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Overall Rating
  Awesome: 29.33%
Worth A Look: 44%
Just Average: 5.33%
Pretty Crappy: 12%
Sucks: 9.33%
6 reviews, 39 user ratings
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| Shape of Things, The |
by Kevin Thomas
"This will make you think twice next time your partner comments on your hair"
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Right from the word ‘go’, this was something special. From the moment the first exchange between the nerdy, bookish Paul Rudd and the zany Rachel Weisz is over, you will be captivated by the unfolding events.This is the story of Adam (Rudd); a polite, mild-mannered pushover of a museum assistant. His entire world is thrown into turmoil when he catches Evelyn (Weisz) trying to graffiti a statue during an average day at work. They get talking, they get dating and they get naughty with each other. However, all the while, Evelyn is making increasingly obvious changes to Adam; to his figure, his fashion and ultimately, his personality.
The screenplay is adapted from the play of the same name, and this shows. Though there are a multitude of outdoor shots, it’s difficult to see spot anything that couldn’t have been achieved on a stage, as the whole plot is driven by intimate conversations between the cast. As a result, the visual side of the movie is quite underwhelming. If you’re a bit tired when this starts playing, there’s not much that will make you sit up and take notice. The Day After Tomorrow it ain’t. But of course, to rent this kind of film expecting an adrenaline rush is missing the point.
Obviously, in a character drama, the strength of the players as individuals and not wallpaper is the primary concern, and luckily, each one succeeds. Rudd effortlessly changes from nerd to hunk and manages to escape being ‘that guy from Clueless’, which is always a credit. Similarly ,you never believe that Weisz is quite as wacky as she would have us all believe. She plays Evelyn like a better dressed version of Kate Winslet from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but with an agenda that you know is there, like a broken nail on a manicured hand. But to keep the movie interesting, you simply can’t figure it out until the fantastic climax. The script is sharp, and each even the supporting cast are wonderfully brought to life by their respective actors.Overall, it’s a sharp little tale that unfolds at an excellent pace. Just fast enough to keep you interested, but not so fast that you can’t spend a little time forming your own ideas about the upcoming ending. My only proper criticism is that no movie EVER needs to spend that long focusing on Paul Rudd’s face when he receives oral sex. Ever.
link directly to this review at http://hollywoodbitchslap.com/review.php?movie=6821&reviewer=368
originally posted: 06/23/04 21:36:21
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OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2003 Sundance Film Festival. For more in the 2003 Sundance Film Festival series, click here.
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USA
09-May-2003
UK
N/A
Australia
N/A
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