Shopgirl

Review by Clint Morris

One really does feel like a licentious gigolo watching Steve Martin's latest.

You know you know her from somewhere, you might even have ran into her a couple of times, but for the life of you, you don't when or where you've been acquainted before - only that you enjoyed the company.

If you can stand a severe case of déjà vu, the scrumptious comfort food that Shopgirl serves up might even have you booking a return visit.

Also based on the novella by Steve Martin, Shopgirl is an epic film in plain clothing.

It's like walking into a Year 12 maths exam ill-equipped and totally convinced that you're going to earn yourself an F at the end of it all, but instead, breezing through it and actually walking out of that test-room with a case of the warm and fuzzies; the film's not only welcomingly endurable but a strangely rewarding experience. Come for the lesson in love, stay for the laughs - if you will.

Mirabelle (Danes) is a disenchanted department store sales girl and aspiring artist, who suddenly finds herself with two rather unlikely suitors. One is the untidy slacker Jeremy (Jason Schwartzman), a likeable but unworldly youngster who does more to deter than attract, and the other is Ray (Steve Martin), a well-to-do businessman who's instantly charming and a legitimately nice-guy.

Yep, you can see which one she's going to go for - but will that be the right choice?

Shopgirl is such a different film for the 'Wild and Wacky' Steve Martin, but one that again cements his versatility and cleverness as both an actor and writer. In another actor's shoes, his Ray may have come off as a sleazy rich-guy simply looking to get into Danes' character's undercarriage. And while that might still be the case - to some extent - with Martin's Ray, the character is played so likeable and so solemnly that you too can't help but be seduced by his persona.

At the end of the day, Ray's just a perplexed loser-in-love too - points to Martin for not playing the 'Sugar Daddy' card - and one old-geezer who you can totally see would enchant a 25-year-old woman looking for a smile and safety.

Equally amiable, but playing it much more for laughs than Martin (if you can believe that), is Jason Schwartzman. The unlikely hero of the piece, his Jeremy is such a goofy but ultimately loveable character.

Best of all though is the always-underrated Claire Danes. Here, she gives a performance that's layered, plausible and doused in emotion. Much like Martin, we soon forget its Claire Danes we're watching and instead have a peephole into the life of a contemporary plebeian youngster that's looking for a little bit of 'something' to turn that frown upside down.

There's something very real about Martin's screenplay, too. The characters are rich and fleshy - none of them are vile or deplorable, just tragically flawed in some respect - and the definitive conclude offers something very pragmatic, whilst straying from the typical Hollywood 'moment'.

In short, you will indeed laugh, cry, cheer and smile, within the film's fast-paced 100 minutes. This is truly one of the best films I've seen this year. Do yourself a favour and see it today.

4 out of 5

Shopgirl
Australian release: Thursday the 1st of December, 2005.
Cast: Steve Martin, Claire Danes, Jason Schwartzman, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Sam Bottoms, Frances Conroy, Rebecca Pidgeon.
Director: Anand Tucker.
Website: Click here.

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