“Down with Love” Directed by Peyton Reed
20th Century Fox
To paraphrase Alma, Doris Day’s maid in “Pillow
Talk, “You only need one sip to know you’ve got a good
bottle.” “Down with Love” is one hell of a
bottle. It’s the kind of movie that’s been chilling in
the cellar for a while, as we haven’t seen a full-blown sex
comedy of this nature since the mid-’60s. But the genre has
grown tastier with age, as “Down with Love” emerges
with a bubbly effervescence that its predecessors cannot match.
While comparisons between “Down with Love” and
“Pillow Talk” are expected, they are not very fair.
While both feature groovy Gothamites with tongues as sharp as their
wardrobe, “Down with Love” raises the production values
and the light-hearted zaniness to a level that “Pillow
Talk” can’t match. The dialogue is snippier, the
subtext more overt, and the sets and costumes far more iridescent,
shaking up a cocktail to whet the appetites of modern audiences.
The danger here is the possible transition from giddy send-up to a
ridiculing, condescending parody. However, Director Peyton Reed
(“Bring It On”) and writers Eve Ahlert and Dennis Drake
(“Will & Grace”) know how to walk that fine line
between homage and parody, showing reverence without ridicule. The
balancing act extends to Andrew Laws’ larger-than-life
production design, Daniel Orlandi’s kaleidoscopic fashion
palette, and Marc Shaiman’s playful and punctuated score.
And, of course, no sex comedy is complete without the coquettish
principals, and Ewan (McGregor) and Renee (Zellweger) turn in
performances worthy of first-name-only status, with David Hyde
Pierce and Sarah Paulson delivering their bubbly banter assuredly.
“Down with Love” keeps the tap flowing with precious
moments and knowing charm, imbuing each sip with a wink and a
smile. You’ll be drunk with delight. -Paul
Mendoza