Fri, Dec 23, 2005

: Fun with Dick and Jane

This is apparently a remake of a 70’s film which I’ve never seen or heard of so I can’t compare the two, but I really enjoyed this one. It’s modernized, with Jim Carey’s character the patsy in an Enron-like corporate meltdown. He and his wife lose everything and eventually take to robbery to make ends meet. This kind of film is an extremely difficult balancing act to maintain: the characters must be sympathetic and can’t do anything too mean, yet we must believe they really do become successful bank robbers. Fortunately, the film does do this well and it works. There are many hilarious, classic scenes (like the family in swimsuits and soaped bodies running through the neighbor’s lawn sprinkler for showers). The film is tongue-in-cheek and makes fun of corporations and 9-to-5ers, has a few serious points about the evils of “keeping up with the Joneses,” and has a simple, elegant plot. The ending is great and satisfying, and the husband-and-wife team of Carey and Tea Leoni is wonderful and believable. This is not an especially deep film, but it’s good fun, and quite entertaining. Enjoy it!

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