What can you call a movie that wants to update those zany "sex comedies" (where no one seemed to have sex) of the 50s/60s, yet parody them at the same time. One one hand, you have the respect an update would seem to inspire, but a parody has a certain lack of respect. So what do you call a movie that has mixed feelings on the subject and almost has sex? Well, I'd call it a composite of the last year with my ex, but you could also call it Down with Love.

Thanks to digital cable, this is one of the freebie's offered for anytime viewing this month. When it first came out, I told Sandra, my movie going friend, that I wanted to see it. I had fond memories of Doris Day with Rock Hudson or Cary Grant in the now politically incorrect movies like Pillow Talk or That Touch of Mink. Sandra turned to me and said quite a few things that wouldn't make it past the Epinions' Censors, but it all boiled down to: "Not with me, you don't."

Let's see, the standard plot of these Day-Hudson or Grant movies was skirting around sex, boy meets girl, boy and girl skirt around sex, boy loses girl, boy and girl skirt around sex, and boy finally gets girl (after marriage, of course... this was the 50s/60s).

Down with Love is definitely paying homage to these types of films with the ever cute Renee Zellweger in the Day role and Ewan McGregor in the Hudson/Grant role. Zellweger as Barbara Novak, has just written a book called Down with Love which is very feminist (or visionary) for the 1962 setting as it instructs women to stop being doormats, eat chocolate, forget love, and begin to treat sex as men do. McGregor as Catcher Block (and it's the 21st century in me wondering what he's "catching" from all those beauties he's with) is the top journalist for the male oriented "Know" magazine. He's very much a playboy who likes the status quo just fine, thank you very much!

It's almost at this point that I have some trouble with this film. Zellweger seems unsure if she's parodying the role or creating it. At times, she does a passable Day impersonation, but she's so much better when she begins to act like Barbara Novak and not like Day acting like Barbara Novak. She's assisted by her editor, Vikkie Hiller (Sarah Paulson) who's trapped by the glass ceiling in the Old Boys' Publishing Network and determined to be a "Down with Love girl", too. Feminists, but still calling themselves "girls". What would help is some publicity and Hiller is determined to get Novak in the "Know" by having Catcher "ladies' man, man's man, man-about-town" Block interview her. Using her connections to Peter MacMannus (hilarious job by David Hyde Pierce), who is very interested in her, she arranges for an interview with the elusive Catcher. He proves to be more than elusive as he continually ditches the interview to frolic with some beauties.

Vikki, however, doesn't let that stop her or Barbara. A very lucky break lands them an announcement on the Ed Sullivan show with Judy Garland singing a song that just happens to be entitled "Down with Love. Before you can say: "Women of the World--UNITE!", the women of the world are buying this book, reading it, and suddenly the sexual revolution begins without a shot! When the book begins to interfere with Catcher's frolicking though, he is determined to make Barbara Novak fall in love with him and write an expose on her just to set it all back to normal. Hiding his identity, he assumes the characteristics of a man Barbara Novak would be interested in, a man she would fall in love with, a man she would denounce her book for.

The Good

Perhaps the best to be mentioned is David Hyde Pierce. He shines brilliantly as Peter MacMannus, you wonder if his neuroses will have neuroses by the time the movie is finished. The costumes are equally exceptional, giving that 1960s Barbie Doll feel to it with sheaths, matching accessories, and nice hats. The sets are stunning with Barbara's "bachelorette" digs being the feminine, pink flip-flop of Catcher's high-tech bachelor pad. And once Zellweger decides she's going to act like Barbara Novak, instead of Day acting like Barbara Novak, she hip-sways into her scenes extraordinarily well. And Tony Randall has a nice cameo.

The script is quirky, filled with wry humor and making those sexual innuendoes more clear. One scene involves Catcher talking about his new socks with elastic tops to boss Peter. The secretary who hears them measuring the, uh, "items" and discussing length and how long it stays up makes her own assumption and promptly faints. Between the quick banter on "KNOW" magazine and "NOW" magazine, words become toys. Towards the end, Zellweger has a monologue that defies explanation and is a high-light by itself.

The Bad

Using split screen shots to show two actors doing similar things is a virtual trademark to the Day/Hudson films. However, in an effort to be more risque than the original movies, director Peyton Reed updates it a bit too much in an exercise-while-talking-on-the-phone (and don't we all talk on the phone while huffing and puffing) scene practically becomes a fully clothed sex manual. It's funny, but might offend a few.

Ewan McGregor is one of the few points I have problems with. At times, he seems unsure who he is parodying as his accent warbles a bit. He struck me as being a bit too thin and young for the part. Okay, hate mail to packsim@aol.com.

But perhaps my biggest problem is that the movie never really seems to keep focused--is it homage, parody, or spoof. It seems to change from time to time. Walking a tightrope like that is difficult, so it is perhaps excusable for it to falter now and then.

Lisa's Final Word

I don't own this film and as I caught it on Movies on Demand from my digital cable provider, I have no idea what the DVD offers. I wouldn't mind owning it, but it's not that high of a priority right now.

1 star for David Hyde Pierce who is wonderful!
1/2 star for costumes
-1/2 star for Ewan MacGregor just not being the right type for the part (remember the hate mail address).
-1/2 star for pushing the innuendoes a bit too far at times.

Overall, (as movies all start out as average in my new review system), 3 and 1/2 stars, rounding up to 4. It's worth renting or catching on cable.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good Date Movie
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older