Browse all reviews by letter     A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0 - 9

USA 1987
Directed by
Fred Schepisi
107 minutes
Rated PG

Reviewed by
Bernard Hemingway
3 stars

Roxanne

Based on Edmond Rostand's enormously successful 1897 stage play 'Cyrano De Bergerac' which was set in the 17th century and adapted for modern times by Steve Martin, Roxanne tells the story of  C.D. Bales (Martin), the extraordinarily nice fire chief of an extraordinarily nice Norman Rockwell-ish hamlet of Nelson, a beautiful, blond astronomer, Roxanne (Daryl Hannah) and a professional firefighter, Chris (Rick Rossovich, who got his big break the previous year with Top Gun and slowly sank from sight thereafter) who C.D. has hired to train his motley crew of volunteer fire fighters.  C.D.loves Roxanne but he is afflicted by a huge schnozz which he is certain puts him hors de combate. Nevertheless he helps Roxanne realize her crush on Chris, a himbo who in reality loves anything in a skirt. 

I have not read Rostand's play (which was filmed with José Ferrer in the lead in 1950) but its rendering as as a highly gender-biased, allegorical rom-com with quintessentially 1980s production values dates the film.  

Nevertheless, the central moral is admirable, albeit dewily romanticised, there is a goodly quotient of amusing sight gags, and Martin's performance as C.D. parries the poor hand that Fate has dealt him with indefatigable good humour is enough to make this for Martin fans at least (and this is, frankly, one of his better films) an amiable diversion.  

 

 

back

Want something different?

random vintage best worst