Writers: Susannah Grant and Jennifer Weiner
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette, Shirley MacLaine, Francine Beers, Norman Lloyd, Mark Feuerstein, Ken Howard, Brooke Smith, Candice Azzara, Richard Burgi, and Anson Mount
Release Dates: September 14, 2005 (at Toronto International Film Festival) and October 07, 2008 (in the USA)
Review written sometime in January 2015
In Her Shoes is a movie that wants you to like it. So, director Curtis Hanson brings together some brilliant acting talent for that purpose. There's:
And there's some delectable eye candy too in the name of Mark Feuerstein - who broods around a bit and charms his way through his part.
The background score - composed by Mark Isham - tip toes itself around popular likeable rhythms. It smiles, nods its notes at the right moment, and pretty much plays along in tune with the feelings on display. The dialogues, in turn, are in tune with the requisite amount of sarcasm, cynicism, and cupcakes of forgiveness as is supposed to be the norm for a story about bickering sisters. Well, even the grandmother has some fabulous lines, which MacLaine delivers with her trademark expertise.
Which brings me to the script. Based on the novel by Jennifer Weiner, the script traverses familiar territory. It's very much like a weeklong tour through a place you have lived in for years: you know it better than the tour guides and so, thrill and surprise are all nowhere in the picture. Yet, you do not want to leave halfway through the tour because you will never get lost and will always find your way back.
However, an hour into the movie, there is no place to go to nor any story left to tell. The incidents that prod the happenings ahead more or less give away how conflicts will be resolved. The customary showdowns pop up to remind you of how extraordinarily clichéd they can be, and the ending manages to squeeze in two ceremonies together to wrap up the proceedings. All, of course, done with a flair that has "Like me - like me please!" written all over the sets, the clothes, colours, and the other props in every scene.
But try as I might, I could not like this movie with the intensity and eagerness I wanted to. For In Her Shoes falls rather flat on its soles. One scene in particular - the one that's centered around the poem, One Art, by Elizabeth Bishop - is immensely likeable. It has the heart and soul of some poignant editing, genuine dialogues, and some very fine acting (courtesy Cameron Diaz and the dependable Norman Lloyd). The rest of the movie, however, seems as if it were forced into a class of needlessly bland romanticism that it did not want to take in the first place!
The support-ing cast (of whom Francine Beers deserves a special mention) does its best to remedy that and help the main characters make this shoebox look attractive. And cinematographer Terry Stacey ensures his judicious choices of colours and angles do not grate on your nerves. It's a valiant effort, really. And you do want to applaud the crew of this movie - trust me, you want to - for the premise is loveable. But, you end up pursing your lips into a quick tired smile and accompanying that with a few pacifying claps instead. For this particular shoe is a size too loose for comfort and has a heel broken way beyond repair.
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette, Shirley MacLaine, Francine Beers, Norman Lloyd, Mark Feuerstein, Ken Howard, Brooke Smith, Candice Azzara, Richard Burgi, and Anson Mount
Release Dates: September 14, 2005 (at Toronto International Film Festival) and October 07, 2008 (in the USA)
Review written sometime in January 2015
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| Toni Collette: This shoe's a perfect fit. |
- Shirley MacLaine as the grandmother - a role she can sleepwalk through these days.
- Toni Collette as the suffering elder sister who has a successful career - a role she needs no preparation for.
- Cameron Diaz as the insufferable free-spirited sexy sister whose resume is least bothered to look presentable - a role she has enacted over and over again with commercial success.
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| Mark Feuerstein: The many charms of a dreamboat. |
The background score - composed by Mark Isham - tip toes itself around popular likeable rhythms. It smiles, nods its notes at the right moment, and pretty much plays along in tune with the feelings on display. The dialogues, in turn, are in tune with the requisite amount of sarcasm, cynicism, and cupcakes of forgiveness as is supposed to be the norm for a story about bickering sisters. Well, even the grandmother has some fabulous lines, which MacLaine delivers with her trademark expertise.
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| Shirley MacLaine: Mundanity meets its nemesis. |
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| Cameron Diaz: A streetcar named Sexy. |
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| Cameron Diaz and Norman Lloyd demonstrate the art of endearing acts. |
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| The supporting cast: Lending a helping hand has never been this tedious. |
References:
In Her Shoes. Dir. Curtis Hanson. Perf. Cameron Diaz, Francine Beers, Mark Feuerstein, Norman Lloyd, Toni Collette, Shirley MacLaine. 20th Century Fox and Fox 2000 Pictures, 2005. DVD.
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