LA Story

As the first review on this site, it should come as no surprise that I've picked the 1991 film, La Story.

LA Story, Written and Produced by Steve Martin has won its place in my heart as my all-time favorite movie.

On the surface, this movie is a quirky but loving tribute by Steve Martin to the City of Los Angeles. Martin begins the movie by showing us the absurdities of the life and people in LA. His own character, our protagonist, has the unenviable position of being a Weatherman in a city without weather! Martin encounters a British journalist (Victoria Tennant) who he feels an attraction to. At the same time, he meets Sarah Jessica Parker, a much younger woman who is crazy about him.

Martin has to decide on life with Parker, who represents the beautiful yet superficial side of LA, or Tennant, who offers what he hopes is something deeper.

Add to that the "spirit of the city" in the form of an intelligent road-construction sign, and you have a quirky, off-beat comedy about a place that Martin obviously loves and hates at the same time.

On that level, LA Story would have been a funny but forgettable movie.

What Martin does instead is show us a movie that tells us even with all the chaos, life really does work: things (and people) come together because the spirit of the city is a good one. Even though you know right from the beginning who Martin will choose (Victoria Tennant was his real life wife at the time) Sarah Jessica Parker finds her own way as well. LA Story is a movie for people who believe that the love will really bring two people together, even if they need "a pick axe and night-vision goggles" to find each other.

Steve Martin reprsises his typical character here: the loveable loser, the everyman who is our protagonist. Everything in the film comes from his perspective, including a voice-over narrative. LA Story comes off as a very personal story here, and Martin takes a risk here: if its too personal, we won't buy into the story. Fortunately it works here, largely due to the chemistry between the three principle actors.

Victoria Tennant's character is well developed (much moreso than the typical movie love-interest) and has an obvious on-screen chemistry with Martin. I think its likely that women who see the movie might take an issue with me here and hope for more from her. Martin's screenplay has the weakness here of most screenplays written by men in that regard. At the same time, you could hardly expect something different from Martin, who has written a very personal script here--the action is going to flow more from his perspective.

Sarah Jessica Parker really steals this movie. It is difficult to imagine that this is her first role as an adult actress. She represents the beautiful yet flighty, sexy, youth-obsessed object of desire that men can have. Parker manages to be in control of every scene she is in, which is interesting as Martin--back to his early days of physical comeday--normally puts himself as the center of attention. Parker is one strong reason to see the movie, having a great sense of timing and physical comedy, and also being one of the most beautiful women ever on film.

For other performances, look for minor roles by Rick Moranis, Chevy Chase and even Patrick Stewart.

Many times I have been asked to pick a favorite movie with the caveat "pick one you think shows the way the world really works." When I think about LA Story, it isn't a movie that shows the way the world really works, but rather how I wish it would work, or how I hope--someday--I'll be able to believe it works.

There comes a moment in LA Story where you have to wonder if the movie is really going to give you the emotional payoff that has been building, and it does not disappoint. The chemistry between Martin and Tennant is excellent and keeps the film from going too far into the realm of sappiness. The film's payoff ranks as one of the most emotionally intense I have seen.

Strong kudos go to Peter Melnick (music) and to Martin for choosing to use the (then) unheard of music of Enya in this film. Music can really establish a tone for a movie, and LA Story illustrates this expertly.

For a textbook analysis, LA Story is a story of Magical Realism, a wonderful artistic/literary concept from South America, where magic exists in the world right below the surface. When the magic of the movie finally manifests itself, I found myself deeply affected by the results.

Those of you who have been watching my page will know that this sounds an awful lot like the story of Winter's Tale from the Book section, and that is certainly not unintentional.

One of the most memorable quotes from the film, which has served as my Signature file for some time is spoken by Martin:

If you forget everything else I tell you, remember only this:
A kiss may not be the truth, but it is, at least, what we wish were true.

For a final rating, I give LA Story a rating of Friday Night at Full Price (5). Since it is only available for rental, the recommendation is obviously to rent it on tape or DVD.

If you have favorite lines, quotes or scenes from the movie, please let me know in an e-mail. I'll be glad to add your comments to the page!

LA Story is rated PG-13 for adult situations and dialogue, and would be appropriate fare for older teenagers.

Credits:

Staring Steve Martin, Sarah Jessica Parker, Victoria Tennant

Written and Produced by Steve Martin.

Directed by Mick Jackson.

Cinematography Andrew Dunn.

Music by Peter Melnick.

This film is available on VHS Cassette, Laser Disk and DVD.

This film is rated according to my unique system. The ratings reflect my suggestion as to how you should spend your hard earned movie-going (or, in this case, movie-renting) dollars. The ratings are as follows:

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