SUBURBAN GIRL
US, 2007, 97 minutes, Colour.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alec Baldwin, Maggie Grace, James Naughton, Chris Carmac, Vanessa Branch, Peter Scolari, Marian Seldes, Ebon Moss- Bachrach, Jill Eikenberry.
Directed by Marc Klein.
This light romantic comedy, with serious undertones, is based on a series of short stories by Melissa Bank: My Old Man, The Worst Thing a Suburban Girl Could Imagine, from the book The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing.
It is a star vehicle for Sarah Michelle Gellar as the Suburban Girl who works editing manuscripts but wants to graduate to full editor. She encounters an older man who has a strong reputation in the book trade, played by Alec Baldwin. They meet, he helping her, she falling in love, they having an affair.
The film is set in Manhattan literary society, especially with Marian Seldes as are grande dame of the establishment. In the background is the girl’s Jewish family from New Jersey, her father a doctor who is dying of cancer.
The film seems rather artificial – but is pleasantly enjoyable and faces up to the dilemma facing the older man wanting to marry the younger woman and the younger woman assessing what her life and career would be if she married him.
1. A slight romantic comedy with serious undertones?
2. The title, the focus on Brett, the background, doctor- father, literary antecedents? The young woman trying to make it big in Manhattan?
3. Manhattan, book companies, offices, book launches, socials, restaurants, apartments and homes? The musical score?
4. Brett’s story, her name after Hemingway’s character, her literary aunt? Introduction, editing manuscripts, during the opening credits? Her ambitions, rearranging the books in the shop window, the assistant trying to disillusion her hand telling her about Archie Knox? Meeting Archie, clicking, his attraction? The discussions? His literary help? Her relationship with Jed, his being in Europe, his return, breaking off? Hearing Archie’s story? Wives and daughter, alcoholic? The dates, the gifts, his book? The sexual relationship? The new boss, haughty, British, having had a relationship with Archie? Discussions about his daughter? The ultimate photos with his women? The tickets for the concert, her being late, his being angry? Going to the apartment, the gifts, the woman, his drinking again? The breaking up? Discussions with her father, mother? The father’s cancer, brother’s comments, her angry reaction, not coping? Archie coming to dinner, charm? The issue of his age? Her father’s death, grief? With her brother? The boss giving her the job, the rock star and his controlling manager, Archie turning up, the friendship with the star, getting the deal? The reconciliation? Her decision to break, comments on the death of a father-figure, the gift of her photo for his collection – with glasses on?
5. Archie, his background, in the book industry, his reputation, speeches praising him, launching Mickey’s book? The book signing? Brett, Archie writing in the book, making the date, the further dates? His background, marriages, the daughter not speaking to him, Alcoholics Anonymous? His enjoying Brett’s company, mentoring? Her reaction about his relationship with her boss, with the literary woman, her toyboy, the drink, the demonstration? Archie and his continued care of her? The concert, his anger at his daughter’s absence, Brett saying he was a shitty father? The girl, his drinking again, coming to the rescue with the rockstar, his proposal, turning him down?
6. The world, hiring and firing bosses, Brett losing her office, the friendship with the fellow-editors? The British boss, imposing on Brett?
7. Chloe, friend, designing clothes, outings together, advice?
8. Brett’s family, the father as a doctor, listening to her, his cancer, not revealing it, his response to Archie? His death? Her mother, Britain’s criticism of her at the meal at the time of the cancer? Finding Archie charming? Her brother, the news about the cancer, the clashes, bonding?
9. The literary world, the snobbish woman, status and agent, the Pulitzer prizes, her treatment of Brett?
10. An American story, American publishing, but the main story about an older man and his love for a younger woman and possible futures?
