Customer Reviews

You Stupid Man

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sure, it's derivative. You've seen this story before. Maybe a hundred times. But this differs from the rest of the romantic comedies for one very big reason -- Milla Jovovich.

Jovovich is utterly charming throughout this movie. Until now, I knew her as a sci-fi action star and gorgeous model. But she shines in this film. Even when she's muttering the silliest lines fed to her by this so-so, been-there-done-that script, Milla is the "real deal."

I give this movie just three stars (based fully on Milla Jovovich's performance). She's so good, and I adored her so much in this movie, that I might just add it to my DVD collection. Even with only three stars.

David Krumholtz comes across as somewhat superficial. It seems that he is reading a prompter. Still, overall it is a great movie mostly because Milla Jovovich does so well. People who see Milla in movies like Resident Evil or The Fifth Element are likely to think that Milla has the ideal prsonality for high action heroine roles. But people who see her in You Stupid Man are likely to think she has just the right personality for romantic comedy. People who see her in Million Dollar Hotel or Stone, or The Messenger might get a completely different take on her talents. She's extremely gifted. I don't think anyone else in show business could be nearly as convincing as Milla in all these varied roles. Betty Davis and Katherine Hepburn were great actresses no doubt. But no one in the motion picture industry has ever been as captivating as Milla. In "You Stupid Man" Milla may be at her most lovable. It would be a toss up between "You Stupid Man",and her other roles in "Stone" and "The Fourth Kind". From her rantings to her silent treatment to her singing, she's everything that is so beloved about womanhood.

This was a good movie and there was some real chemisty between Milla and her awkward nerdy leading man who has a good heart but keeps putting his foot in his mouth. Baldwin and Denise Richards are an after thought and could have been played by anybody. Milla is the star and is perfect in this kind of role. This movie should have been released in the theaters in the states. She is a sweety.

If you are thinking of renting or purchasing this film, be advised that the promotional poster and DVD cover is deceptive. Denise Richards does not appear in those black leather pants or in any outfit that is particularly hot. On the other hand 2001 was the absolute peak of her attractiveness. She was into a serious fitness thing which brought her weight down, doing very good things for her face. And she was a good fit for the role, which capitalizes nicely on her Jane Russell/Megan Fox type negative charisma; and on Richards own general vacuity.

The other casting choices were not as good. Writer/director Brian Burns is trying for the "Annie Hall" - "When Harry Met Sally" crowd and wants David Krumholz (Bernard of "Santa Clause" fame) to sell himself as a Woody Allen like nebbish in the middle of a love triangle with two extremely beautiful women. Unfortunately this oily actor looks like the sort of guy who would proposition your 14-year old sister. Not anyone you want to identify with nor anyone who brings out your sympathy vote.

Milla Jovovich is a talented actress who has appeared in way too many bad films; most much worse than this one. She is hopelessly miscast physically in "You Stupid Man" where her character's plainness is supposed to contrast with the dazzle of Richard's character. Despite this she manages to sell her character; although you never remotely buy into her love for "Meet Me in St. Louis"; her rendition of "The Trolley Song" is genuinely painful. If you are a fan of that classic musical I suggest giving "You Stupid Man" a wide berth as Burns makes it the awkward leitmotif of the Krumholz/Jovovich relationship (insert "yuck" here).

Burns has written a decent script, a little light on comedy or at least comedy that works, but its social commentary gets high marks. Too much of a NYC consciousness probably hurts this thing with a national audience.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

what striked me as surprising in this romcom is the sincerity on how the screenwriters sketched these characters...not in the "i am here take me...i am the love of your life" but on the more realistic as you can get in screen...sure there's the usual laws of romcoms in here...boy get dump, boy get bad date, boy meet girl, boy-girl falls in love....but in the mid-points of this you get not actors but real people with their real emotions...case in point, after a meeting with ex, boy runs to "friend"'s house, instead of the usual crying and lets get to sex, its more like "i am here to help you" kinda vibe...which is refreshing....of course, you wanna take your romcoms with a grain of salt, but this one really trully uplifted the lameness that crosses the movie landscape (yes, i am talking to you elizabethtown!). the players: the star of numb3rs and milla "resident evil", and ex-mrs sheen all do excellent work...specially i was really feeling good that the leads had an awesome chemestry. you can feel it in the air...and funny thing, supporting cast...one of the balwins (awesomely bad boy with a love for his brother), and the friends of the lead (sorry i didnt caught their names) played pretty good as matchmakers...all in all, you're not going to take this for an oscar marathon, but surely right there in the top 10 romcoms in my list...
1. harry met sally
2. casablanca
3. you got mail
4. sleepless in seattle
5. meet joe black
6. sound of music
7. dirty dancing
8. you stupid man
9. titanic
10. gone with the wind
not in that particular order (except you stupid man!)