A GUY THING
US, 2003, 101 minutes, Colour.
Jason Lee, Julia Styles, Selma Blair, James Brolin, Shawn Hatosy, Lochlyn Munro, Diana Scarwid, David Koechner, Julie Hagerty, Thomas Lennon, Jackie Burroughs, Jay Brazeau.
Directed by Chris Koch.
A film with a title like that and a trailer that seems to indicate it is American Pie for adults does not bode well. Since it opens with a groom's party and some sexual hijinks and ambiguities, it looks as if that is where it is going. But, no. Its heart is in the right place and true love must win out at the end.
Jason Lee (Kevin Smith's films, Dreamcatcher) has one week before he marries Selma Blair, rich, accomplished and something of a controller. The ambiguities concern one of the dancers at his party who has ended up at his place. Well, it turns out that she, Julia Styles, is the bride's cousin - with Jason making extraordinary efforts not to meet her (giving rise to a number of comic turns) and then meeting her all the time, especially when he is confronted by her former boyfriend who is a psychotic cop under investigation by internal affairs. There is plenty of plot, especially since Jason's older brother goes into raptures at every occasion.
Once again, you know what is going to happen - but how, and when? Will the wedding go on? What will happen to Selma (well, you can guess that) and what will happen to Jason (of course, it does). Jason Lee is an agreeable screen presence. Julia Styles is the less glamorous, sweet kind of actress and so brings to the film some sharpness instead of simple sweetness. There are some funny lines, quirky characters and it turned out to be more likable than anticipated.
1. A romantic comedy, the male focus? The title, the phrase being quoted throughout the film?
2. The city, homes, apartments, clubs, company offices, parties, socials, the church? Musical score?
3. The cast, the range of skills, comic?
4. Expectations from the name, raunchy male comedy? But the film more humane?
5. The making of one mistake, the consequences, compounded, comic, and real but…?
6. Paul, in himself, working in advertising, His relationship with the boss, his fiancee the boss’s daughter, her father and his roving eye (a guy thing), the snobbish mother? His own raucous parents and their manner, jokes? His brother, Pete, his broken marriage, his infatuation with Karen, mentioning her at every moment? Jim and the organising of the stag party? Paul, the drinks, the dancing girls? His waking up, the shock of finding Becky in the bed, his assumptions? His mother-in-law’s phone call, Karen arriving, awkward, getting Becky out of the room, the Minister and his watching – and the later finding of the photos and confronting Paul, his son finding the torn up photos, his censorious manner? The irony of his presence to conduct the wedding?
7. Karen, in herself, her family, with her parents? The controller, the plans, wanting the string quartet? Responses to Paul? Suspicions? The panties and finding them, the phone call to the shop and the response of the man at the counter (saving Paul, a guy thing)? The dinners? Karen wanting Becky to meet Paul? Her response to the diarrhoea? Chatting with Pete, the memories of their first meeting, Islands in the Stream? The screenplay preparing audiences for the end?
8. Becky, as a dancer, in bed, the panties, leaving, the Minister, the embarrassment? At the toll gate and the driver’s anger? At the house, Karen’s cousin, wondering about Paul, coming back in and discovering him, the pretence? The record store, their conversations? Her manner of frank speaking, pleasant, present at the dinners, observing everything?
9. Karen’s parents, proper? Paul’s parents, raucous jokes?
10. The chain of events, the stag party, in the bed, the toll, the business meeting, Paul and crabs, the man from the toilet, going to the shop, the shouting in the shop about crabs and medicine, the assistant and his being called a chef, Karen’s mother meeting him, employment for the party – and the irony of his cooking well? The diarrhoea pretence? The record shop? Pete and his attraction? The string quartet and Jimmy’s misinterpretation?
11. The planning, being fitted out for the suits? The dinner, the talk, the chef, the Minister and his being proper, the hash in the sauce, everybody reacting?
12. The day, talking with Pete, Ken overhearing (men as hunters, the guy thing)? The crowd in the church, everybody present, the music and the singer, awkwardly going up the aisle? The Minister, asking if anyone had objections, pausing and waiting?
13. Paul, his declaration, reactions? Pete, Islands in the Stream, his proposal, Karen going with him?
14. Paul in the street, the encounter with Becky, the kiss and the applause, future?
