Review of Intolerable Cruelty (2003) by Puneet P — 11 Nov 2009

"Intolerable Cruelty" is smart, funny n suavely entertaining - just like its characters - they take on the classic battle-of-the-sexes, & their charismatic personalities are utilized to maximum effect.

George Clooney plays Miles Massey, a wildly successful divorcee attorney, a super suave guy, completely in love with himself, whose favorite pastime is admiring his snow white teeth.

Marylin Rexroth (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a gold digger who likes marrying really rich, dumb guys whom she can divorce before their first anniversary, preferably their first monthly anniversary. But she's a woman with strict standards - "one husband at a time." She doesn't start dallying until the current one is divorced.

Both Clooney and Zeta-Jones are given simple lines that they deliver so deliciously: "I assume you're a carnivore?" Miles says to Marylin after ordering steak for her without asking. "You have no idea," she replies quietly and innocently, but with a devilish grin.

The movie has its peaks & crusts; peaks are all in the Clooney & Zeta-Jones' spark, comedy & chemistry; well, too bad that the rest of the movie is never as good as some of these small moments.

Best Moment:

Miles best moment comes when he looks longingly as Marylin walks away, saying, "You fascinate me," after she is probably just out of hearing range. The line is nothing special. It is Clooney's reading of it that makes it shine. Marylin's best moment comes after Miles finds out that she named her dog after the ex-husband whom she fleeced. "I'm sentimental," she explains with her signature, wicked little smile.