Judy Thorburn's Movie Reviews
My One And Only
- Details
- Category: Judy Thorburn
- Published on 12 September 2009
- Written by Judy Thorburn
MY ONE AND ONLY – A PLEASANT ROAD TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
Screenwriter Charlie Peters’s script of My One and Only is loosely based on early events in the life of perpetually tanned, debonair actor George Hamilton, the film’s executive producer. The idea to turn this chapter of
Not the usual biopic, this comedy drama is more a mix of road trip and coming of age story with a loving tribute to Hamilton’s feisty mother, Anne Devereaux, a blonde Southern belle, aptly played by Renee Zellweger who carries the movie.
With his handsome looks, Logan Lerman easily fits into the role of the teenage George and acts as the film’s narrator. Set in 1953, years before woman’s lib and females asserted their independence, George’s mother Anne is portrayed as the typical American woman of that era who depended on a man for financial support and stability. Cheating, however, was another thing and definitely not tolerated when it came to marriage. So, after returning home early from a trip to the shore and finding her philandering, bandleader husband Dan (Kevin Bacon) in bed with another woman in their
What follow is the trials and tribulations of Anne and her two sons, 15 year old George and his gay (actually that word only meant happy back then) needlepoint loving older half brother Robbie (Mark Rendell) as they travel cross country in their new powder blue Cadillac Eldorado convertible in search of finding a potential, rich man to take care of them. Although middle aged, Anne knows she can use the glamorous looks she still has to attract suitors. That’s the one problem I have with this film. Zellwegger certainly can act, but calling her “beautiful” is beyond belief. Come on now! I know I am not alone in saying that she has squinty little eyes in a squishy face that always looks as if she is sucking on a lemon. Cute, maybe, but beautiful? I don’t think so.
However, Anne keeps falling for the wrong man in what turns out to be a series of often comical mis-adventures as mom and her boys stop in
Among the men who wind up being a terrible choice as potential wealthy husband for Anne is old beau Wallace (Steven Weber). Not only is he broke, he begs Anne for $75,000 and winds up stealing money from her. Harlan (Chris Noth) a hot tempered military man sees George as a competitive threat and eventually shows off his violent side. Charlie (Eric McCormack) is a handsome playboy who prefers younger women to Anne; and Bill(David Koechner) a sweet natured, charming, but delusional paint store owner, literally doesn’t know the meaning of “my one and only”. Just ask his wife. Also lending his talents in small role is a hunky Nick Stahl (my, how this former child actor has grown into a man!) as Bud, Anne’s admiring neighbor car mechanic in
As a period piece, director Richard Loncraine (Firewall,
There is no mention of the name