Wizard-8
From it's low box office gross, it appears that the distributor of "Don't Tell Her It's Me" (a.k.a. "The Boyfriend School") didn't give the movie much of a push when it released it to theaters. Seeing the movie for myself, I think I understand why. There is nothing wrong with the cast, and there is nothing really wrong with the premise, even though the premise will seem somewhat familiar to some viewers. All that was needed was a smart script - something this movie is really lacking. I know this movie was supposed to be a comedy, but the characters in this movie frequently seem to be so dim-witted that it's hard to get involved with them and their situation. Who cares about dumb people? Had the characters in the movie been of reasonable intelligence, I think we the audience would be able to identify with them and laugh at their various struggles. Still, the movie could have been a lot worse than it is now.
Beth Jackson
Without going into much detail of the actual plot itself, let me just say that this was _the_ first movie I asked for as a special-occasion gift.I loved it better than I did the movie "Pretty Woman", the first time I saw that one.Every time after I rented this movie (before I got my own copy), I felt better than I'd felt before watching it, at the end of a bad work-day or whatever. _Every_ time. {{;'-)--Maybe partly because the two main love-interests' "financial-class" and preferred-job-types are so much closer to my own real-life ones. --And because I already like the town which was the main setting for this film, and because it seems to me there's a softer, much more "wistfully-shimmery" feeling to most of the lighting and color (as I said, I'm a graphic-artist myself) in this than there was "Pretty Woman"...at least in my opinion. --Not to mention I liked the overall type of humor in this a bit better. :)I'm sure there're some folks who might consider it a bit too "syrup-y". But I loved it.The only reason I didn't give it a slightly higher rating, incidentally, was (w/o giving away any surprises) simply that I felt there were a very few (but slight:) "loopholes" in the storyline, perhaps.In general, though, I thought it was wonderful.
MBHenderson00
The Boyfriend School has to be my favorite comic novel of all time, followed closely by Kotzwinkle's Midnight Examiner. I was disappointed that the screenplay told the story from Gus's point of view, which removed the element of surprise that made the novel so wonderful. Gretchen got turned into an "Emily," when one of her self-esteem issues had to do with her name.And what happened to Juanita? I loved Juanita! I can't bear to talk about what was done to the character of Trout. However, the casting of the main characters, Lizzie, Gus, and the newly christened "Emily," was excellent. I'm waiting for a remake from the point of view of Gretchen. The novel is still at the top of my list and lying in permanent repose on my nightstand, with a "loaner" copy available for my friends.
Intenselan
Maybe this movie is not an epic, but it doesn't try to be something it's not. What it DOES have is an incredible chemistry between Jami Gertz and Steve Guttenberg.Of course this love story has been done so many times before, but this movie did it right.4 out of 5 stars.
AD
