THE RUNAWAY BRIDE
US, 1999, 115 minutes, Colour.
Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Joan Cusack, Hector Elizondo, Rita Wilson, Paul Dooley, Christopher Meloni, Donal Logue.
Directed by Garry Marshall.
The Runaway Bride is an entertaining concoction, designed to bring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere together about ten years after their great success in Pretty Woman. This time Julia Roberts portrays a woman who has tried marriage three times but has run from the altar - although one time was on horseback. Richard Gere is a jaded journalist who writes a column for USA Today. When he gets a tip-off from one of the almost-husbands, he writes a piece condemning the runaway bride. She writes and indignant letter and he is fired.
When the journalist comes to the town, he encounters the young woman, her friends, her family. In fact, he ingratiates himself into the goodwill of everybody in the town - and, of course, falls in love with Maggie.
The film plays very well as a romantic entertainment, some sparring along the tradition of Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn. Richard Gere and Julia Roberts work very well together. Joan Cusack offers her usual effective support. Hector Elizondo appears in all Garry Marshalls films, which range from Young Doctors in Love to The Other Sister, as well as The Princess Diaries.
1. The re-teaming of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere? Memories of Pretty Woman? A successful comedy? Romance?
2. The country setting, the town, the countryside? The shops and houses? The contrast with New York City, Manhattan, the magazines and offices, apartments and restaurants? The musical score – and the range of songs about marriages and weddings?
3. Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, their screen presence, chemistry, popularity?
4. The character of Maggie Carpenter, in the town, her relationship with her father, his alcoholism? Her expertise at the hardware store? Mending things? Her various friends, Peggy and the women in the town? At the beauty parlour and fixing things? The story of her marriages, her fears, running away? The videos of the different marriages, the hippie-style marriage, the church, on the horse? The marriage planned for Bob, her running away? The reasons for her phobias? The people in the town, taking this for granted? The journalists and their interest, the articles, the television coverage?
5. Ike Graham and his column, a Manhattan man? His chatting with the woman in the bar? The man offering him the story about the runaway bride? His following it up, writing the column, people’s reactions – the barman, women hitting him in the street with the paper? Maggie and her letter to the editor, the disputing of facts? Ike, being summoned by Elly, being fired? The fact that he was married to Elly, her impersonal judgment on him? Fisher, his place at the office, support? His offering Ike the opportunity to follow through on the runaway bride story?
6. Ike going into the town, his ability to ingratiate himself? His meeting with Peggy at the beauty parlour and charming her? His finding Maggie? His going round the town, interviewing Maggie’s father, Father Brian Norris, getting friendly with the coach? With Gill Chavez and his incriminating photo? Maggie just too late to stop him interviewing people?
7. Maggie going to his room, his catching her? Her agreement to do the interview, the financial demand? Paying for the wedding dress? Her relationship with Bob, Bob and his coaching at the school, the matches, her demonstrations with Peggy’s husband? The conversation with Peggy, about her flirting, her promising not to? Peggy and her accurate description of Maggie’s personality, her way of flirting, her doing this all her life?
8. The various locations, Maggie and Ike, their being together? Ike’s meeting the lady friends, their volunteering information? The granny and her blunt manner?
9. The preparation for the wedding, the celebration in the town, the roast, the speeches and their mocking Maggie, Ike’s reaction, his speech defending her? Her being upset, his reassuring her?
10. Maggie, the various men in the town, her going to the confessional, her not being a Catholic, talking with Brian, his memories of the past, her hurting him?
11. George and his visiting the town, meeting Ike, talking about Maggie?
12. Maggie and her straight talk with her father, his comments about her running away, her comment on his alcoholism?
13. The preparations for the wedding, the rehearsal, Bob, the kiss, his punching Ike?
14. The media gathering? Peggy and the friends all helping Maggie, hoping that she would go through with it? Bob and his training with eye contact, Ike and his supporting this? Maggie and her walking up the aisle, her smile, the hesitation, continuing? Her eventually running away?
15. Ike, Maggie, in love, their talking together? His comment on her character, her phobias? Her becoming more confident? His paying for the wedding dress?
16. The build-up to the wedding, the media frenzy? Maggie leaving, Ike chasing the Fed Ex van? People’s reaction? His return to New York?
17. Maggie’s visit, trying to be honest, her explanation of her fears, wanting to know Ike better, wanting him to know her? The lyrical scenes together? The comments on horseback? The horses? The final marriage – the mountaintop? Everybody happy?
18. The plausibility of the plot – but enough for a romantic Julia Roberts- Richard Gere comedy?
