THE THIRD WHEEL
US, 2002, 91 minutes, Colour.
Luke Wilson, Denise Richards, Jay Lacopo, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Melissa Mc Carthy.
Directed by Jordan Brady.
The Third Wheel is a romantic comedy with variations. It was produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon who both appear in the film, the latter uncredited.
The film is a star vehicle for Luke Wilson, emerging in comedy and romance at this time, the shy worker who wants to take out the woman from the office to whom he is attracted. She is played pleasantly by Denise Richards.
When they finally go out, there is a series of mishaps but Diana is agreeable and Stanley tries to overcome his awkwardness. When they hit a homeless man, Phil, played by Jay Lecopo, who wrote the screenplay, there begins a series of adventures and misadventures, Phil seeming awkward but always cheerful, trying to help the date. This includes his monologue performance at an open-air theatre, his talking about bread while a series of slides are shown in the background – and the audience applauds. He also says he has a bag full of glass animals, giving him by Laura – with Stanley eventually realising that he is talking about Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie.
Phil keeps intervening like a hobo guardian angel and eventually the couple have a happy ending – and he goes on to be hit by the car of the two slackers at the tow away yard. It all ends with happy dancing behind the final credits – and audiences will appreciate seeing Melissa Mc Carthy some years before her major impact in Bridesmaids and her subsequent successful star career.
1. An easy going romantic comedy – with some tensions?
2. The title, Stanley and Diana – and the addition of Phil and his contribution to the date and changing people’s lives? The down-to-earth equivalent of a guardian angel?
3. The city settings, the office and its work, board meetings, apartments? The date, drinks, the play, the tow away, the restaurant, the apartment…? The musical score?
4. The focus on Stanley, ordinary, shy, at work, the workmates, especially Michael? The group and their interest in Stanley, his romance? His seeing Diana, the attraction, his awkwardness, not making headway, the next day, six months, the year? His determination, egged on by Michael? Michael giving him the joke, the awkwardness of the meeting with Diana, telling her the joke and her laughing?
5. Agreeing to the date? His getting ready, clothes, the car, the flowers? Her getting ready, choice of clothes? His picking her up, the talk, the silences, breaking through the silence? The drink? The woman pressurising Stanley to buy all the roses? The one white rose – and Stanley organising Michael to have it at the end?
6. The workers of the office, placing all the bets, the chart? Spying on the couple? Relaying the information?
7. In the car, hitting Phil, his reactions? The story of the glass menagerie and Laura giving him the animals? In the bag? The attempts to help, Stanley going to ATM to pay for the broken animals? Diana and her concern? The taking him to the hospital, his reactions, X-rays, the nurse?
8. Phil, his character, appearance, on the streets, the glass menagerie? Being hit, his interactions? In the car, his comments, seeing Stanley as uptight? Wanting to make Diana laugh? Helping with the date – despite Stanley saying they were just friends?
9. Going to the concert, parking in the tow away space and Stanley not noticing? getting their seats, Michael and Marilyn at the play? The different performances, the monologues, boring? Phil going backstage, picking up the bread, coming out on the stage, his descriptions of the various kinds of bread, the slideshow behind, relating his talk to the slides, people’s reactions, the standing ovation? His response, and the car towed away?
10. Going to the yard, the two in attendance, slackers, Hank on his break, Diana and her being attractive, getting the car, pushing Hank out? Trying to get rid of Phil? His continued interventions, thinking he was doing good?
11. At the diner, Phil joining the couple, Kevin’s arrival, the breakup with Diana, his rudeness, Phil accosting him, his weeping?
12. Taking Diana home, her wanting to find Phil somewhere to stay, Stanley returning, seeing Phil in the house, his accosting Diana, coming in, the fight?
13. Phil, at the shop, getting the bottles and breaking them, his new broken menagerie, meeting the two tow away men, their hitting him, their reaction – and
his beginning to change their lives?
14. Happy dancing during the final credits?
