WISHFUL THINKING
US, 1997, 84 minutes, Colour.
Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Beals, James Le Gros, Jon Stewart, Eric Thal.
Directed by Adam Park.
Wishful Thinking is a little-known romantic comedy produced by the Weinsteins with one of their employees and production managers, Adam Park, writing and directing.
The film is light, three episodes from different points of view of the central characters – with a final chapter in black and white before everything is resolved in colour.
James Le Gros is irritating as the central character – and one wonders why Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Beals were attracted to him in the first place. However, he does his best with playing a character which he himself describes as an idiot. Drew Barrymore gives one of her twee performances, much like that in many films, for instance He’s Just Not That Into You. Jennifer Beales, however, is very strong, illuminating every scene even if she’s wearing a dowdy wardrobe. Jon Stewart was to move into his successful television chat show at this time.
The film focuses on thirtysomethings, their interactions, suspicions, loves, betrayals – and finding new love.
1.The title? As applied to each of the central characters? In terms of romance and love?
2.The New York settings, the apartments, the vet, the old cinema, the projection room? The restaurants, Coney Island? The musical score?
3.The screening of I, Mobster? The film in itself, the gangster background? Max and his watching it, his imagining his friends in it, himself? The humorous spoof of the film with the central characters performing?
4.The structure: the three chapters, the perspective of Max, Lena, Elizabeth? The final chapter, in black and white, with Max going up into the clouds? The final credits and colour?
5.Max, in himself, a would-be writer, showing the old films at the cinema? His being chased by the vicious man, bashed, saving the dog? The encounter with Elizabeth? His relationship with her? His being suspicious, paranoid? The party and his meeting Jack, seeing Jack with Elizabeth, her explanations, his saying he believed her, his not believing her? The tensions at their apartment? About visiting her mother? Lena and her infatuation with him? The phone calls, fostering his suspicions, rushing home to find Elizabeth, confronting her? Her going to Coney Island? The final climax, the violence on the roof? His suspicions about Jack, not knowing about Henry? Sitting talking with Elizabeth, her departure? His voice-over, coming down to earth? Appreciating Lena, the meal with her? A future?
6.Lena, at work in the cinema, her attraction towards Max? At the party, friendship with Jack? Her own story, following Jack, the phone calls, the lies, urging his suspicions of Elizabeth? Meeting her in the street? Her change of heart, trying to remedy the situation? Phoning Elizabeth? The end and the reconciliation with Max?
7.Elizabeth, strong character, as a vet? Her skill in her work? The attraction towards Max, looking after him? Living with him? Love, his suspicions? Her meeting Jack, telling him that she wasn’t interested? Max not believing her, her growing exasperation, her visit to her mother, her staying with her mother, the meeting with Henry, going to Coney Island, beginning a relationship with Henry? Max bashing the door in? Henry hiding? Her talking things over with Max, her decision to leave? Finding some happiness with Henry?
8.Henry, the wisecracks, his imagination, at the party, the chance meeting with Elizabeth, the restaurant, going to Coney Island, the bond between them, his stories about being a hit-man? His regime, the four hours’ sleep and shifts? His coming over to comfort Elizabeth? Their relationship? Hiding from Max? With Elizabeth at the end? A future?
9.Lena and her looking after the child, going to the fortune teller, the advice, her not following it?
10.The film with the light touch, the thirtysomethings and relationships?
