LA STORY

US, 1991, 95 minutes, Colour.
Steve Martin, Victoria Tennant, Sarah Jessica Parker, Richard E. Grant, Marilu Henner, Kevin Pollak, Patrick Stewart, Iman.
Directed by Mick Jackson.

L.A. Story was written by its star Steve Martin, a sympathetic and romantic role for himself, his perspective on the city of Los Angeles, its eccentricities and wackiness, the hope that there is romance deep in the heart of L.A. It is also written as a love story for his then wife, Victoria Tennant.

By the end of the '80s, Steve Martin had established himself as one of America's leading comedians. In the early '90s he made quite a number of films: My Blue Heaven, Father of the Bride, House Sitter and the more serious Grand Canyon. Victoria Tennant has a very good role and is the equivalent of Annie Hall in Los Angeles. The supporting cast is entertaining, led by an eccentric Marilu Henner. There are some guest appearances by Martin's friends Chevy Chase (in an elitist restaurant) and Rick Moranis (in a sympathetic parody of the graveyard scene in Hamlet).

The film has been compared to the work of Woody Allen. It is as if Woody Allen were doing his analysis, satire and affectionate look at Los Angeles instead of New York City.

1.Steve Martin's vision and humour? Spoof, black humour, sentiment? Romance at the heart of Los Angeles? A west coast version of Woody Allen's perspective of the east coast?

2.The zaniness of the credits, the colours and shapes, design, artificiality, people, conformity, traffic, the giant hot dog, bodies and the weather, pets? The film's locations and the atmosphere of the city: freeways, studios, apartments, galleries, the zoo? Elite restaurants? Signposts on freeways? Harris's zany tour for Sarah of the city? The complexity of Los Angeles - including the weather?

3.The atmosphere of the score, the moods, the range of songs - and their lyrics - and La Mer?

4.The sardonic view of Los Angeles and its people, the critique, the romantic perspectives?

5.Steve Martin and his screen presence, humorous style, zaniness? The philosophy of being wacky? Harris and his type, work? At home, the opening of the day, his avoiding the traffic on the L.A. freeway - and the humour and intricacy of the short cut? His performance of the wacky weather - and the disapproval of the TV anchor crew? His relationship with Trudi? His impatience in getting to the brunch? On the freeway - and the beginning of the season for shootouts on the freeway, literally with guns? The friends at the brunch, their chatter, yuppy, `in' conversation? The meal, the ritual of decaffeinated coffees etc?

6.Harris as a character at home, bored and writing it on the window? The relationship with Trudi, the tensions? Her control of him? The discovery of the three years affair? His friendship with Ariel, her lesbian friend? His ability to talk things over with her? Going to the art gallery - and the video of his skating? His going to the shop for the trousers and the encounter with SanDee? The exchanging of phone numbers? The visit to the Hard Rock Cafe - her openness and freedom, her boyfriend sitting at the bar? Discovering Trudi and Frank and trying to hide from them? His sense of freedom?

7.The initial impact of Sarah, her arrival, British accent, Annie Hall clothes and hat? His infatuation? At the meal, her frank conversation? Her arrival to do the interviews and article about Los Angeles? His helping her with the car? The phone call, her seeing him on television? The meeting, the interview, seeing the eccentric side of Los Angeles? Meeting in the gallery - with Roland? The looking at the picture - and Harris's art comments? Driving home, his introducing her to the sign on the freeway? The impact of the sign, its formerly being a bagpipe, its way of communication, riddle? The question of the restaurant - and the financial check on Harris? The humiliation? The irony that Roland was able to get them to the restaurant easily? The fashionable but skimpy meal? The zoo, the visit to the cemetery - and the Hamlet-like encounter with the gravedigger? His falling in love with Sarah, kissing at the signpost, the riddle? Going to the meal - and their leaving the meal for the sexual encounter? His going to the Colon Institute for Health with SanDee? The planning of the weekend with SanDee? In the hotel room, the sexual encounter - and listening to the other couple? The irony of the meeting, the effect on each? Sarah and her wanting to leave? The importance of the weather, the plane not being able to get away? Their reuniting? Commitment? Going to visit the sign - and its solutions?

8.The character of Sarah, the Annie Hall eccentricity, in communication with her mother in Britain, the break-up of the marriage with Roland, the initial meal, her frank talk, driving the car - recklessly on the wrong side of the road? Her watching Harris on television, the interview? The weather, the gallery? The tour of Los Angeles, the zoo, the cemetery? The dinner and the sexual encounter? Ringing her mother and playing the tuba? The weekend with Roland, the discovery of Harris - and her leaving? Her return, the reconciliation?

9.Trudi, L.A. manner, dressing for the brunch, delay, arriving first? Fashions, especially for Harris? Her affair? The break-up with Harris?

10.Roland, his presence in Los Angeles, finding everything wonderful? Friendship with Harris? Sarah as his ex-wife? The plea for the return? The meal at the fashionable restaurant? The weekend with Sarah - and the cartoon images indicating homosexuality?

11.Rick Moranis as the gravedigger, the parody of Hamlet? Chevy Chase at the restaurant?

12.The television station, the wacky weather, the anchor people and their criticisms of Harris? His improvising with the weather - and the boss and his yacht sinking, his being sacked?

13.The restaurant, its clients, the elaborate presentation of credit status and investigation?

14.The sign, its personality, the bagpipes? Information, helping Harris?

15.The happy ending, Steve Martin's tribute to his wife, Victoria Tennant?