WEATHER GIRL
What's not to like about another vehicle about the adventures of a seemingly ditzy blond reading the weather? That was my expectation when I read the initial press release -- but BOY WAS I WRONG! Let me be emphatic...there is much more to this film than what you may see on the promo posters.
It was also my expectation for about the first 5 seconds of the film which start on the set of a morning news show with two annoyingly pristine anchors Dale (Mark Harmon) and Sherry (Kaitlin Olsen). It's all on track until Sylvia, the titular "weathergirl" starts doing her thing, and that's all I can say right now without ruining one of the best moments of the film. All you need to know, is that the film drops a little cherry bomb at the start and stays on it's funny and unpredictable course until it comes full circle at the very end.
Weather Girl is in fact a hope and inspiration for the return of the romantic comedy which had mostly been reduced to slapped together "chick flicks" like 27 Dresses or The Proposal, apparently raking in the money despite a few too many cringe inducing moments and an over-reliance on a cute Samoyed puppy. When in fact did romantic comedy turn out to be a pejorative...even for someone who can point happily to beautifully written classics like What's Up Doc, or many of Neil Simon's best stage transfers like Barefoot in the Park or the ultra classic Philadelphia Story. Has our patience worn so thin that we can't sit still long enough for a decent joke to be set up? Can we just not stand to listen to dialogue? Or have we simply thrown in the towel and let others do can do the wit better like the Brits, just do it.
You can tell here that I'm pleading, pleading for the re-investment and re-commitment to the genre. Judd Apatow and his gang of guys are sometimes so, so, so funny, especially in things like the recent I Love You Man, but they do boy centered "comedies" not girl centered "romcoms". So you could have knocked me over with a feather when I stumbled upon this teeny, tiny little love story.
Most of what makes this film work is it's writing and it's really good and understated cast. Tricia O'Kelley, is apparently one of the hardest working women in showbiz with her regular gig as Marly on The New Adventures of Old Christine, she's a a successful entrepreneur (she owns a bestselling greeting card company amongst other things.) In this film, she's injects just enough Lucy screwball to both surprise and delight. While she's the goof, her Ricky is the "too young" Byron (Patrick J. Adams) who mostly gets to cooly assess and observe, somewhat wise beyond his years but not to wise to avoid his own embarrassing moments. In fact, he's not too young (29 vs. 35) so rather than this being about a desperate "cougar" there's an opportunity to look at a woman who has some commitment issues which she is forced to face at the worst possible time.
The cast is also rounded out by some vets like Mark Harmon, playing against his NCIS hero type as a sleezebag, skirtchasing anchor and the incredible Jane Lynch the most underused genius comedienne in the business. If anyone says women aren't funny and/or people over 40 aren't funny I dare them to keep a straight face watching her in any comedy from The 40 Year Old Virgin to Best in Show. Everyone comes together to give us a truly delightful and unique spin on the trials and tribulations of deciding how and when to open up and share yourself with another person.
Weathergirl opens July 10, 2009.
Written and directed by Blayne Weaver; produced by Tricia O'Kelley and Steak House; director of photography, Brandon Trost; edited by Abe Levy and music by Andrew Hollander.
With: Tricia O'Kelley (Sylvia); Patrick J. Adams (Byron); Ryan Devlin (Walt); Mark Harmon (Dale); Kaitlin Olsen (Sherry); Alex Kapp Horner (Emily); Marin Hinkle (Jane) and Jane Lynch (J.D.).
