Seen: July 3rd, 2007
Format: DVD
Rating: 6
I like both Carey Grant and Katherine Hepburn a great deal. They're individually great and do very well together. I settled in with Holiday and waited for the magic.
And waited, and waited.
I won't say that I didn't enjoy this film, I did. But the problem I had was that the thing that was best about this film, the reparte between the leads, was far too long in coming and too sparse when it did.
You can see this film coming a mile off. It reminded me of The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer, a much later film. You know that there's going to be problems, you know where true love is going to surface, and you spend the whole film waiting for it to happen.
There is magic between the leads, but it's quashed by the social situation for the majority of the film. While it does fit the story, holding it out as a carrot for us, all the while dragging us through socio-political rhetoric, becomes more than a bit tiresome.
There are some great moments here, though. The scenes between Grant and Hepburn are sparkling. Horton and Dixon do a marvelous turn as the Potters and their scenes are wonderful as well. They're the catalyst for this story, but subtly played. Kolker's Ned is excellent as well. He plays him with the a wry sadness that is palpable. He character may be the one that best summarizes the whole point of the film.
As Romantic comedies go, this was has a bit of an agenda. There's a philosophical struggle going on here, if not a political one. It's a shame that it becomes the focus and overshadows the real classical Romance that's happening in the shadows.
The Good: Grant and Hepburn can't be all bad
The Bad: Oh so predictable
The Ugly: Driven to drink.
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