Customer Reviews

A Life Less Ordinary [VHS]

5 star:		(76)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Every time I read a bad review of this movie, one of the main complaints is that the angels are out of place, or not needed. Not so! Their presence explains why the two radically different main characters fall for each other. Without the angels, this story would be a trite, Showtime-style story of "kidnapped girl falls for cute kidnapper", but the celestial help allows the romance to fall into place so that the story can progress beyond that. You know that Robert and Celine have to fall for each other, the fun is in how the angels arrange the circumstances that put them in "the love situation".

The humor in this movie is very black and/or subtle - you have to pay attention to the dialogue if you want to catch everything. It never becomes arch, though, and allows both characters, especially Robert (Ewan McGregor), to show their sweetness. One of the only problems was that in making Robert a 'good guy', the screenwriters kind of made him ineffectual - every character takes advantage him in some way. But McGregor conquers that obstacle and produces a great character, very much the star of the film. Watch for the grave scene. It is the ABSOLUTELY the funniest scene in a movie, ever. Also the ransom call scene. Both are driven by McGregor to great effect. (Why, Oh why, doesn't he do any books-on-tape? I could listen to that voice for hours!)

I am not a fan of romantic comedies, mostly because of the unrealism that two perfect people find each other and fall in love. ALLO is different, though, because it explains *why* they HAVE to fall for each other instead of just giving us the situation and making us believe it.

And to all those reviewers who don't understand the angels, go watch a Meg Ryan movie.

WATCH THIS AND LOVE IT!!!!

A LIFE LESS ORDINARY is definately an original movie. This is a completely original plot that is enriched by good actors. It stars Cameron Diaz, as the socialite Celine, and Ewan McGregor, who plays Robert, a custodian. Two angels are sent down to earth to help pair up these two unlikely people, and make them fall in love. Robert kidnaps Celine in an attempt to get back at her father, who got him fired and replaced him with a robot. At first they despise each other, but as the movie progresses she shows him how to be a success as a kidnapper, and he softens her attitude, and they eventually fall for each other. Hilarity ensues every time they seem to get off track and the angels make desperate attempts to put them back together, such as writing a poem, acting as killers. Overall it's a wonderful movie that is well acted and well scripted, definately a delight to see if you want something different or just enjoy good comedy with a twist.

It's been a long time coming, but romantic comedies finally have the hope of seeming new and original. I had wanted to see this movie for a long time, and when I finally did, I wasn't at all dissapointed. This film was scalded by bad reviews and low box office take. Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz make a great team. McGregor is an extremly talented actor and he makes a great comic actor! One of the best scenes is where he tries making a ransom call, but has to keep starting over because he messes up! This movie has everything: great direction, good actors, a great story, and puts more than a few more than welcome kinks into the romantic comedy formula, which is turned upside down! This film is underrated and if you've heard all the reviews simply see the film for yourself. And even if you don't like it, it's not a bad Friday night video rental. Check it out.

I don't understand why the critics slammed this movie so hard. Granted, the framing plot with the two evil angels is really, really stupid. But I can ignore that because the give-and-take between Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz is so funny, so charming, so perfectly acted. They work so well together, with Diaz as the spoiled-brat rich girl and McGregor is a sweet guy so bumbling he doesn't even know how to commit a crime properly and Diaz has to teach him. And check out the song-and-dance number where McGregor turns into a Broadway showman! The soundtrack music is great, too, especially R.E.M.'s "Leave." When I rented this movie last summer, I loved it so much I watched it four times in three days. I finally got my own copy for Christmas, and now I can watch it as much as I want. I suggest you add it to your video collection, too, so you can pull it off the shelf whenever you want to watch a fun, romantic comedy.

"Robert: Right you asshole, I've got your daughter here, and I'm gonna send her back in pieces if... OH! I'm sorry, madam. No, I haven't got your daughter here; I've got someone else's. No, we're not married. Yes, I've read the same thing, it's very hard to find suitable young men these days. Well, I'm sure your daughter's very nice, in principle I've got no objection to meeting her...

Celine hangs up the phone

Robert: What is the problem?"

Robert, Ewen McGregor, has kidnapped Celine, Carmeron Diaz, for ransom, and he really doesn't have a plan. Celine has to prod him along and teach him how to ask for ransom. This is a cosmic entry into the movie of no ordinary man. During the long time awaiting the ransom Celine and Robert hit it off. Celine wants to leave her family and in particular her father, and this is her way out. However, she had not planned on falling for her kidnapper. Celine, takes action and she really is the strong and comedic part of this movie. Their adventures begin anew and some of them are side splittingly (sp) funny. How will they begin their new life? Where is the ransom money and how in Hell do they get rid of Holly Hunter, she just won't die !

There is a scene in the dentist's office that is laugh out loud funny. Your worse nightmare of what a visit to the dentist would be. A dentist with his head wrapped in gauze, the result of a terrible accident, who will fill a cavity without novacaine, becasue after all, "You'll probably pass out from pain anyway!"

And, Elvis Presley singing, "You Were Always On My Mind", is such a romantic touch as Celine and Robert meet. And then "If I Were Your Woman and You Were My Man" while they decide if they are really meant for each other. Absurd and irrational, yes, but then, the entire movie is one for the books!

Recommended. prisrob

Ewan McGregor is fab, whatever he does. (Except maybe Phantom Menace.) He's a wonderful actor. Just had to get that out of the way. ^_^

I've heard this movie compared to Dogma, in the way that it's appeal varies dramaticlly, depending on what kind of person you are. It can either be very funny and witty, or too weird for certain tastes. The best way to tell if you like it, would be to watch it, and find out ^_^

This movie has some of my favorite quotes ever, (besides Romy and Michelle's Highschool Reunion...^_~) "If you don't pay up, I'm going to send your daughter home in... in boxes! Little boxes!" And once again, our beloved Ewan tries his hand at singing... a little 50's diner number with Cameron Diaz, in which they dance on the bar top.

This movie is not at all realistic. In fact, that's most of it's appeal. At the end of the movie, there is a clay-animation in which Ewan and Cameron Diaz fly away to Scotland in a little car. Realistic? I think not. But seeing the clay version of Ewan McGregor, (as well as all of the central charachters,) generates enough of a laugh to let you walk away with that fuzzy warm feeling. And as a dark comedy, it's a great way to end the movie.

Don't listen to cynics - definatley give this movie a chance!! ^_^

"A Life Less Ordinary" is a zany romp. Ewan McGregor plays Robert Lewis, the hestitant kidnapper who gets himself into the predicament accidentally because he's mad that janitor robots replaced him at a local business and his protest went awry, his "victim" is a controlling spoiled brat Celine Neville (Diaz) the child of his ex-employer, who, having been kidnapped before, contantly criticizes his kidnapping style. But believe it or not, you forget about the kidnapping altogether after half an hour as the two bond with each other.

Fact is, the kidnapping kicks off the movie but doesn't need to last because that's not what it's about, though they get themselves into enough legal trouble to last the whole film as a result of it. It's actually a romance about divine intervention.

Yes, divine intervention.

Apparently, St. Gabriel, who is upset at the lack of true and pure love, sends two agents down (played by Jackson O'Reilly and Holly Hunter in one of her most hilarious roles), to get them together or risk saying adios to pearly gates forever. They get mixed up with the apparently highly crooked Mr. Neville who wants them to kill Robert. Of course they can't do that because that would defy their purpose, on several accounts. Add a few gun fights, lots gunshot wounds, people getting crushed by cars, and some hilarious dialogue and situations and you get the general jist of the film. It doesn't try to make sense, but it does haphazardly in a frenetic, frantic, truly crazy way (though all cinematography stays well on the ground, no flying fairies or can can dancing here, and no, that's not a jab at Moulin Rouge).

The film also boasts a slew of great performances from Mcgregor and Diaz (very creative performances if you can imagine such a thing), Stanley Tucci the sleazy dentist ex-fiancee, to Ian Holm and Ian McNiece as the insideous Mr. Neville and his henchman. But the movie's real star, even beating out the couple's Sinatra dance duet in a honky tonk or their high speed racing in dilapitaed pickup trucks, is the script. It's high energy and brilliantly crafted, John Hodge (the writer) and Boyle (director) outdid themselves with such an insane yet workable idea.

Great watchable film that is highly undderated. Deserves more praise for being as un-ordinary and chock full of talent as possible.

This movie is really very funny, slightly dark, but still very funny. It deals with issues of fate and destiny and really makes you think. The lines are intelligent and hilarious, the action is very suspenseful and stupendously funny, and the characters are the wackiest one will ever meet.

The actors had great chemistry and they pulled their individual characters off effortlessly. The acting is really the best thing about the movie. Without Ewan, Cameran, etc. I highly doubt this movie would have been so great, despite the hilarious lines and actions.

All in all, one of THE best movies I have seen in a very long while. I urge any and all of you to see it. It's what all relationships should be... twisted, slightly sick, and filled with tons of humor. See it!

This is a great movie! It is one of my favorite movies probabaly because I've never seen one like it. The movie opens in heaven where two people (angels..whatever) are given a mission to join man and woman in eternal bliss. And if they fail, they don't return.

Robert (Ewan McGregor) is fired from his job as a janiter. After threatening to kill his boss if he doesn't give it back, he resorts to kidnapping his rich daughter, Celine (Cameron Diaz).

As the story unfolds, Celine finds herself teaching Robert more about kidnapping than he even thought, and they end up being in it together.

The mission is a success....so far..

A wonderful storyline with brilliant acting by McGregor and Diaz. This movie has it all: love, hate, miracles, lying, stealing and so on.

Great photography and an excellent soundtrack! It's definatley worth your money!!

But this one was just great! I rented it for a movie party with the Boyle-MacDonald team as the theme (already loved Trainspotting and Shallow Grave), and all the guests loved it too.

The video store called it drama, but whoever made that classification obviously didn't watch it. We couldn't stop laughing! We had to watch the ransom call scene over again so we could hear it!

I don't have much of an opinion of Cameron Diaz (the only other movie I've seen her in is The Mask), but I think she did well. If the movie were 10 years older, Michelle Pfeiffer would have gotten her role. Ewan McGregor, I love, and this movie is definitely worthy of his talent. The costume department went out of their way to make him look silly but he was still too cute for words. And watching his character get deeper and deeper over his head really drew me in.

About the only beef I have with this movie is they never explained why some Scottish kid is working as a janitor in California, but it was good enough that I really didn't care.