:43 PM

comment #26

nemo says ...

Jeff's kitchen does not feature any stinking shiny copper pots.

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/archives/2006/07/boiled_pot.php

Posted by nemo at November 20, 2006 3:58 PM

comment #27

nemo says ...

Maybe Santa will bring Jeff a shiny copper pot for Xmas this year.

Posted by nemo at November 20, 2006 4:01 PM

comment #28

The Winchester says ...

A shiny Chester Copper pot?

Posted by The Winchester at November 20, 2006 5:32 PM

comment #29

christian says ...

who has pot?

Posted by christian at November 20, 2006 6:07 PM

comment #30

Josh Massey says ...

Goonies never say die.

Posted by Josh Massey at November 20, 2006 6:53 PM

comment #31

Movie fan09 says ...

Christian:

I meant as a person who does films.

Posted by Movie fan09 at November 20, 2006 8:10 PM

comment #32

The Winchester says ...

Christian, apparently people who go see The Fountain should be carrying.

josh- thank you

Posted by The Winchester at November 20, 2006 8:15 PM

comment #33

KamikazeCamelV2.0 says ...

YAWN. Not at the movie, but at the people here criticising it. You're clearly not the intended audience so why bother? If you hate Nancy Meyers and everything she represents (shock! a woman making movies that, shock! are aimed at women!) then why go to the effort of this.

There are plenty of other movies out there or coming soon that are much more offensive to people's intelligence.

Posted by KamikazeCamelV2.0 at November 20, 2006 10:38 PM

comment #34

christian says ...

no, i think her brand of corporate romance is pretty offensive.

and i'll see if i can carry my copper pot to the fountain.

Posted by christian at November 20, 2006 11:23 PM

comment #35

donnyboy says ...

The hacky opening with Diaz tossing out Norton's clothes, and punching him!
How original!

Posted by donnyboy at November 21, 2006 1:46 AM

comment #36

The Movie Man says ...

Would it really be that hard to make a romance that actually somehow resembles how people actually for each other, or that stars people who may have once their life had to shave or take a shit?

Posted by The Movie Man at November 21, 2006 6:23 AM

comment #37

KamikazeCamelV2.0 says ...

I don't think you understand movies very well, do you?

Posted by KamikazeCamelV2.0 at November 21, 2006 7:23 AM

comment #38

The Movie Man says ...

Kamikaze-The idea, which I admit probably isn't clear from the post, is that the majority of mainstram romance movies star mannequins who don't in the slightest resemble a typical average person, no blemishes, only the most trivial of problems, etc. I for one am tired of it. Do I understand movies? I'd be willing to argue that I do, and even if I don't, I think a Nancy Myers film would still probably be in my league. You're clearly not the intended audience for this thread so why bother. We have as much a right to bitch about a shallow romance film as you do to enjoy it.

Posted by The Movie Man at November 21, 2006 7:32 AM

comment #39

The Movie Man says ...

Get on my high horse and then misspell the damn filmmaker's name. Typical.

Posted by The Movie Man at November 21, 2006 7:35 AM

comment #40

christian says ...

RIP robert altman.

bummer.

Posted by christian at November 21, 2006 8:52 AM

comment #41

The Movie Man says ...

That really fucking sucks man. But at least he certainly lived what I think anyone would define as a full life.

Posted by The Movie Man at November 21, 2006 8:59 AM

comment #42

christian says ...

true dat. and i've been actually listening to the original movie song "suicide is painless" for the past coupla days....

btw, movie man. saw CASINO ROYALE and sadly was not terribly impressed. daniel craig is great but the film was made for americans. i hated the music the sets the direction the action the ford and the endless shots of bond answering his various product placement cell phones.

it's the best bond since LIVING DAYLIGHTS but that's not saying much. they really need to get a director/writer with vision instead of the committee style that thinks texas hold 'em is exotic. craig is the man but i'm not hopeful.

maybe nancy myers could give it a shot...

Posted by christian at November 21, 2006 9:09 AM

comment #43

The Movie Man says ...

I have to admit that the product placement was TERRIBLE, but I really bought into it otherwise, thought it had some of the best chemistry between the leads in a mainstream picture in longer than I can remember, and I liked the kind of character completion at the end. Agree on the texas hold'em remark though, and as I've said, I'm a Bond novice so I'm not too reliable of a source in that context. Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy it.

It's so oddly fitting that Altman's last picture dealt so explicitly with facing mortality, I don't think Prairie is one of the master's great efforts, but it had wonderful moments and that effortless, lived in quality that its tempting to take for granted when watching a film by one of the undisputable greats of the medium. Plus, it its kind of nice that his last film was so benign, it would be cool to think of Altman the way his final film ends, just hanging out and riffing with past characters.

Posted by The Movie Man at November 21, 2006 9:28 AM

comment #44

le corbeau says ...

I liked the product placement. It has me subliminally convinced that Sony Ericsson phones are directly related to genital torture, betrayal, poison and being shot in the foot. If I see anyone using one I will shriek in terror like a little girl.

Posted by le corbeau at November 21, 2006 9:45 AM

comment #45

christian says ...

good point as i equate cell phones with torture also. it was strange that for once the theater was ringtone free but the screen kept chirping every five minutes...

now movie man, go rent OHMSS and see how a bond tragic romance is done.

Posted by christian at November 21, 2006 9:57 AM

comment #46

The Movie Man says ...

Christian-working on it, it's number one on my list, though its a short wait.

Posted by The Movie Man at November 21, 2006 10:47 AM

comment #47

christian says ...

but i'll throw down a wild card and predict that craig will be the first bond nominated for an oscar.

Posted by christian at November 21, 2006 11:09 AM

comment #48

The Movie Man says ...

I loved Casino Royale but I'm not wild about the rumor that Bond 22 is a direct sequel to it, that violates previous Bonds in a way that I'm not too anxious to get on board with. You mean Craig getting nominated for actually playing Bond? I don't know, that sounds like a stretch though I'm sure Craig will eventually get nominated for something. But if you mean Bond alumni, of course Connery not only got the nomination but the win for "The Untouchables."

Posted by The Movie Man at November 21, 2006 11:32 AM

comment #49

christian says ...

i don't mind the ongoing mission idea as it does play out that way in the novels. i just didn't get it in the movie and shrugged it off to more plot plot plot...

but just based on the critical gush over craig and given a strange cosmic alignment, i think a nom for craig here could happen. he is great in the film even tho i don't think he's playing james bond.

judi dench however should refuse to come back until they stop turning her into the angry police captain cliche...

Posted by christian at November 21, 2006 11:37 AM

comment #50

nemo says ...

"craig is the man but i'm not hopeful."

"maybe nancy myers could give it a shot..."

I'm tellin' ya, Sophia Coppola should direct the next Bond. Picture Daniel Craig modeling his new tux in the hotel room mirror, while "I Feel Pretty" from "West Side Story" plays in the background.

In the meantime, can't something be done about Jeff's kitchenware? That pot is definitely not a babe magnet.

Posted by nemo at November 21, 2006 12:32 PM

comment #51

christian says ...

who has pot?

Posted by christian at November 21, 2006 12:51 PM

comment #52

Jay T. says ...

It's definitely true about the copper pots ... gotta love those movies where people work in professions that don't make a ton of money and somehow we're supposed to believe they're living in 2-floor luxury apartments in the upper east side.

Posted by Jay T. at November 21, 2006 2:13 PM

comment #53