#Roxy (2018) Poster

(2018)

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5/10
#Poxy
southdavid3 June 2019
So. If you view every film available on Sky Movies in alphabetical order, at the top you get "#Roxy". It was for no other reason that this that I spent an evening in the company of this pretty awful Canadian teen adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac.

Jake Short plays Cyrus, wise ass high schooler who has, for years been in unrequited love with Roxy (Sarah Fisher). When she tells him of her (frankly inexplicable) attraction to Christian (Bamboo Stewart) and Christian separately does the same, Cyrus sees and opportunity to say all the things to Roxy that he wants to, vicariously through the proxy of Christian

Let's get a few positives out of the way first, I actually ended up quite liking the principle cast, towards the end of the film. Ironically, Cyrano De Bergerac actually feels more timely again now, that it has in the last few decades as love letters fell away but now instant messaging and texting is both intimate but potentially anonymous.

But the film is very cheesy. Despite being made in 2018, some of the high school movie clichés are still prevalent. Jocks, Nerds, Goths.... Same as it ever was, as if the movie was made in the 1980's.. And the use of actors who have long since left high school is still happening, the principle bully in the film, I've just looked it up and he's 29 but if you told me he was 40, I'd have believed it. The prosthetic nose on Cyrus was not good, in fact I'm not sure why they stuck with it, I understand it's part of the original story but surely just a lack of confidence would be enough to explain why he refuses to tell Roxy how he feels.

I don't want to eviscerate it too much, but it's a story that you've seen before and more convincingly.
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5/10
Seen it before
foxtrotmarie17 April 2019
Been there, seen that, nothing new. Wasn't a terrible movie if you could get past the cheesy part. It reminds me highly of those middle school aimed movies where everything is overdone.

But more than anything, why? Why does he have to have that nose? Takes it completely out of a teen movie into a painful to see parody. Its ridiculous for no reason.
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6/10
you've seen it all before.. kind of.
mcgill_j13 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Ok.. we've seen lots and lots of takes.. and variations on the theme of "Cyrano de Bergerac". This is another one. BUT while it eschews the darker ending of Rostand's original story. It also does not go the compete lighter tone that Steve Martin employed in the 80s film "Roxanne". As it stands "#Roxy" for better or worse sits somewhere between the two in terms of tone and execution.

The one thing that both this and the Martin film dropped was that the erstwhile Cryrano and Roxanne were in fact cousins. And they introduce a best friend character Dixie played by Shelly Duvall who while fun is relegated to an amusing but minor supporting role that one serves to incite the story into motion. Martin's version dropped the darker war, jealous superior (as does this), and death (and nunneries).

What I did want to point out was that this film does verge slightly on the darker end, moreso than the Martin version to be sure but definitely not as dark as the original novel which sees Cyrano and Christian sent off to war, in which the latter dies. Roxanne leaves for a covent and Cryano himself is near fatally wounded and professes his long hidden love for his Roxanne with his last bit of time.

Cyrus, as he is known here, instead of a soldier or firefighter is a highschool hacker who fights bullies with his prowess. Is in love with his childhood friend, Roxy. Who herself has a crush on the nice but not so bright Christian.

The basic structure itself doesn't change too much. The film does come off with a happy ending but actually does surprisingly (in a good way) fit in some of the moments from the story. So while this can never stand up to the superior Martin adaption, this is a closer representation of the original source material and I definitely applaud that here. The cast is actually quite good.. and the film is actually surprisingly well made for a teen rom-com.

So definitely give it a chance.. I might actually put it closer to a 7.. its just a fun little movie. Its probably one I wouldn't rush to see again but at the same time its just one that definitely takes it time and does its best with the time it had. It clearly had some limitations in terms of casting and budget, this is definitely not a big budget rom-com which has strongly evaporated from the silver screen and seems more at home in the DTV streaming market.. and for that you could do much worse.
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2/10
Comes just short of being a parody of itself
jordanlewis-292176 August 2019
Imagine every "movie made for teens by 45 year old white guys who don't understand teens" cliche you can think of: internet hackers. Pop punk theme music. Half-assed "high school sucks/just be yourself" messaging. And of course, the goddamn hashtags. Do baby boomers think everyone under the age of 21 is so obsessed with social media that hashtags are just "how the kids talk nowadays?"

Anyway, this movie is all of that, mixed in with low rent acting, goofy and at times pretentious writing, an arrogant, shallow protagonist you're actively hoping gets killed off by the end of the movie, and flat cinematography. All the kid actors are terrible. Danny Trejo is slumming it as usual. I want to know who in the boardroom came up with the idea of a teen-centric movie based on a kind-of-above-average rom-com from the 70s based on a classical French play everyone pretended to know about in the first place. I'm not mad, I just wanna talk.

In any event, if you're looking for a so bad it's good movie, here's you're next fix. If you're a lonely teenage boy looking for something to project onto and stroke your Randian power fantasy about how the whole world isn't smart enough for you and how that girl from your Mod Civ B class would totally swoon over you if only she knew the vast scope of your expansive intellect, this is right up your alley. Hopefully it'll keep you occupied long enough to keep you from shooting up your school or something. If you're not either of these people, I can't say you'll be getting a whole lot out of watching this.
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7/10
gentle fun
Cederic4 November 2018
There is almost nothing that makes this film stand out, that makes it one to recommend, that distinguishes it from dozens of other movies set in high school. It even ticks all the boxes, captures all the tropes, includes all the characters you expect to see and has them act just as you'd expect. Damningly it's predictable.

The acting doesn't astound, the soundtrack forgettable, the conversations rarely quotable, the set design mundane.

So go in with low expectations and.. let yourself be charmed. Enjoy a simple film, put together well, featuring likeable people. There are fun elements, the plot isn't entirely linear and there's certainly romance.

For all that it fails to wow the audience, this film never lets them down. Solid entertainment and worth your time.
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10/10
Smart and Funny
rainbowdar19 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This was so super cute, with some great one-liners. It doesn't ask your brain to work too hard, just sit back and enjoy! The cast really connects and the pace moves along, all the way to the happy ending we all want. :)
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10/10
A great movie portraying real life issues.
bdould19 November 2018
This movie based on an old time classic was really updated with a diverse cast of great actors. Well done!
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10/10
Worth your time
erinlgood17 November 2018
An well made movie, geered towards teens but entertaining for adults as well. Witty writing and a talented cast make this a movie to addd to your must watch list.
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8/10
Does ANYONE ever like a cover of their favorite song?
Havan_IronOak16 April 2023
Cryano Debergerac is one of my all time favorite plays. I first saw a revival version off-Broadway in NYC and I loved it. I immediately checked out the Jose Ferrer version and it was good, but not AS good. The version that I saw at the Stratford festival in Canada a few years back was great and I even enjoyed the Steve Martin remake.

This was a laudable attempt and is remarkably free of cringe-worthy moments while updating this perennial favorite.

The updating of letter to texting worked. The casting of eminently huggable BooBoo Stewart in the Christian role was a superb choice. Even the aside making best pal Raganeau, Cyrus's cousin when the original based much of the original problem on Roxanne being Cyrano's cousin was a nice touch.

The poetic duel, the wooing Roxy by proxy aspects were all enjoyable. Overall this was a fun movie for those of us that knew the story. I'm not sure why it wasn't rated higher than it is.

Still it was fun and I'd watch it again if nothing better were on offer.
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