***Couple of spoilers***
I was very interested in this movie when I saw it was going to be on cable. Charms For the Easy Life is one of my favorite books, and easily one of the funniest novels I've ever read. And when I saw that Gena Rowlands was going to play Charlie Kate, I was even more pleased, since I think she is a terrific actress.
In almost every way, I was disappointed in this film. First and most importantly, the screenplay is beyond stupid. I don't think the writer even GOT most of the jokes in the novel. And the choices of what to leave in and what to take out from the novel, leaves so many unexplained plot turns that if you haven't read the book, I think you would spend most of the movie trying to puzzle it out. E.g., Charlie Kate and Margaret reading The Yearling outside the theatre, and Charlie Kate announcing that "the deer dies." Very funny in the novel, makes absolutely no sense in the movie. To paraphrase Margaret, everything in the world happens in the novel, and practically nothing happens in the movie.
Secondly I though Mimi Rogers was an appalling choice as Sophia. In the novel Sophia is a borderline manic depressive (a beautiful, brilliant and charming manic depressive, though.) Mimi Rogers hasn't got any of that intensity. If only Holly Hunter were taller.
Thirdly although I do love Gena Rowlands, she also is just too SERENE as Charlie Kate. In the novel CK is usually shouting and barking at people. In the movie, the worst Gena does is sort of growl. Although she was definitely held back by her moronic lines. The vanquishing of the "real doctor" was a high point of the novel, here it is turned into something so stooped...again, why would the doctor just suddenly show up at her house in tears, confessing his career-ending mistake? That just doesn't make any sense at all. In the novel CK has to blackmail him, which just shows how fearless she is. And the scene ends with him just asking to mope in her house for a bit, and she tells him "Take all the time you need." I believe that scene ending would get an "F" in a screenplay writing class, which is where I think they must have found the doofus who penned this.
Finally (although this is minor compared to the rest), the guy they chose to play Tom Hawkins...there was absolutely nothing "aw shucks" about Tom in the novel, and in the movie, he comes off as Andy Rooney's dopey (but very handsome) sidekick. And we're supposed to believe he's reading The Magic Mountain?
I did think the girl chosen to play Margaret was perfect, and she did the best she could with the meandering plot and boring characterizations. We just need to get it remade with her as Margaret again, but Shirley McClaine as CK, Holly Hunter as Sophia, and Joaquin Phoenix as Tom. And let's get Kaye Gibbons to adapt her novel herself...she knows where all kicks are.
And if you haven't read Charms for Easy Life, drive right past Blockbuster to the book store and pick it up. This is one of the best books ever. :)
I was very interested in this movie when I saw it was going to be on cable. Charms For the Easy Life is one of my favorite books, and easily one of the funniest novels I've ever read. And when I saw that Gena Rowlands was going to play Charlie Kate, I was even more pleased, since I think she is a terrific actress.
In almost every way, I was disappointed in this film. First and most importantly, the screenplay is beyond stupid. I don't think the writer even GOT most of the jokes in the novel. And the choices of what to leave in and what to take out from the novel, leaves so many unexplained plot turns that if you haven't read the book, I think you would spend most of the movie trying to puzzle it out. E.g., Charlie Kate and Margaret reading The Yearling outside the theatre, and Charlie Kate announcing that "the deer dies." Very funny in the novel, makes absolutely no sense in the movie. To paraphrase Margaret, everything in the world happens in the novel, and practically nothing happens in the movie.
Secondly I though Mimi Rogers was an appalling choice as Sophia. In the novel Sophia is a borderline manic depressive (a beautiful, brilliant and charming manic depressive, though.) Mimi Rogers hasn't got any of that intensity. If only Holly Hunter were taller.
Thirdly although I do love Gena Rowlands, she also is just too SERENE as Charlie Kate. In the novel CK is usually shouting and barking at people. In the movie, the worst Gena does is sort of growl. Although she was definitely held back by her moronic lines. The vanquishing of the "real doctor" was a high point of the novel, here it is turned into something so stooped...again, why would the doctor just suddenly show up at her house in tears, confessing his career-ending mistake? That just doesn't make any sense at all. In the novel CK has to blackmail him, which just shows how fearless she is. And the scene ends with him just asking to mope in her house for a bit, and she tells him "Take all the time you need." I believe that scene ending would get an "F" in a screenplay writing class, which is where I think they must have found the doofus who penned this.
Finally (although this is minor compared to the rest), the guy they chose to play Tom Hawkins...there was absolutely nothing "aw shucks" about Tom in the novel, and in the movie, he comes off as Andy Rooney's dopey (but very handsome) sidekick. And we're supposed to believe he's reading The Magic Mountain?
I did think the girl chosen to play Margaret was perfect, and she did the best she could with the meandering plot and boring characterizations. We just need to get it remade with her as Margaret again, but Shirley McClaine as CK, Holly Hunter as Sophia, and Joaquin Phoenix as Tom. And let's get Kaye Gibbons to adapt her novel herself...she knows where all kicks are.
And if you haven't read Charms for Easy Life, drive right past Blockbuster to the book store and pick it up. This is one of the best books ever. :)