ROXANNE - Blu-Ray (Columbia 1987) Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

The late 1980’s and early 90’s was definitely Steve Martin’s golden age. Martin, having risen through the ranks of stand-up in the late 70’s, to become a beloved on SNL with his ‘wild n’ crazy’ guy, came to the movies in 1972, though arguably, not to hit his stride until 1979’s The Jerk, in which he professed to have grown up a ‘poor black child’. By the mid-80’s Martin was riding high, thanks to a string of movies that not only showed off his metier – comedy – but also, illustrated his diversity as an actor: he sang and danced with Bernadette Peters in 1981’s Pennies from Heaven, went to bat against a virtual cavalcade of classic noir heroes and villains in the skillfully edited, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982), and, joined forces with two of the other reigning stars of comedy – Martin Short and Chevy Chase – in Three Amigos (1986). Not everything Martin touched turned to gold, however, and by 1987’s Roxanne, Martin definitely could use a hit. And receive it, he most certainly did. Indeed, Martin still considers this movie his favorite - the one for which he received 'respect' for his acting, as opposed to being exploited as a 'one-time' celebrity of the stand-up comedy circuit. Directed by Fred Schepisi’s Roxanne is actually Edmund Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac revamped, recast, updated for the whack-tac-ular eighties – the action, relocated to a blissfully quaint small Washington ski village in its off-season. On this occasion, Cyrano is Charlie Bales (Steve Martin), the accomplished captain of the town’s inexperienced fire brigade. Charlie’s a great guy – everyone’s best friend and a genuine ham when it comes to the ladies.

He has everything going for him except his nose. It’s huge and the subject of much hushed discussion – hushed, that is, because anyone making a public spectacle of Charlie’s formidable schnozz can expect a verbal crucifixion and possible assault with a tennis racket in reply. Confident, proud and generally above the trivialities of life, Charlie’s world is turned askew with the arrival of sophisticated astronomer, Roxanne Kowalski (Daryl Hannah). Almost immediately, Roxanne is attracted to Charlie’s intelligence and sensitivity. But can she ever truly find him desirable? Charlie's friend, Dixie (Shelly Duval) insists all Charlie has to do to win the fair Roxanne is be who he is. Instead, Charlie finds himself writing love poetry as the mouthpiece for fellow firefighter, Chris McConnell (a buff, Rick Rossovich). Every man’s envy and every woman’s desire, Chris is so deathly afraid of women he literally throws up whenever true love is mentioned. Soon Roxanne finds herself torn between the prose of one man and the physicality of another whom at least in the flesh, pales to her expectations in both wit and class. How can this be?

Roxanne is justly remembered for Steve Martin’s sustained comedic performance and its superb set pieces that take place inside the town’s local watering hole. Confronted by a bar room boar, Charlie accepts the challenge to come up with twenty more clever ways to make fun of his own nose. Everything ranging from “Is that your nose or did a bus park on your face?” to “You know, you could de-emphasize your nose if you wore something larger, like... Wyoming,” is fair game. Some of the jokes are less successful to downright gross – “Ooooh, I wish I were you! Gosh, to be able to smell your own ear!” or “At last, a man who can satisfy two women at once!”  Darryl Hannah, Shelley Duvall and Rick Rossovich all give credible – if hardly superb – performances. But the picture undeniably belongs to Martin, who has one whale of time with it and really sustains our interests in this otherwise featherweight and silly little comedy of the ‘little gem’ class. Schepisi’s direction is smooth and effortless, and, Ian Baker’s cinematography makes the tiny hamlet (in British Columbia – not Washington) an enjoyable respite, away from the hurly-burly of the city. In the final analysis, Roxanne is a treat and, in retrospect, an adult comedy that never talks down to its audience.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s Blu-Ray perfectly captures that palette of pastel 80’s colors, rich and vibrant herein, with gorgeous greens, vibrant reds and excellent flesh tones that leant ever so slightly to a pinkish caste. Solid contrast and a light smattering of film grain looking very indigenous to its source also compliment this 1080p transfer. Age-related artifacts have been eradicated. This is a quality affair, surely to impress. The audio is 2.0 Dolby Digital surround, reproducing the sonic characteristic of a vintage 80’s comedy. Nothing exciting here – but serviceable nonetheless. Regrettably, there are NO extras.

FILM RATING (out of 5 - 5 being the best)

4

VIDEO/AUDIO

4

EXTRAS

0