There's a scene in this film which perfectly mirrors people's reaction to this movie. When Goldblum's Girlfriend and Landlady share a box to watch the first night of his starring role as the Elephant man their disparate reactions to the show echo the disparate reviews that appear here.
As with most comedy, you have to be somewhat in the right frame of mind to enjoy it... and the sneering classes aren't ever going to be in the right frame of mind.
British comedy has a tendency to be either gentle and thoughtful and unafraid to mix real drama and sadness in with the humour (As Time Goes By, Last of the Summer Wine, 4 Weddings and a Funeral) or traditional farce (Monty Python, keeping up Appearances, Fawlty Towers).
Americans seem to "get" the latter more easily and this is one very much of the "gentle, thoughtful" ones. If your reaction to the death in "4 Weddings" was "why did they put that in there? It's not funny" don't see this film. But if your reaction was discover that the sadness highlighted the joy of the remainder and brought it into focus then you'll "get" this film and enjoy it.
Jeff Goldblum and Rowen Atkinson fans beware! Both are playing very much against type and in Atkinson's case that is a deliberate self parody and part of the joke. He is funny by being as unfunny as it's possible to be.
So what about the film, specifically? The story is a fairly simple one except with some clever role reversals on sexual stereotypes. Shy boy, worldly wise girl, evil boss, hard times survived, good times lead to temptation and betrayal and, finally, a denouement which echoes back to the role reversed attitudes that cemented the relationship in the first place.
The show is funny and well, though not perfectly, paced. The straight and personable acting enhances the comedy as do the moments of real drama. There are zingers throughout the show, not all of which are verbal.
Everyone takes away a different "perfect moment" from the film and for me it was the exchange between Goldblum and the policewoman... "I'm sorry, I know I was speeding but I have to get to the hospital right away", "Oh yes, of course... You poor man".
If you want to know WHY that's so funny you can probably work it out from all that's been said or you'll just have to see it to find out.
As with most comedy, you have to be somewhat in the right frame of mind to enjoy it... and the sneering classes aren't ever going to be in the right frame of mind.
British comedy has a tendency to be either gentle and thoughtful and unafraid to mix real drama and sadness in with the humour (As Time Goes By, Last of the Summer Wine, 4 Weddings and a Funeral) or traditional farce (Monty Python, keeping up Appearances, Fawlty Towers).
Americans seem to "get" the latter more easily and this is one very much of the "gentle, thoughtful" ones. If your reaction to the death in "4 Weddings" was "why did they put that in there? It's not funny" don't see this film. But if your reaction was discover that the sadness highlighted the joy of the remainder and brought it into focus then you'll "get" this film and enjoy it.
Jeff Goldblum and Rowen Atkinson fans beware! Both are playing very much against type and in Atkinson's case that is a deliberate self parody and part of the joke. He is funny by being as unfunny as it's possible to be.
So what about the film, specifically? The story is a fairly simple one except with some clever role reversals on sexual stereotypes. Shy boy, worldly wise girl, evil boss, hard times survived, good times lead to temptation and betrayal and, finally, a denouement which echoes back to the role reversed attitudes that cemented the relationship in the first place.
The show is funny and well, though not perfectly, paced. The straight and personable acting enhances the comedy as do the moments of real drama. There are zingers throughout the show, not all of which are verbal.
Everyone takes away a different "perfect moment" from the film and for me it was the exchange between Goldblum and the policewoman... "I'm sorry, I know I was speeding but I have to get to the hospital right away", "Oh yes, of course... You poor man".
If you want to know WHY that's so funny you can probably work it out from all that's been said or you'll just have to see it to find out.