MovieChat Forums > The Girl in the Café (2005) Discussion > Entertaining but preposterous

Entertaining but preposterous

posted 19 years ago by psi_fla
3 replies | jump to latest

I really enjoyed this when I watched this on TV. Great performances, good soundtrack, nice story.

But not believable at all. Richard Curtis has never been one for believability, but until Love Actually, his storylines had held more water. OffTheTelly brought these pointers to my attention:

"Which leads straight into the first of this show's many stretchings of credibility. First, that an attractive woman who looks about 20 years (Bill Nighy's) junior, would find him in any way appealing when he happens to sit across from her in a café, bumbling and apologising, in his boring office blue suit. Then there's the fact that someone so apparently woolly-minded is a high-flying economics expert on the Chancellor of the Exchequer's team. Next is the forced plotting indulged in to effect the meeting of the odd couple - someone so high powered and extremely busy has taken time off to seek out a greasy-spoon caff for a cup of tea, and there's only one place to sit - opposite the waiting female love interest.

And all that's only in the first scene...."

If you want to read more, check this link:

http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/reviews/2005/girlincafe.htm

I'm sure I'd still enjoy the film now, but how right they are. It would probably have been better if the film had focused more on its Lost in Translation-lite "connection", and less on the melodramatic "propaganda" that followed.

[–] StrangeFruit42 19 years ago

Some people seem to have expected a political documentary instead of a film. It was obvious from the very first beginning it would be more like a fairy-tale when it comes to the political part. Why not? I mean, it's Richard Curtis. His idea of politics was shown in ''Love Actually''. That's his style.

And the part about Bill's character sounds a little like Hugh Grant wrote it. Being anxious Richard Curtis could prefer making films with Bill in the future. I mean, enough women wouldn't care about a guy making Kermit look less like a frog in the guy's presence, still other women do swoon about Grant. Personally I have a thing for those shy, awkward guys like Bill played it there, and I am about Kelly MacDonald's age, so I can't see the point. The reviewer sounds more like he sat in cafés for days waiting for a girl to get a crush on him without any success. Yeah, I know, the words are chosen a little harshly, but I think You know what I mean

I'm sure I can still enjoy the film in full. Even with that review in mind. ;o)

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http://www.billnighy.net - GET THE EXPERIENCE

[–] sth128 19 years ago

Yes, well, Macdonald's character just got out of jail you see, so she could be very desperate indeed...

[–] rbrmtl 19 years ago

If she was just released from prison, how did she come across an expensive evening gown, which she wore to the gala dinner, to which she was invited only at the last minute?