All About Steve
Mary Horowitz (Bullock) is a socially inept crossword puzzle compiler for The Sacramento Herald, who follows three golden rules: Is it solvable? Is it entertaining? Does it sparkle?
Sandra Bullock was the undisputed queen of Hollywood in 2009.
She was in hysterical form as a book editor threatened with deportation in the smash hit romantic comedy, The Proposal, co-starring Ryan Reynolds.
And with her role as a crusading mom in the true-life sporting drama, The Blind Side, which touches down in the UK on March 12, she became the first actress in history to headline a female-driven film grossing more than $200 million at the US box office.
To top it all, it looks almost certain that she will be Oscar nominated as Best Actress for the inspirational role.
Alas, a snow-laden 2010 doesn't treat her so well.
Her complete faith as producer and actress in Phil Traill's quirky romantic comedy is horribly misplaced.
There is a germ of a good idea in Kim Barker's screenplay, which deviates from many of the cliches, but the execution is lacking and several scenes fall horribly flat, like when the kooky heroine hitches a lift with a trucker (MC Gainey) and cheerfully remarks, 'Hey Norm, thanks for not raping me.'
Yes, that is tumbleweed blowing across the front of the multiplex.
That said, Bullock has an innate gift for physical comedy and she polishes some otherwise dull scenes, providing a few hard-won laughs.
Mary Horowitz (Bullock) is a socially inept crossword puzzle compiler for The Sacramento Herald, who follows three golden rules: Is it solvable? Is it entertaining? Does it sparkle?
She currently lives with her parents (Howard Hesseman, Beth Grant) while her apartment is fumigated, and they set her up on a blind date with Steve (Cooper), a cameraman for television news channel CCN, who trails after egocentric presenter Hartman Hughes (Thomas Haden Church) and field producer Angus (Ken Jeong).
Mary is instantly smitten with handsome Steve and she flings herself at him on the date, undressing him hurriedly in his van and squealing, 'I'm going to eat you like a mountain lion!' He panics, makes his excuses and leaves.
Soon after, the eccentric cruciverbalist loses her job and surmises that fate is telling her to follow Steve.
Chasing after the news crew, Mary crosses paths with apple sculptor Howard (DJ Qualls) and fashion-challenged protester Elizabeth (Katy Mixon).
All About Steve is a film you want to love but for all of the leading lady's hard work, we spend more time fidgeting than smiling.
Despite Mary's quirks and obsessive behaviour, Bullock finds a sweetness and vulnerability to the character, which is cruelly exploited by Church's smooth-talking reporter.
'Do you know what I see in those eyes?' he coos.
'Plica semilunaris secretions?' she answers with typical verbosity.
Cooper is bland - a fault of the ramshackle script - and more gags miss their target entirely than glance a blow, aside from when one character sighs, 'Where's a decent tragedy when you need one?' and the universe duly answers.
Release Date: Friday 15 January 2010
Certificate: 12A
Runtime: 98mins
