There’s a Howard Hawks quote that will never grow old: “A good movie is three good scenes and no bad scenes.” For me, this is Roxanne in a nutshell – three good scenes including one that brings down the house and an in-between with nary a moment that begs for you to flip the switch. A quiet retelling, Roxanne is my very favorite adaptation of the Edmond Rostand classic Cyrano de Bergerac.
C.D. Bales (star and screenwriter Steve Martin) is no French warrior. In fact, he’s a humble fire chief. Humble because, despite his talents for street fighting, humor, and wordsmithing, he is the chief of an embarrassingly bad group of firemen. Oh, and one little item – the talented bachelor fire chief has one tiny physical aberration: a nose the size of New Hampshire. He’s also a tad sensitive about it … like “fightin’ words” sensitive, despite his lack of traditional swordplay (he uses a tennis racket to foil skipole-toting bullies in the opening scene). I’d say the original Cyrano is rolling in his grave, but he probably gets stuck at 45 degrees. :rimshot:
Encountering a naked siren, Roxanne (Daryl Hannah), C.D. helps her out of a mundane jam and falls in love. While he has the self-assuredness and skill to dispatch multiple jerks with a single quip, C.D.’s proboscis insecurity makes him romantically unavailable. So when a hunky veteran firefighter and professional meathead (Rick Rossovich) takes an interest in his interest, C.D. reluctantly woos Roxanne in Chris’ name. The results range from the tragically sensual to the absolutely ludicrous:
Chris (mishearing C.D. from the bushes): I was afraid of worms, Roxanne, worms!
The reader may recognize the dilemma immediately — do we want C.D. to woo Roxanne successfully in the name of Chris, or not? And how long until Roxanne –literally a rocket scientist- figures out she’s being gamed? Among other assets, Roxanne is great “beginner’s romance” film. For its devotion to humor and reluctant coupling, Roxanne is enjoyable even to those who have a strong aversion to the genre. Like its contemporary The Princess Bride, Roxanne is great training film for getting your personal meathead to tolerate a full Nicholas Sparks.
Steve Martin, who continues to be anywhere between the ages of 30 and 90, solidified his star and appeal with the adaptation he penned here. Martin may well have been my favorite comedian at the time; this film and Parenthood two summers later allowed him to be seen as a sarcastic everyman, allowing his career to vault into unforeseen middles. Like so many comics-turned-actors, especially those influenced by “SNL,” Martin’s career continues to exist long after his films stopped being amusing or poignant.
When I reach my 80s, I will know Daryl Hannah for exactly two films: Roxanne and Kill Bill. I swear to GOD, if you even hint at “Splash” in my direction, I will come right through this computer and splash you silly. I’ve never thought much of Hannah, or bug-eyed Shelley Duvall for that matter, but I will remember the latter in this, Annie Hall, and The Shining. RIP Fred Willard … one of many quality roles, my friend.
Roxanne is a great underdog film. Nobody has a nose that big. Not these days when you can do something about it … but this isn’t about a nose. Roxanne is about overcoming any personal insecurity that cripples and defeats action. Love the messenger, love the message, love the film.
There once was a man making the rounds
Whose honker made people say “Zounds!”
Hopping by pogo stick
A woman yelled, “Kiss me quick!”
Confused, he queried, “Love nose?” “No, bounds!”
Rated PG, 107 Minutes
Director: Fred Schepisi
Writer: Steve Martin
Genre: Rootin’ for the oddball
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Underdogs
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Bullies
