Simply Irresistible (1999)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Mark Tarlov

Writer (WGA):

Judith Roberts (written by)

Release Date:

5 February 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

Magic opened up their hearts... Love did the rest.

Plot:

A department store executive (Flanery) tries to resist falling in love with a young woman (Gellar),...

Plot Keywords:

Restaurant | Department Store | Love | Rich Man Poor Woman | Magic

Cast

Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Amanda Shelton
Sean Patrick Flanery	...	Tom Bartlett
Patricia Clarkson	...	Lois McNally
Dylan Baker	...	Jonathan Bendel
Larry Gilliard Jr.	...	Nolan Traynor
Christopher Durang	...	Gene O'Reilly
Betty Buckley	...	Aunt Stella
Olek Krupa	...	Valderon
Amanda Peet	...	Chris
Alex Draper	...	Francois
Drew Nieporent	...	Gil Shapiro
Anthony Ruivivar	...	Ramos
Andrew McFarlane	...	The Poet
Steven Skybell	...	Mr. Mueller
Phyllis Somerville	...	Ruth

Also Known As:

Einfach unwiderstehlich (Germany)
The Magic Hour (USA) (working title)
Vanilla Fog (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief sexual references.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Henri Bendel Department Store - 712 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

New Regency Pictures

Trivia:

The original title for this movie was "Vanilla Fog".

Goofs:

Factual errors: The vanilla orchids used in the film aren't really vanilla orchids. They were orange/red in color, but in reality vanilla orchids are yellow.

Quotes:

Lois McNally: If you need anything call me, although I don't know how to do anything except buy clothes.

Movie Connections:

References Como agua para chocolate (1992)

Soundtrack:

Every Little Thing (He) Does Is Magic

A modern take on the 1930's style of screwball comedy

This is a charming film, very well acted and with great production values. But, like the screwball comedies of the thirties, and the musicals of Fred Astaire, it isn't for everyone. Of course, a romantic comedy which is based on the magical ability of a crab to inspire Gellar to feats of culinary greatness is a premise which might be hard for some to swallow. But I think its worth the effort, and it's no dafter than many successful comedy of earlier days. For those who follow such things there are three great references to the films of Fred Astaire. First is when Flannery is choosing the floor design for his new restaurant. The wavy black and white design is straight out of Yolanda and the Thief (1946 MGM) where, in a number called Coffee Time, Fred Astaire and Lucille Bremer dance on a huge floor of exactly this design. As if to hammer it home Flannery's boss reacts by saying " it looks like something out of an MGM musical". Reference number two is to The Belle of New York (1952 MGM) where Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen kiss and float up to the ceiling. This is directly quoted in a kitchen scene where, under the influence of the crab, Gellar and Flannery kiss and float to the ceiling. These references are interesting because both films have fantasy/magical themes and both are somewhat looked down on in Astaire's oeuvre. The third reference is to Shall We Dance (1937 RKO)where in the Gershwin number of the same name Fred Astaire is confronted with a long line of Ginger Rodgers masked look-alikes. In Simply Irresistable Gellar appears reflected in a long line of mirrors with Flannery temporarily confused as to where she is, with both of them standing in a set that seems right out of Van Nest Polglase's Art Deco creations for RKO. Here the reference seems to be to the magician's art of illusion. Anyhow, after all that, you should have a feel for whether this film is for you.