Friday, March 07, 2008

Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day

Ever had a mouthful of Pop Rocks? The tart red candies turn into a whole party in your mouth, like tiny fireworks popping away. The human equivalent just might be Amy Adams. The ascendant princess of the smash romantic comedy Enchanted and the endearing chatterbox of Junebug returns to theaters as a highstrung actress. Her new character Delysia Lafosse wants to be a star and she’s sleeping her way to her big break in the period comedy Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day. That character description probably doesn’t sound as “cute” as you’ve expected from the adorable new star, but it’s accurate. But then, PopRocks seem fairly nondescript until they start exploding in your mouth.


Adams plays Delysia as a series of strung together mini explosions of varying natures: sexual, romantic, careerist. But first we spend a few humiliating minutes with the title character, Miss Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) who will change Delysia’s life...

Read my full review @ Zoom-In.

And if you see it this weekend, share your feelings here. It has its moments.
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17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did you pick an Anne Hathaway caption?

Robert said...

Yes I do worry about Ms. Adams range as well. A friend of mine suggested she should play Grace if Von Trier ever makes the third part of his trilogy. I'd agree if those films weren't such blatant career killers.

Well I'll continue to love her regardless, but here's hoping something develops.

Anonymous said...

I haven't seen this one, but I saw "27 dresses" a couple of weeks ago. And... ummm... well, if you really like seeing James Marsden, it's better to watch "Hairspray" or "Enchanted" once again.

adam k. said...

Do you REALLY think Amy Adams is just "cute" and has no depth/rance? She was pretty awesome in Junebug, and I'm convinced she can give more fully rounded, less surfacy turns if she's given the chance. Doubt, at least, should be interesting...

RC said...

amy adams is great. love the pop rocks analogy.

NATHANIEL R said...

adam --that's not what i'm saying. I'm saying the danger is there. I can't believe they made her do the animal face. ARGH.

robert wow that would be interesting wouldn't it. Amy Adams destroyed by Von Trier.

but anyway. "against type" would be a smart move for her soon... and preferrably in an Oscary film since they like to award people for doing something unexpected on occassion. I'm not saying she should play a junkie whore but just something we're not expecting. Like a monster mom or a weepy victim --you know, things Oscar might like ;)

Anonymous said...

I'm a bit tired of the "oh-Amy-Adams-is-so-cute"
talk. It's good that she's playing a nun in Doubt, she need those kind of parts. Anyway, she's got great comic timing, she was funny in Drop dead gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

Well, I kind of agree, but she's good at it. I mean all actors are not versatile and that doesn't mean that they are bad actors.

Her character in Doubt is described as a naive innocent nun so it is not a big departure from the sound of it. I also saw Junebug and it's the same type of innocent naive role so...


BLUE

Anonymous said...

You forgot to warn your readers not to mix Pop Rocks with soda!

By the way, I find Amy Adams overrated. I should be the go to Hollywood redhead. :(

Anonymous said...

Is it just me or does the movie sound like a half-warmed leftover? Something I might rent if I can't find anything else, but certainly nothing to get me excited enough to see in the theaters. Francis McDormand notwithstanding.

RedSatinDoll

NATHANIEL R said...

miss witt so nice to hear from you. You rocked my world as Cherish O'Lordy in Cecil B Demented

what the hell happened to your career?

Anonymous said...

It's too bad that film as a whole was such a trifle, and this needs to be the last time in a while where Amy Adams does these kind of cutesy girl-woman type roles. "Doubt" can't come soon enough.

NATHANIEL R said...

but the Doubt role is also a good hearted innocent.

it's not an about face ;)

Anonymous said...

It's a serious, non-cutesy role though. It's like nothing she's done yet, which is why I can't wait to see what Amy Adams does in "Doubt".

Anonymous said...

Saw "Enchanted" again last week (and took the missus this time) and "Miss Pettigrew" this weekend. Still think Amy Adams got jobbed last Oscar season (the whole "driving while Disney" thing) and I think she does a credible turn here. In fact, I liked the "Miss Pettigrew" movie a lot more than most of you. I do not think it is wrong to set your goal as "let's make a light entertainment that everyone can enjoy" as long as you execute on that goal and vision well. I enjoyed this movie more than all but maybe half a dozen of last year's 50+ offerings I paid to see. And sometimes, yes, that is enough.

Anonymous said...

Put it this way, if people describe her performance as "Charming" in Doubt. Then it's not vastly different. We'll see.

I thought she was good in Enchanted, but I didn't like the movie as a whole.



-Zee

NATHANIEL R said...

carl i do agree that miss pettigrew is enjoyable. I think my review probably reads a little more negative than I intended. I felt roughly the same way about it as i did about enchanted --very enjoyable but too many problems to be "classic" while light.

that said i though Amy was great in enchanted and only good here and a little overworked. LOVED that duet with Lee though.

I miss Pushing Daisies!