Review of Rick (2003) by Archibald T — 06 Dec 2012

Oh the holiday season can bring joy and cheer among the flutter of fortunate folks with happy go lucky lifestyles. Curses to them all for being given the lives they lead!

Based partially on the opera 'Rigoletto' which told the story of a curse placed on the licentious Duke of Mantua and his hunch-backed court jester Rigoletto. In this film version of the opera, Rick would be Rigoletto while the Duke would still be the Duke, but referred to as Big Boss. I'll explain more dear reader, but don't expect happiness abound for this tragic tale set around Christmas of a wall street man who falls from grace for being naughty and not nice.

The poor soul here is Rick O' Lette. He is an executive at an corporation known as 'Image'. For his age, you would think he'd be the boss of this company. He is not. That belongs to a young douchebag named Duke. Duke is the type of boss that cockroaches would surely honor if he were ever the ruler of cockroaches. He is as mean spirited as Rick is, but if Rick were to have any redeeming qualities it would be that his lack of conscious towards ever being nice to people may stem from the fact that his wife passed on. It could be the only reason why Rick is the way he is, but sadly an excuse of that sort behavior won't help when he humiliates a nice young Japanese woman who was simply trying to apply for a job at the company.

Her name is Michelle and during her interview Rick systematically insults her. Later while hanging with Duke at a club, he bumps into her there as she is his waitress. Even there he insults her until she can't take it any more. She curses the son of a bitch and quits her job. At this point forward, the curse is set in place. Rick is challenged through several series of shocking turn events that involve an old college buddy who is a hit man and Rick's daughter, Eve.

From the Opera, Eve would be represented as Rigoletto's daughter Gilda. Same as from the Opera except changed around in the film for a more modern setting, Eve is seduced by Duke through cyber sexing sessions she has with him. At first the knowledge of Duke being her father's boss doesn't become known until one night Rick bumps into him while having dinner with his daughter and Rick slips out Duke's nickname 'Big Boss'. Big Boss is the handle that Duke uses for cyber sexing. This intrigues Eve and as a result she's invited to the big Christmas Party where Duke plans to fuck her silly, but to Duke he believes he's about to bang Rick's wife. How disappointed he will be.

Eve, sadly, believes herself to be doomed. She mentions it constantly in the film. She's one of those girls who get so affected by losing one's mother or father that they act out in ways that are self destructive. It's understandable, but her doom is due in part by her own father's doing. I won't spoil it, but if you've ever read about the Opera for which this film is based than you'll probably know what had happened to poor Gilda. Same here befalls poor Eve.

This all may be very disturbing or dark, it is, but there are small moments between Rick and his daughter that are tragic and are probably the only time you can connect with Rick himself. The death of his wife could be the reason why he is the way he is and now that she's gone, well, nothing seems to matter any more to him. Not even being nice. The writer of 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' penned this charming yuletide nightmare and he needs to KEEP writing stuff like this! The direction is handled well by Curtiss Clayton and the cast from Bill Pullman, Agnes Bruckner and Aaron Stanford did a splendid job.

So in the spirit of the holiday season, try to be naughty, cruel to your fellow man and have any piece of emotion that will require feelings to be tossed in the fireplace of burning hopes and desires.