Movie Notes: Shopgirl

April 16th, 2007

= 2 stars

Starring Steve Martin, Claire Danes, Jason Schwartzman
Directed by Anand Tucker

An inspired moment in Shopgirl transpires as Ray Porter (Steve Martin), a much older, independently wealthy businessman, sits on much younger Mirabelle Buttersfield’s (Claire Danes) futon in her humble, one bedroom apartment before one of their first dates. She offers him a glass of of cheap, white, refrigerated wine. Ray takes the glass out of politeness, smirks a bit, and with a pained expression, fumbles over whether or not to drink it. Wordlessly, it’s clear he doesn’t want it, as it’s a beverage far below his usual, refined taste.

Upon seeing this, my alarm bells went off. This guy is a jerk. It’s a glass of free wine, offered by someone who can’t afford better. Either politely say “no thanks, I’m driving,” or suck it up and fake a smile. But it’s a revealing moment, and pretty much sums up the hands-off relationship Ray ensues with Mirabelle — and why their relationship is doomed from the start. He sees her as pitifully beneath him.

Shopgirl has several wordless, revelatory scenes such as this (another when Jeremy [Jason Schwartzman] discovers yoga over a pair of headphones), but unfortunately, not enough for me to recommend it.

On the surface, there’s much to like. The film’s look is quite divine, as various areas of Los Angeles are carefully lit and photographed with a fine attention to color. Claire Danes and Jason Schwartzman turn in amusing performances that mine gold from quite unsupportive material.

The problem is a story so ordinary it’s banal. A girl meets two guys. The first is just right, but she has to get involved with a second to realize the first was any good. That’s really about it, and nothing entertaining happens from point A to B to add any needed variation.

Predictable is another word for it: Will she ditch Man One for Man Two? Check. Will Man Two buy her expensive things to impress her with his wealth? Check. Will someone write a “Dear John” letter? Check. Will she realize the error of her ways and return to Man Two? Check.

And sadly, none of this trio has much of a arc. It’s just sex, love, sex, no love, love, sex, The End. I wished for a case of terminal sushi induced cancer, a private jet crash, Man Two punching Man One in the face, a cameo by a famous musician, or a raging Sylvia Plath mental breakdown just to force some introspective reckoning.

Meanwhile, Steve Martin is strangely somber, floundering about for a Bill Murray Broken Flowers or Lost In Translation career boost, which largely comes off as moping around, somewhat peeved at having to drink bad wine.

Imagine a classic Woody Allen relationship flick without the witty observations, neurotic complaining, and murder, so all that’s left is an older guy going after a much younger woman and failing miserably. Something from novella to film was Lost In Translation, making me yearn for another L.A. Story containing a plate of mashed yeast.

IMDB: Shopgirl
Wikipedia: Shopgirl
Rotten Tomatoes: Shopgirl 61%