A Life Less Ordinary (1997)

This surprising stinker from the TRAINSPOTTING team is an unfunny, 
overly hip romantic comedy about a cute-as-can-be janitor (Ewan 
MacGregor) who one day gets replaced by a robot, tries to talk to 
the company president (Ian Holm) about it, and ends up taking the 
millionaire's spoiled-rotten daughter (Cameron Diaz) hostage.  The 
catch?  Well, she kinda likes being kidnapped.  And-- are you ready 
for this one?-- they're pursued by a pair of increasingly aggres-
sive angels (Delroy Lindo and Holly Hunter) neither of whom can  
return to Heaven until the kids are in love!  No, not an ordinary 
movie by any means.  The innumerable odd (and often yawn-inducing) 
sights include a pool-side game of William Tell, a fantasy dance 
sequence set to "Beyond the Sea," and a T2/Robert Patrick imperson-
ation by the diminutive Ms. Hunter.  (Not only does she crawl 
across the hood of a moving vehicle, she also spits a wad of chew, 
in a single screen moment that all but cured my longtime crush on 
the actress.)  While it's difficult to dislike *any* movie that al-
lows the line "this is Gabriel, get me God"-- or one that closes 
with a cute claymation sequence-- there's absolutely *nothing* com-
pelling at the story's core.  No chemistry.  No charm.  Nothing. 
Directed by Danny Boyle, written by John Hodge, and produced by Pe-
ter MacDonald, all of whom prove that it takes real talent to make 
a movie this bad.  (Rated "R"/102 min.)

Grade: D

Copyright 1997 Michael J. Legeros
Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros

Originally posted to triangle.movies in MOVIE HELL: October 26, 1997