Rating of
2.5/4
Filled with more chuckles than laughs
The M.O.W. - wrote on 08/01/08
The set of the hit Daytime Drama, The Sun also Sets is even more of a soap opera than it is on the air.
The award-winning "Celeste Talbart" (Sally Fields) is the beloved star of the television series. But in real life, she doesn't have the dream life of a TV star we all believe they have. "Montana Moorehead" (Cathy Moriarty-Gentile) is using the show's producer "David Barnes" (Robert Downey Jr.) to get "Celeste" off the show so she can be the star. Writer "Rose Schwartz" (Whoopi Goldberg) seems to be the only level-headed person in the studio and is good friends with "Celeste," whom she helps during a bout of depression after her lover goes back to his wife and child.
"Lori Craven" (Elisabeth Shue), who is determined to become an actress, joins the show as an unknowing pawn in "Montana" and "David's" plan to get "Celeste" off the show. The two write the aspiring actress into the show as the murderer of "Celeste's" character. However, she does willing become involved with "Jeffrey Anderson" (Kevin Klein), who is rehired for the show he was written off years ago.
There aren't enough laugh-out-loud scenes in this movie, but there are many that will make you chuckle out loud. The laugh-out-loud moments become more frequent about three-quarters through the movie.
As the movie goes on, it feels more like your watching soap opera more than a comedy. This especially happens when "Celeste" reveals a secret that changes the off-set relationship and lives of "Lori," "Jeffery" and herself. However, the climax of the movie reveals a secret of "Montana" that very much has the feel of a soap opera storyline in my opinion.
Every performance, some more campy-by-design than others, are as close to perfect as you can get. Only Fields performance stands out more thanks to the glimpses of "Celeste" filming her scenes for the show. Comedic timing is also very good for every member of the cast, especially as the film builds up to the climax. The casting director did an exceptional job picking this cast.
Even though this is certainly a "Chick Flick," the men will enjoy the comedic moments even if they will mostly cause a chuckle. In my opinion, this might be a good rental.
