ON APPROVAL has very, very glowing reviews so far and I am not surprised. It's a smart and funny comedy of manners that had a freshness that pleasantly surprised me. However, at the same time, I understand that this is NOT a film for everyone, as its droll sense of humor is certainly not what the average person would enjoy. In other words, it is probably more for a niche market--people who can enjoy a funny film with great subtlety (such as an Oscar Wilde play). In other words, if the humor of Jim Carey and Rob Schneider make you laugh, then you probably aren't a good candidate to see ON APPROVAL.
In the beginning of the film, a narrator talks about love during recent history. Eventually, this takes the movie back to the mid-late Victorian era. I loved this part, as occasionally the characters broke character and talked to the narrator. This took me by surprise and let me know this was not the typical comedy.
The story then focuses on four middle-aged upper class people--two men of noble birth but with less than noble bank accounts and two ladies of better financial means. They are all single and the two men both seem to think marriage (finally) is a good idea to solve their financial woes--in particular, Richard's dire economic problems. If he were to marry the rich Helen, he could live a very, very comfortable life. There isn't a whole lot of love behind his proposal and it's probably in light of this that she has a shocking but intelligent solution--they will go off on a vacation together and see how it is to act like husband and wife for a few weeks. However, much to Richard's chagrin, this does NOT grant him conjugal rights--after all, this is the Victorian era and Helen brings along a friend to guarantee this.
Now these are not the only two who go on this vacation. The very boorish and rude George insinuates himself with Richard to ostensibly help him, though it seems he's along much more as a freeloader as well as to woo Helen's American friend and chaperon, Maria. Most of George's contribution to the effort is to try to increase the likelihood Richard beds Helen...though the film never is so bold as to state this explicitly. However, for the most part, George is just in the way.
When they arrive, the servants in this Scottish retreat soon leave--refusing to stay as it ends up that the four unmarried people will be living in the same mansion (gosh, what a shock). So, the four of them are expected to cook and wait on each other. In hindsight, this is a very good thing, as it either brings out the best or the worst in each of these four--leading to a few twists and surprised.
The film has sparkling dialog and a nice wit. It's rare to see such a well-written film and managing to gently poke fun at Victorian morality works very well because of this writing. The acting, likewise is very good. However, there is one odd problem with casting. Maria is supposed to be an American, but Ms. Lillies sounds about as American as the rest of the cast--as she has a very unmistakable English accent. Perhaps since the film was made during WWII it was hard to get an American actress for the part, but Ms. Lillie, though a fine actress, didn't even attempt the correct accent...or perhaps that's how we all sound to the Brits! Still, if this is my only complaint, then it must have been a pretty good film.
By the way, Clive Brook not only played George in the film, but he directed and wrote the movie as well! Wow. I am impressed.
In the beginning of the film, a narrator talks about love during recent history. Eventually, this takes the movie back to the mid-late Victorian era. I loved this part, as occasionally the characters broke character and talked to the narrator. This took me by surprise and let me know this was not the typical comedy.
The story then focuses on four middle-aged upper class people--two men of noble birth but with less than noble bank accounts and two ladies of better financial means. They are all single and the two men both seem to think marriage (finally) is a good idea to solve their financial woes--in particular, Richard's dire economic problems. If he were to marry the rich Helen, he could live a very, very comfortable life. There isn't a whole lot of love behind his proposal and it's probably in light of this that she has a shocking but intelligent solution--they will go off on a vacation together and see how it is to act like husband and wife for a few weeks. However, much to Richard's chagrin, this does NOT grant him conjugal rights--after all, this is the Victorian era and Helen brings along a friend to guarantee this.
Now these are not the only two who go on this vacation. The very boorish and rude George insinuates himself with Richard to ostensibly help him, though it seems he's along much more as a freeloader as well as to woo Helen's American friend and chaperon, Maria. Most of George's contribution to the effort is to try to increase the likelihood Richard beds Helen...though the film never is so bold as to state this explicitly. However, for the most part, George is just in the way.
When they arrive, the servants in this Scottish retreat soon leave--refusing to stay as it ends up that the four unmarried people will be living in the same mansion (gosh, what a shock). So, the four of them are expected to cook and wait on each other. In hindsight, this is a very good thing, as it either brings out the best or the worst in each of these four--leading to a few twists and surprised.
The film has sparkling dialog and a nice wit. It's rare to see such a well-written film and managing to gently poke fun at Victorian morality works very well because of this writing. The acting, likewise is very good. However, there is one odd problem with casting. Maria is supposed to be an American, but Ms. Lillies sounds about as American as the rest of the cast--as she has a very unmistakable English accent. Perhaps since the film was made during WWII it was hard to get an American actress for the part, but Ms. Lillie, though a fine actress, didn't even attempt the correct accent...or perhaps that's how we all sound to the Brits! Still, if this is my only complaint, then it must have been a pretty good film.
By the way, Clive Brook not only played George in the film, but he directed and wrote the movie as well! Wow. I am impressed.