Meg & Michelle Dual Review Redux

In a classic post from the archives, my pfriend Michael C. and I unleash a smorgasbord of simmering superlatives as we extol the virtues of Meg and Michelle in Addicted to Love and One Fine Day.Michael C: The classic screwball romantic comedy, when done right, is beautiful to behold. In 1996, established superstar Michelle Pfeiffer starred alongside then-rising Hollywood hunk George Clooney in the charming and delightful One Fine Day. When mentioning Pfeiffer’s best work, this film isn’t often named, but it deserves to be. Certainly, it’s a light, frothy affair, which might lead some to dismiss it as unworthy. That would be a mistake, as Pfeiffer is simply radiant in a memorably sublime performance.Paul S: Funny you should say that, “simply radiant” is exactly how I would describe Meg Ryan in Addicted to Love. Where the Pfeiffer film is a light, frothy flirtation, the Meg movie is a sexy celebration of Maggie; a character straight from Fantasy Casting’s Bodacious Blonde Department. Ryan is so insanely hot here that I’m struggling to find the words to do justice to her. While I’m feeling speechless for a moment (Maggie often has that effect on me), do you want to take us back to George and Michelle my pfriend.Michael C: It’s an utter joy to be in Pfeiffer’s and Clooney’s company here, tagging along as they make their way through one exceptionally frenzied day in the lives of two busy New Yorkers just trying to wrangle their kids while also doing their jobs. You know, just the usual adulting stuff, really. Throw into the mix that Pfeiffer’s single mom Melanie Parker and Clooney’s single dad Jack Taylor keep intersecting with each other throughout the day—while also passing their kids off to one another at different points—and that the actors have terrific chemistry, well then you have the ingredients for a truly exceptional rom-com.
Paul S: I wouldn’t say Addicted to Love was “truly exceptional”, but it is a must-see for any fan of Meg Ryan. Brokenhearted Sam (Matthew Broderick) follows the woman who dumped him (Kelly Preston) to New York, where she is living with new beau Anton (Tchéky Karyo). While spying on them, he discovers that Karyo’s ex (Ryan) is also keeping an eye on the happy couple, so they team up to make their exes’ lives a living hell. So many romantic films struggle to create elaborate or ridiculous obstacles to keep the lovers from realising they are perfect for each other. Addicted to Love achieves this feat better than most using a simple set-up and minimal locations. Meg and Matthew’s chemistry is effortless and sexy, I’m sure you’d say the same for Pfeiffer and Clooney in One Fine Day. Michael C: The film throws a series of endless contrivances at the two leads, and both actors handle them with nimble grace and aplomb. Pfeiffer especially is pure white gold here, all eye rolls and snappy retorts, exhaustion and exasperation. She’s the classic romantic female lead updated to the then-modern age, complete with such ’90s accoutrements as a permanently frazzled personality and a hilariously oversized cell phone. It’s easily one of her very best comedic performances, ranking close to her astonishing comic excellence in 1988’s Married to the Mob. As in that film, she handles physical comedy beautifully, while also exuding a real warmth and magnetic charisma. She takes what could be a tired archetype—the Type A woman and all of the cliches that entails—and creates a complex and fully dimensional woman, one that any parent or working professional can easily relate to.Paul S: Pfabulous! I love this take on the Michelle’s work in One Fine Day. I totally agree, and it’s a tough act to follow, curse you. I’m not sure any working professional could easily relate to Meg Ryan’s Maggie. Even if she is crazy, she’s also gorgeous, sexual, sensual, alluring, and any other provocative term you want to throw her way. Every second of Meg’s screen time in Addicted to Love subverts the girl next door label she would wear for most of her career. Maggie has the power to reduce me to a heap of helpless desire. It’s the same as the effect Michelle has, when she strips down to her bra (twice) in One Fine Day. Talk about a movie knowing it’s main selling point.Michael C: One Fine Day also contains a stellar example of the legendary Pfeiffer cool. At one point she has to squeeze into her kid’s goofy dinosaur t-shirt. Even in such silly attire, she remains the coolest person on the planet, easily.Paul S: Ouch! Why did ya have to bring up Melanie’s dinosaur t-shirt? Honestly, how do I even follow that? OK, I’ll see your dinosaur t-shirt and raise you Maggie’s sexy tie-dye dress. This one could run and run…