Review of Shopgirl (2005) by Hannibal O — 15 Jul 2008

I was looking forward to seeing this film mainly because Steve Martin is a great writer in my opinion (see L.A. Story for proof). Although he hasn't been as prolific as I wish he would be, Martin is kind of like the L.

A. version to Woody Allen's New York romantic comedies. Martin has a talent for whimsical almost fairy tale romantic comedy. This was based on his book and it was directed by Anand Tucker (director of the excellent Hilary and Jackie).

This is an unconventional romantic comedy in that it goes beyond just telling a story of a girl who meets a guy and they fall in love and happily ever after. She meets 2 guys who could not be more different from each other.

She basically plays a loser who works at Saks selling gloves to assholes. She lives in some shithole apartment and creates shitty artwork. She meets the hilarious and strange Jason Schwartzman who is unable to keep her at first because of his weirdness (actually, she didn't go for him because he makes less money than she does).

She then meets Steve Martin, a lonely and cold person who should have committed suicide a long time ago. He lives in a sterile looking house in L.A. that pretty much reflects his existence: gray, lonely, and cold.

She falls for him until Schwartzman enters back into her life and....go see the rest of it. Overall, it was a well done film that doesn't really show you anything profound other than just tell you a nice little and very linear story.

Danes looks stunning in the film (more so than Romeo and Juliet where she looked young enough where the romance in that film was more rape-evoking than romantic). For those who like their Steve Martin funny, you'll be disappointed.

He plays the straight man here, which I've read is very much like he is in real life. Schwartzman made the film hilarious. He's full of strange and funny lines and, although he's a loser in the monetary sense, he offers much more than Martin is capable of giving.

There's also a few scenes with Pete Sampras' wife, Bridgette Wilson. She basically plays herself, which is a complete whore. Anyway, I recommend the film.