`America's Sweethearts' must have cost a fortune to produce. Not that there were any illustrious costume designs or tricky visual effects, but the combined asking price of the four main stars, among others, must have been astronomical. Julia Roberts has the highest asking price in Hollywood at present, and John Cusack, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Billy Crystal, Christopher Walken and, er, Seth Green aren't exactly famed for having low prices. But when all are together on screen, the result is unsurprisingly good. Though what is surprising, is that none of them try to hog the screen or steal the show for what part they have.
The script (co-written by Billy Crystal) is sharp and witty with the best jokes perfectly spread out. The overall effect is that of a likeable, enjoyable but not necessarily groundbreaking movie. While there is the occasional in-joke on Hollywood, this is too soft-centred and conventional to consider a satire. And it certainly isn't a film of `artistic depth' as the interpretation of Hollywood is skin-deep and shallow. But who cares about that? Especially when there are such talented leads on show.
Roberts, Cusack and Zeta-Jones give deliciously bubbly turns in the love triangle of bitchery (the latter greatly sending up her `shallow' reputation) though it's questionable why Julia Roberts is playing the `deep' one. Crystal is as funny as he'll ever be, though this is hardly his best performance to date. Seth Green (`Austin Powers', `Can't Hardly Wait') is also humorous as the nerdy assistant, though could have done with more screen-time. And there are wittily eccentric turns from Alan Arkin and Christopher Walken. The former does a brilliant riff on `Scientology' (though it was done better in `Bowfinger') and the latter is excellent as the reclusive, meticulous director. The real standout is Hank Azaria as bumbling, lispy Hector who clearly has the funniest character.
Joe Roth's directing is as average as one might suspect. But he gives the film an appropriately sour-spirited touch to avoid it being soppy and heart-warming. The narrative isn't bad either- blunt and to the point. Some scenes go on for a bit too long without laughter, but the closing moments are funny enough to make you forget about all that. The slapstick wit works perfectly well but the acerbic verbal wit is top-notch.
While it certainly is a nice way to pass an hour and a half, with all the talent on board, this had the potential to be groundbreaking. I prefer to think of it as a nicely wrapped bundle of laughs, as opposed to a mediocre movie from a cast to die for. My advice is to go in with low expectations and you won't be dissapointed. My IMDb rating: 6.9/10.
The script (co-written by Billy Crystal) is sharp and witty with the best jokes perfectly spread out. The overall effect is that of a likeable, enjoyable but not necessarily groundbreaking movie. While there is the occasional in-joke on Hollywood, this is too soft-centred and conventional to consider a satire. And it certainly isn't a film of `artistic depth' as the interpretation of Hollywood is skin-deep and shallow. But who cares about that? Especially when there are such talented leads on show.
Roberts, Cusack and Zeta-Jones give deliciously bubbly turns in the love triangle of bitchery (the latter greatly sending up her `shallow' reputation) though it's questionable why Julia Roberts is playing the `deep' one. Crystal is as funny as he'll ever be, though this is hardly his best performance to date. Seth Green (`Austin Powers', `Can't Hardly Wait') is also humorous as the nerdy assistant, though could have done with more screen-time. And there are wittily eccentric turns from Alan Arkin and Christopher Walken. The former does a brilliant riff on `Scientology' (though it was done better in `Bowfinger') and the latter is excellent as the reclusive, meticulous director. The real standout is Hank Azaria as bumbling, lispy Hector who clearly has the funniest character.
Joe Roth's directing is as average as one might suspect. But he gives the film an appropriately sour-spirited touch to avoid it being soppy and heart-warming. The narrative isn't bad either- blunt and to the point. Some scenes go on for a bit too long without laughter, but the closing moments are funny enough to make you forget about all that. The slapstick wit works perfectly well but the acerbic verbal wit is top-notch.
While it certainly is a nice way to pass an hour and a half, with all the talent on board, this had the potential to be groundbreaking. I prefer to think of it as a nicely wrapped bundle of laughs, as opposed to a mediocre movie from a cast to die for. My advice is to go in with low expectations and you won't be dissapointed. My IMDb rating: 6.9/10.