Welcome to Alternative Views. In keeping with my semi-resolution to watch scripted content only if the story was about women, LBGT persons and/or persons of color, I began with this little critically-savaged gem.
How savaged was it? Rex Reed called this “a hapless load of bunk” whose creators could “only be described as delusional.” Since “they think they have made an actual movie, when nothing in it qualifies.” Reed sounds bitchier than usual, but that tone was actually matched by several other critics.
Don’t believe them. This film is FUN as hell.
If I Were You (2012) Marcia Gay Harden, Leonor Watling, Aidan Quinn
Director: Joan Carr-Wiggin
Writer: Joan Carr-Wiggin
Yes, the third act gets messy and cliched. Bite through that contrived bit of plot (which could have been edited out) and just enjoy. After all, to get to that messy stuff, you first have to get through Marcia Gay Harden’s fantastic comic turn in this female Odd Couple story. Her skillful performance is blazingly supported by that of Leonor Watling as a beautiful loser.
Imagine this: you’re a successful marketing executive, warpped in all of the trappings of a bourgeois lifestyle. Beautiful house. Handsome, successful husband. Wardrobe to die for. And you’re Marcia Gay Harden. It doesn’t get better than this, right? Too bad it’s about to get all blown to hell when you were just picking up your dry cleaning.
Suddenly, you’re slapped out of your sleepwalk by discovering your husband’s affair with a PYT. Worse still, in your bumbling shock, you wind up preventing said PYT (Leonor Watling) from committing suicide over that jerk. This takes some heavy drinking between the two of you, by which you come to some realizations, including how you weren’t all that happy to begin with. And the PYT? She’s a hot mess. It’s a bit of a relief to find out just how much of a loser this chick is. In fact, you feel a little sorry for her and find yourself wanting to help her.
So when she proposes a friendship in which neither of you can make your own decisions any longer, but, instead, must abide by the other woman’s choices, you see lots of plusses in such an arrangement. After all, with that kind of agreement, you can choose for her to not see your husband any longer. However, there’s another side you may not be seeing at the time of the agreement. See, Ms. Beautiful Loser makes lots of reckless decisions – which she now makes for you, Ms. Staid Executive. Prepare to learn some cool stuff about yourself through risks you never would have taken otherwise.
Cool stuff like how bad-ass your Queen Lear is.
Yes, this film includes MGH as Queen Lear. How’s that for a viewing incentive?
Ignore the critics. Pay attention to the Mean Ol’ Liberal. This film wouldn’t win any awards for sleekness but it’s still fun. Like, break out the popcorn; grab the blankets; Oh-Em-Gee, I can’t believe how fun this film was kind of fun.
See.This.Film.
On Netflix now.