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Intolerable Cruelty (Widescreen Edition) Customer Reviews (25 - 27 of 74 Reviews)

Insufferable Boredom...
Let me say this first: I love the Coen brothers. Right out of the gate with Blood Simple, they hit the ground running and since then have carved out a niche for themselves as perhaps America's finest filmmakers. They have a signature style that flows easily from one genre to the next, and in my book, they've never even come close to failing.

Until this time. After seeing George Clooney's performance in O, Brother, Where Art Thou?, I was very excited to see him working with the Coens again. To his credit, Clooney is the sole standout in this film that makes attempts at reviving the spirit of some of the greater screwball comedies of the 30's & 40's. Had this been set in those times and filmed in black and white, it would probably have been a much better movie. Catherine Zeta Jones brings her usual nothing to the film, which is hardly surprising. Attractive? Sure. Gorgeous? You betcha. But under the surface, I just don't think there's anyone there.

After ten amazingly original films, I guess the Coens were due to stumble. This is their most mainstream movie by any measure, and it certainly shows why, with previous films, the Coens were always many, many steps above the mainstream. Hopefully this one movie is the extent of their adventures in formula filmmaking, and they'll be back on track from here on out.

Don't Think of it As Romantic Comedy...
If you're hoping this film will satiate your need for a tale of romantic love that softens the greediest of hearts, you will at least be rewarded with disappointment, but at most, an uncomfortable feeling of reticence.

Yet if you think of it as a cynical romp through a world in which love is dead and romance is an accessory, you might have some fun.

Catherine Zeta-Jones is pretty, catty, shallow, funny enough, and ultimately replacable. Casting a more endearing woman might have helped the romantic side of things, but it was too easy to disbelieve her genuineness. George Clooney on the other hand was extremely funny and self-deprecating (his relationship with his teeth was particularly funny). He was as shallow as Catherine's character, but much more likable, which kept the film entertaining.

The art direction was charactertistic Coien Bros. - dark, but richly colored, making for a farcical ambience throughout. The jokes were wicked and clever as usual.

If you're a Clooney fan, you'll love it, a Coen Bros. fan, you might enjoy it, but a romantic comedy fan... well, go rent a Meg Ryan film.

This film fascinates me...
Ahhh Miles Massey, master of the divorce court. This was simply an amazing piece of acting by Clooney, he took a completely repugnant stereotype of the rich, often vulture-like divorce attorney and made him quite the charming cad who at times we feel absolute pity for. Of course, he did have quite a foil in Catherine Zeta-Jones-Douglas (last hyphenation added for my amusement only), who plays the gold-digging Marylin Rexroth (her husbands name of course) that we come to at least respect, if not actually like.

For lovers of the light romantic comedy with copious good quips and quotable lines (I still can't stop saying "She fascinates me" and "the Massey pre-nup has never been penetrated") this movie provides more style-drenched comedy than romance (perhaps think Grosse Point Blank with lawyers instead of hit men).

Overall, a great selection that I would recommend to fans of the genre. While Zeta-Jones plays her usual cool, sophisticated character, Clooney takes some of the bravado of Danny Ocean and adds a big dollop of smarm. The combination made for some great laughs and the usual make-your-heart-smile finish that we expect with a movie like this.

Hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

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