Roxanne
ROXANNE (PG)
D: Fred Schepsi
Columbia (Michael Rachmil & Daniel
Melnick)
US 1987
107 mins
Comedy/Romance
W: Steve Martin [based on "Cyrano de
Bergerac" by Edmond Rostand]
DP: Ian Baker
Ed: John Scott
Mus: Bruce Smeaton
Steve Martin (C.D. Bales), Daryl Hannah (Roxanne
Kowalski), Rick Rossavich (Chris), Shelley Duvall (Dixie), John Kapelos (Chuck), Fred Willard (Mayor Deebs), Michael J. Pollard (Andy)
A great example of Steve Martin's finest works, penned by
the actor himself, adapting Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac to modern day British Columbia.
Large-nosed small town fire chief C. D. Bales falls for
the new girl in town, who herself takes a shine to Chris, his new deputy. With Bales playing the part of matchmaker, the twist is that it's his own poetic mind, intelligence and sense of
humour which she falls for and only attracted to Chris for his looks.
Martin's zany sense of humour really suits the film, and
though some scenes drag in the latter half of the film, there's enough funny moments in the entirety to make this a worthwhile watch, as well as an easier-to-digest version of a piece of
classic literature.
7/10
