In English (1996)
Evelyn: "I guess it's true. You just know when it's right."
Roy Dupuis got to play the physical embodiment of a refrigerator magnet. Unfortunately, the role was just that exciting.
Kelly (Renee Coleman) is a divorced newscaster and single mother who has given up looking for the perfect man, until she meets a Swiss art dealer Thomas (Roy Dupuis), who sweeps her off her feet. Of course, things are never that simple; at the same time, sensitive novelist Jonathan (Rick Roberts) also comes into her life, resulting in the inevitable love triangle.
Renee Coleman was sweet and personable, and her character was likable; it was pretty much her movie. I liked the scene where Kelly and her best friend Evelyn were eating popcorn and running a video of Thomas backward and forward, over and over. The young actor who played Kelly's son okay, too, as was his oh so cute ambition to be a master chef.
Roy Dupuis appeared awkward and uncomfortable in the part of Thomas, probably because they forgot to give his character a personality. I suspect he was cast because of his passing resemblance to Michelangelo's David, which was enhanced by a particularly curly hair style. They even had him standing in a David pose at one point, which might have been more exciting if he hadn't been fully clothed.
Interestingly enough, a passionate love scene and a silly fight were the most convincing parts of the movie for me, probably because Roy could effectively smolder and project sexual arousal or anger instead of spouting predictable dialogue in a Swiss accent that just never worked. He did some other cool physical stuff, too, which was fun. In one scene, he juggled; in another, he jumped rope like a boxing pro, and ran effortlessly while doing dialogue with Rick Roberts.
Waiting for Michelangelo is occasionally funny and amusing, but it is also like a poorly written romance novel. It never comes into focus, and it meanders to a predictable but somehow unrealistic conclusion.
Two out of four stars,
Billie
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Billie Doux loves good television and spends way too much time writing about it.
I watched this film once, and the only way I’ll watch it again is with the sound off. Roy’s character spouts advice for life and love in his first meeting with the girl. Even his sexy look couldn’t save this dialogue. His clothes are ill-fitting and never accentuate his body type or physique. His accent is painful to hear and not very convincing. The story line is mundane and so predictable, but he does juggle, yes, and has pretty hair. Omg, I read that he said he only did one film for the money; this must be it?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I obviously agree with you. :) This might be the film he did for the money, since it was early-ish in his career.
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