rbrooks2008

Going through my drunken Friday night 'I want that one, that one, that one' DVD film phase on the Amazon site I selected the film 'the girl in the cafe' having had it recommended to me by the automaton at Amazon and not reading up on it.

Suffice to say I was not disappointed in that it had all the subtelty and depth of an Arthur Lucan film.

I know he's not Stephen Poliakoff but is there a Richard Curtis film with a bit more depth to it, 'a bit more meat on its bones' one might say?

Well, if you told them I designed it, d'you think that might help?

narabdela

The script was trite, but I loved the performances of Bill Nighy and Kelly Macdonald.

DB7

Apart from Blackadder I'd avoid anything he's written. I can appreciate Four Weddings but there's something about Andie MacDowell's presence that really grates; probably that it's a cynical marketing ploy.

MB

Not really no.

I think he comes out with some witty, insightful lines that do pull the layers off..social awkwardness, at best.. He is likable enough and I think his heart is in the right place. I can watch his films and be relatively entertained. For me, it’s a bit like watching a school play. As long as you accept the fact that it is a school play and you are prepared to ignore all the bits that make you want to cringe, somehow, you can still have a good time.

I doubt you will ever find anything with a great deal of ‘meat’. He has, already, attempted to explore and examine some potentially complex areas – the dynamics within particular kinds of relationships/ the potential for a drama to produce political change... But he hits everything on the head with the grace of a 'Blackadder' mallet. (Blackadder was, I thought, quite ‘deep’ in places..sharp, subtle, retrospective social commentary all over the place – but, I suspect that may have been Ben Elton’s input…)

He's not British either, mind you, he is from New Zealand. Which may be why he seems to present an idealised view of a particular kind of British way of life.

The idea behind 'Girl in the Cafe' was, I thought, admirable. The Boat that rocked (his new film) sounds interesting..but only as a bit of a lark.

DB7

I wonder if writing a comedy for BBC2 (IIRC where Blackadder first aired) gave Curtis more license to push the boundaries, whereas Working Title would obviously demand light-comedy with broad appeal and kerching at the box-office.

I'm sure he must have been similarly constrained for Girl in the Cafe as the show was commissioned to tie-in with the G8 conference and Make Chelsea (or was it poverty?) History campaign?

MB

No, I think Working Title give Richard Curtis a big pot of money and say ' Do what you like - but try and get a wedding in there if you can possibly, theres a good fella..and we'll have Hugh Grant dancing too..that'll be good!

It was good actually, I really liked that bit..but the other bit - where Hugh Grant shouts at 'the president' (who we never really leave off knowing is Angelina Jolies ex boyfriend, because he doesn't attempt to act at any point.) was really, really terrible and I actually felt more sorry for America at that point.

MB

Thankyou DB7 - I appreciate you trying to have a sensible discussion with me whereas normally I am this shouting ranter all on my own with people writing one line sentences around me.

CaptainWaggett

I absolutely love the Vicar of Dibley and it shouldn't be forgotten that it started at the time when woman priests were, literally, getting death threats and there was serious concern that the C of E would split over the issue. It always endorsed gay clergy too - another issue not without controversy.

DB7

Great

Wicked Lady

I think expecting a weighty thought-provoking piece out of Richard Curtis is a bit like expecting a light musical out of Oliver Stone.

As to whether any of his stuff is good or not is up for debate.

My next door neighbour buys every Richard Curtis film on DVD and wears them all out through playing. I have yet to successfully sit through 'Love Indubitably' (or whatever it was called) to the end.

It's a matter of what floats one's boat.

luthien

Isn't the term 'Good Richard Curtis Films' an oxymoron?

Be Happy and well

batman

IMHO Four Weddings.. was a funny film. Grant's schtick was fresh and, apart from Andie McDowell, the cast gave pleasant performances. The trouble for me is that he has tried to repeat the formula too often. The guy has a talent for witty dialogue and it would be interesting to see him attempt something different.

"Daddy, look at that mess, Mummy will go nutters"

CaptainWaggett

I liked Four Weddings and Bridget Jones, and Love, Actually has a lot to recommend it ('There was more than one lobster present at the birth of baby Jesus?'). Clearly he has a formula that works for some people and doesn't for others - but he's not exactly unique in that...

EHV_Emmetts

Curtis co-wrote Blackadder with Ben Elton.

James Fox

His television work is pretty impressive. The films are less so, though I have a fondness for "The Tall Guy," "Four Weddings" and even "Notting Hill."