The stage curtains open ...
Ted: "Do you realize you could've shot me?" Didi: "I would never do that ... not without good reason!"
"The Woman in Red" (1984) starring Gene Wilder, Kelly LeBrock, Gilda Radner, and Charles Grodin is a film that does not live up to the promise of its music, previews, talent, or poster. What a disappointment, what a complete letdown. I never did see this one back in the day. I do remember the #1 smash hit, "I Just Called To Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder. In fact, it has always been my favorite song by him - it did win an Academy Award, and was huge internationally, AND it was Stevie Wonder's biggest hit. But, the movie it came out of was a terrible mess.
The film starts with Ted Pierce (Wilder) up on the ledge of a large motel wearing a bathrobe. You really don't know why he is up there. Is he suicidal? We follow along as he himself questions why he is up on that ledge and he recounts the events that led him to that moment in his life. It all started with a beautiful woman, a model named Charlotte (LeBrock), a woman in a red dress who catches Ted's eye. Ted - a man who is happily married with kids, content in his job, and with a good life. He finds himself willing to take risks that he know he shouldn't in an effort to spend time with Charlotte, maybe even to the point of infidelity - even though his friends are suffering in their own marriages and relationships for straying. Instead of learning from their mistakes, he takes the plunge, no matter the consequences, to be with the woman in red.
As I mentioned, for some reason, this one flew underneath the radar with me for all of these years, and this evening, I decided to finally watch it. I wasn't missing much. I did love the music, and Kelly LeBrock, in her first starring role, stole every scene she was in simply by having the camera on her. Despite Wilder's best attempts at comedy, everything was clumsy and stilted. I think they had more fun making this film, than anyone did actually watching it. It was not that well reviewed, and for good reason.
Gene Wilder also served as the film's director, and it fails on that level too. The only few good things that came out of it for me was watching Kelly LeBrock in the movie that got her noticed and propelled her to bigger and better roles later. The soundtrack was great featuring music by Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick. And it was the 2nd of three movies that Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner worked on together. I cannot recommend this movie. It is one of the worst films with Gene Wilder I've ever seen. Actually, it is THE worst film with Gene Wilder I've ever seen. It gets a lowly 2 stars out of 10. Even for late night, "I don't care what I see" viewing, it fails.
Ted: "Do you realize you could've shot me?" Didi: "I would never do that ... not without good reason!"
"The Woman in Red" (1984) starring Gene Wilder, Kelly LeBrock, Gilda Radner, and Charles Grodin is a film that does not live up to the promise of its music, previews, talent, or poster. What a disappointment, what a complete letdown. I never did see this one back in the day. I do remember the #1 smash hit, "I Just Called To Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder. In fact, it has always been my favorite song by him - it did win an Academy Award, and was huge internationally, AND it was Stevie Wonder's biggest hit. But, the movie it came out of was a terrible mess.
The film starts with Ted Pierce (Wilder) up on the ledge of a large motel wearing a bathrobe. You really don't know why he is up there. Is he suicidal? We follow along as he himself questions why he is up on that ledge and he recounts the events that led him to that moment in his life. It all started with a beautiful woman, a model named Charlotte (LeBrock), a woman in a red dress who catches Ted's eye. Ted - a man who is happily married with kids, content in his job, and with a good life. He finds himself willing to take risks that he know he shouldn't in an effort to spend time with Charlotte, maybe even to the point of infidelity - even though his friends are suffering in their own marriages and relationships for straying. Instead of learning from their mistakes, he takes the plunge, no matter the consequences, to be with the woman in red.
As I mentioned, for some reason, this one flew underneath the radar with me for all of these years, and this evening, I decided to finally watch it. I wasn't missing much. I did love the music, and Kelly LeBrock, in her first starring role, stole every scene she was in simply by having the camera on her. Despite Wilder's best attempts at comedy, everything was clumsy and stilted. I think they had more fun making this film, than anyone did actually watching it. It was not that well reviewed, and for good reason.
Gene Wilder also served as the film's director, and it fails on that level too. The only few good things that came out of it for me was watching Kelly LeBrock in the movie that got her noticed and propelled her to bigger and better roles later. The soundtrack was great featuring music by Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick. And it was the 2nd of three movies that Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner worked on together. I cannot recommend this movie. It is one of the worst films with Gene Wilder I've ever seen. Actually, it is THE worst film with Gene Wilder I've ever seen. It gets a lowly 2 stars out of 10. Even for late night, "I don't care what I see" viewing, it fails.