Immediately felt it was the kind of film we really need, an old-fashioned comedy that only someone like Peter could bring off; interestingly, written when he and Louise Stratten were falling out of love; one of those very rare films which you want to watch again while it's still on. Made with the support of Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach.
A fabulous cast comprises PB alumni like Cybill Shepherd (hilariously loud), George Morfogen and Austin Pendleton (great to see him again) plus newcomers Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Rhys Ifans, Debi Mazar, Lucy Punch, Ileana Douglas, Will Forte, Kathryn Hahn and Richard Lewis (all great). But the show is stolen by a fantastic Imogen Poots as the heroine - her speech about Breakfast at Tiffany's and miracles made me want to cry.
Very simply made (and, it seems, quickly and efficiently shot), the film is every bit as much a pleasure to watch as it must have been to make. Loved the 'squirrel to the nuts' moments (not realising the Lubitsch reference), Wilson's predilection for helping hookers, taxi driver who deserts vehicle, bearded Morfogen in fake moustache, Aniston's forthright therapist, small dog chasing big dog, etc. etc.
Shot by Yaron Orbach. Edited by Nick Moore (Richard Curtis films) and Pax Wassermann (who's married to Peter's daughter Sashy. And her sister Antonia was co-exec producer.)
Mixed reviews. Robbie Collin, The Daily Telegraph ("cracking performances and great fun"), the Evening Standard ("an absolute riot"), Derek Malcolm ("good script, lively playing") and the New York Times got it. Variety, The Guardian, Empire, and The Independent didn't. Leading us to deduce that half the film critics in the world don't know what they're talking about.
A joyous thing that so cheered up the house even the pigeons were cooing in delight. My only criticism is that Peter, like Douglas Sirk, sometimes picks titles that aren't catchy or easy to remember (like this one).
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