Oct 31, 2001 02:05 PM
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(Updated Oct 31, 2001 02:05 PM)
The timing could not have been better. In recent months, Hollywood breakups have been the center of attention; most notably Tom and Nicole. In one of this summer's most anticipated comedies, ‘America's Sweethearts' takes us inside a veritable Hollywood break-up set against the backdrop of the most important element in a film's promotion – the press junket. This is where reviewers gather together to screen a film before its' initial release, and then get to interview the actors as they numblessly sit through countless, pointless interviews repeating the same answers to the same questions over and over. If the previous sentence was long and tiring, then you get the idea of a press junket from the actor's perspective. If you have ever seen a television interview with the actors from a film always in the same room with different interviewers then you have been inside a press junket. The film makes a poignant point of emphasizing that these junkets are specifically tailored for the reporter and not for the film.
Billy Crystal plays Lee; a junket publicist who makes sure to please the reporters in order to get great reviews for the film. He is in charge of putting together this junket, yet there is only one minor detail. The film's two stars Gwen Harrison and Eddie Thomas (Respectively played by Catherine Zeta Jones and the excellent John Cusack) are not at an ‘item' anymore. In order to aid their failing acting careers they must pretend they are an item once more in order for their fans to return to their films after a string of disasters. One would think that hilarity would ensue at this junket once these two actors forge their way back into the hearts of Americans; hence the title. Yet, this is not the case. Director Joe Roth (longtime Disney films producer) manages to keep the story written by Billy Crystal and Peter Tolan light; but unfortunately so are the laughs. Furthermore, Julia Roberts portrays Gwen's sister/assistant who seems to cater to her sister's every need and thus suffers one of the film's greatest weaknesses. Roberts' character seems to take a back seat to the events surrounding Zeta Jones' and Cusack's ‘fake' reconciliation efforts. Even though Roberts gets top billing, her character does not.
The film spans itself over a period of 72 hours thus covering the junket and the ensued relationships that form themselves over this period of time. Yet, the film never takes full advantage of all the ‘Hollywood-ized' political hoopla that often occurs at junkets. Instead the film seems to shift back and forth between the relationships between the actors and the chaos of the junket. Christopher Walken, Seth Green, Stanley Tucci and the incredibly talented yet underused Hank Azaria (who seems to be one of the better things in this film as he plays a trash talking Spaniard) all bring in strong performances to an otherwise disappointing and slow romantic comedy that seems to awkwardly hit a lot of dead ends. It really is too bad considering the amount of talent invested in this surprisingly well made but pointless film. Simply by watching the previews we know that Roberts' and John Cusacks's character will have some sort of romantic quarry during the film leading to no great surprises. I simply have one question. Could it be that perhaps the world is tired of seeing Roberts as the girl next door who is simply perfect and that we should all feel sorry for? Besides her role in the fantastic ‘Notting Hill', ever since her comeback she always seems to play the perfect woman. This feeling was endured while watching this film, there is nothing new or fresh. Even though ‘America's Sweethearts' offers some funny moments, it leaves the viewer with bad after taste. Resulting from a film that could have gone in two other totally different directions probably resulting in a much better film. The finished product wants to satirize the press junket while delivering a cuddly, romantic story that unfortunately will not come across as a very sweet film.
