VIEW FROM THE TOP

US, 2003, 95 minutes, Colour.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Ruffalo, Christina Applegate, Mike Myers, Candice Bergen, Kelly Preston, Rob Lowe, George Kennedy.
Directed by Bruno Barretto.

View From The Top is a slight comedy, a romantic comedy for a women’s audience, which becomes a bit serious as the film moves on.

It is a star vehicle for Gwyneth Paltrow – although not as substantial as so many of her roles from her Oscar-winning Shakespeare in Love to such other films as Sylvia where she portrayed Sylvia Plath. She is supported by Christina Applegate and Kelly Preston as the other flight attendants. There is a strong cameo appearance by Mike Myers. Mark Ruffalo (You Can Count on Me, Just Like Heaven, Rumour Has It, Thirteen Going on Thirty) is the romantic interest.

The film was directed by Argentinian Bruno Barretto (Allegro Non Troppo).

All in all it is a glimpse into the world of flight attendants, their hopes and ambitions, their having to face the reality of career and love.

1.A woman’s story? The target audience? Romance, comedy? Work, career? Destiny?

2.The title, destiny, Donna and her wanting to be on top? The range of songs, the musical score, Time after Time?

3.The opening in Nevada, Cleveland, Paris? The local flavour? Domestic flights, international flights?

4.Donna’s story, her voice-over, her style? Her story being predictable or not?

5.Donna’s childhood, the harshness, the party and the candles, her ambitions, wanting to get out of Nevada? The contrast with the visit to Ted’s family, the whole family present, the range of gifts, their all wearing the same pullover? A sense of family that she never experienced?

6.The auditions for the local company, the range of girls, the boss, Rob Lowe doing a cameo as the pilot, her fears, screaming, the effect on the passengers, the aftermath?

7.The desire to go to a higher company, going to Royalty? The interviews, her repeating the same answers, the up-front attitude? The girls, Christine, the other flight attendants? John Whitney, his eye and its being awkward, their embarrassment? The interviews and the training, the attention to detail in the training? The exams? The irony of Donna’s failure, her being upset? The discussions with Whitney and his strong stance on procedures?

8.Mike Myers as John Whitney, the Mike Myers comedy style, manner? His experience, being penalised because of his eye? Donna finally affirming him?

9.The girls and their meeting Ted, the romantic attitudes, Christine, the other girl? Donna and her sense of destiny? His falling in love with her? Taking her to visit his family? His arriving in Cleveland to study – and his crediting Donna for having given him motivation? Together in Cleveland, the law, the gift of the watch?

10.Donna’s disappointment in not getting the international routes, her reaction, confronting Whitney? Meeting Sally Weston, reading Sally Weston’s book, the motivational style, Candice Bergen as Sally Weston? Her suspicions about Christine, realising that Christine had cheated? Talking it over with Ted, the possibility of a lawyer? Her decision to do something about it, going to see Sally Weston, Sally pulling strings? Her doing the exam against? The antagonism of John Whitney? Yet her work in Cleveland, employee of the month? Her success?

11.The encounter with Christine, Christine stealing things, her bad reputation, the physical fight with Donna on the plane?

12.Donna going to New York, the discussions with Sally, her making the choice, her sadness of having to leave Ted, the discussion with Ted, his dismay? In Paris, the range of flights, her experience, stepping in for people, the Christmas party Sally in Paris, taking over her route, urging her to go back to Ted?

13.The Christmas, Cleveland, her going to visit Ted’s grandmother, the old lady not hearing her, Ted hearing her, the reconciliation? Love?

14.The message about women, the workplace, ambitions? Destiny? Work, love and commitment?