|
|
The movie is the reverie of the romantic failings of Roddie Mcdowell's character, Alan. He is a sort of genie to Tuesday Weld's Character, Susan. His desire to grant her every wish leads to his downfall. The romantic longing of Alan is remarkably stressed for what is essentially a period satire. Of course, George Axelrod's film does lapse at times into a dated beach bingo burlesque. His presentation of Ruth Gordon's character anticipates the gargoyles of Terry Gilliam. However, he elicits strong performances from all his female performers, including Gordon. Tuesday Weld is displayed in all her youthful glory to the discomfiture of Harvey Korman, but is also allowed to show a dark, frenzied sexuality that has burst out only occasionally in her career; most lately in "Once Upon A Time in America." The darkest aspect of the film, remarkably downbeat for a satire, is the fate of Susan's Mom, played by Lola Albright. How is one to reconcile suicide within a farcical framework? Critics at the time were jarred by the contrasting moods of "Lord Love a Duck." I detect a hint of post-modern transcendental unity in the 'movie star' flash forward sequences of Tuesday Weld where Axelrod's gaze is as adoring as it is when the actress is modeling sweaters or necking on the beach with a dolt. Axelrod adores all his players and it is his Pirandellian obsession that animates his genie to grant Tuesday Weld her every dream and ruin his life. Thus, comedy and tragedy both spring from the romantic obsession of the auteur.
score 8/10
rdor4 11 March 2008
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1837754/ |
|
15-3-2021 04:57:08