Movie Journals |
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Under the Tuscan Sun
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Under the Tuscan Sun
Under the Tuscan Sun (113 minute run time) brought up two important points. This movie was the epitome of the chick flick, from three bouts of teary smiling I endured to the theme that older women can still be sexy.
Because this movie is probably in its last few weeks, the theater only offered it once on Sunday. I assured myself that I would have the theater to myself. Ha! There were more 50+ women in the theater than I knew existed. They were coming in groups of seven, ten, twenty. The perfume index was so high that I actually chose to sit in the break-your-neck kid seats just to get away. Though small, the theater was at full capacity. So, important point number one—there must be a shortage of older-lady chick flicks, and with such an eager audience, why hasn’t Hollywood done more to address the need?
Throughout the movie, older late hot chick number one, Frances, meets some really great guys; the audience wants to see her hook up with each one, but she doesn’t. In the end, of course, she finds a great guy, but by then the audience doesn’t care so much because we, as she does, accept her blessings and stop moping about the prayers unaddressed. So, important point number two—life is chock-a-block full of disappointments, and until one accepts her circumstances, she can not move forward; movies often portray this theme of the necessity to let go of the desire so that one can finally get the desired outcome. In writing of real-life ups and downs and letting go, how does a writer make sure the audience doesn’t give up so much that they just plain don’t care what happens next?
By the end of the Tuscan Sun, I was rather neutral about Frances finding a man because she had so much going on for her and because each time I hoped for a good outcome with a potential guy, I (as she) was let down.
Overall, it is an enjoyable film, if you like that kind of thing—which I do. The scenery is often awe-inspiring, and the characters are quirky, friendly, and fun.
Karen Walker 17 November 2003 |