Review of Funny Face (1932) by Mark M — 25 Jan 2009

This movie had a great start and middle...but a unsatisfying end. It started off great: a fun opening number in the magazine agency (that reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada); I instantly fell for that "funny face" once it was on the screen and couldn't help but be charmed by her character Jo; Astaire's dark room dancing with her was pretty charming, though not technically impressive.

The middle was even better: actually filming on site in Paris; Hepburn's unforgettable beatnik "basal metabolism"; followed by an imaginative number by the still very nimble Astaire; the model photo sequence was cute as well (culminating with a gorgeous Jo at the foot of Nike).

Still, even after you get over the 30 year difference between the lovers, you can't help but feel the movie goes downhill after pronouncing their feelings (in a very cute number around some beautiful country scenery).

Astaire's character gets protective, Jo gets stubborn and selfish, and the end resolve doesn't really teach either a lesson. Anyway, hidden in that last part is the quirky "On How to be Lovely" and the fun jazzy number "Clap yo hands.

" I just wish at that point in his career they'd stop pairing Astaire with really young romantic interests.