On one level, “Shopgirl” is a superior work of fiction. It is a well-crafted narrative, filled with complicated, interesting characters. The dialogue is witty and has a certain spark to it, and, although the plot treads in the familiar waters of relationship comedy, it also has a unique perspective that separates it from the pack. All of which can also be said of Martin’s original novella; it is a credit to Martin, director Anand Tucker, and the cast that the story has translated so well from book to screen.In the film, as in the novella, Mirabelle Buttersfield (Claire Danes) is a shy, lonely department store clerk. She spends her days perched on her station at the glove counter of Saks 5th Avenue (subbing for the curiously absent Neiman Marcus), waiting- for customers, coworkers… anything. Her life outside of work is similarly themed. She is an artist, but only produces a few new pieces a year. She lives by herself in a small apartment with her cat. She is generally surviving Los Angeles all right, although she is deep in debt, and is on anti-depressants. Her social circle is somewhat non-existent, consisting of a few close friends, distant family, and no romantic prospects.
At least for the latter prospect, things change dramatically for her over the course of the film, thanks to two chance encounters. The first is with a grungy looking guy named Jeremy (Jason Schwartzman). They meet in a Laundromat, where he successfully chats her up, despite needing to borrow change for the dryer. That’s Jeremy’s basic M.O.- on subsequent dates he excels at taking her places he can’t afford*, or needing to bum date night essentials from Mirabelle or others. It isn’t that Jeremy doesn’t try; he’s just the kind of guy who shows up with a bag of greasy fries, where flowers or chocolate would be more appropriate.
The second meeting is with Ray Porter (Steve Martin), a mysterious older man whose path first crosses Mirabelle’s at her work. He is there to purchase a pair of ladies formal gloves, and asks Mirabelle her opinion on a few selections. Little does she know that he is buying the gloves as a gift for her, sneaky devil. It works, and soon Ray is taking her out to expensive restaurants, buying her gifts, and showing her his Los Angeles pad (as opposed to his house in Seattle). As a man with the means to do so, there is not a problem of Mirabelle’s that Ray feels cannot be fixed with a little well placed cash. And, in the short term, Mirabelle is willing to go along with that premise, ultimately choosing Ray over Jeremy.
Unfortunately, once the reality of the situation sets in, Mirabelle discovers a regrettable truth: because Ray has money, spending it has little value to him. Although he cares for her in his own way, his commitment to their relationship is not that much higher than to his furniture, or anything else his money affords him. Her love is like his home, something he enjoys spending time in when he’s in town, but otherwise it’s ‘out of sight, out of mind.’
Ultimately, Mirabelle must choose with Ray- she can either “hurt now, or hurt later.” At a certain point Ray knows that he has to make a decision as well. After all, deep down he’s not a bad guy, just kind of clueless when it comes to her, much in the same way Jeremy is. And, through Mirabelle, both men learn valuable lessons about themselves. I’ll leave it to you to see how their stories resolve, but I hope you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
Now then, how does all this make Steve Martin a genius? Well, for me this film proves that Martin “gets it” in terms of how to sustain a career in Hollywood. Every few years he seems to hit a cycle, where he signs on for a number of quickie comedies like “Bringing Down the House,” “Sgt. Bilko,” or “Cheaper By the Dozen”- basically paycheck movies. These films, while not always the best quality, keep his name out there, and provide him the opportunity to produce his own material like this film, “Bowfinger,” “LA Story,” and the upcoming “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.” Steve Martin is a smart man, and “Shopgirl” is a smart film; make the smart decision, and see the genius at work.
*To be fair, they go to Universal Citywalk, where parking costs alone could bankrupt any guy not named Shaq for an evening.
Powered by AkoComment 2.0!
Entertainment
