23 May 2013

Shall we speak the unspoken language of love? You mean the kind only dogs can hear? Yes, the very same

Speechless is a romantic comedy that pairs Michael Keaton and Geena Davis as speechwriters for opposing campaigns. No doubt it was at least partially based on or inspired by Mary Matalin and James Carville. One difference though--in Speechless she's the Democrat and he's the Republican. Though the politics are only a pretext for a little rom com thrust and parry, one couldn't ask for better sparring partners than Geena and Keaton. --------------------------------------stage direction: [While riding in back of pickup truck to get gasoline] Julia: Is that cologne? Kevin: Black Flag. You know, it's manly, and as you can see, not a roach in sight... --------------------------------------In this version of reality both parties are corrupt (wait a minute--are you sure it's fiction?). The wedge issue of immigration is one difference though, with the Democrat opposing the construction of a ditch between the US and Mexico, while the Republican spins it by dubbing it "The Friendship Ditch." Score one for Keaton. The only one who really believes in the speeches is Geena Davis' character. She is doing it because she wants to make the world a better place. Keaton is a former sit com writer and he is in it strictly for the money--and the laughs. Christopher Reeve played Keaton's rival, a Network Television News Journalist who was Geena's former boyfriend, and now her fiancé. This movie was just a year before Reeve would have his tragic riding accident that would leave him paralyzed. There is one strange bit that became a running gag about her former boyfriend having a tattoo on his lip. If we ever find out what the tatto says, then I must have blinked. Though the gag doesn't really go anywhere, they have some fun running with it: --------------------------------------[They are talking on the phone] Julia: My old boyfriend had a tattoo, on the inside of his lip. Wanna guess what it said? Kevin: Uh, "How am I driving? Call 1-800" and then a number? Did he have a really big lip? Was it Mick Jagger? --------------------------------------A little later there is an amusing scene as Keaton wonders if Reeve is the tattooed boyfriend and tries to get him to show it. Anyway, Reeve would have to be Superman to keep Davis and Keaton apart. From the moment they meet in the hotel pharmacy and try to con each other out of the last box of No-Doz, you know that they have a lot more in common than just insomnia. Though the politics are a little dated, in some ways it is prescient. But the main reason to watch this is the witty dialogue, clever script and acting, and of course the strange alchemy between Geena Davis and Michael Keaton. --------------------------------------Julia: Shall we speak the unspoken language of love? Kevin: You mean the kind only dogs can hear? Julia: Yes, the very same. --------------------------------------Roles of Michael Keaton:Multiplicity (1996) .... Doug Kinney is a contractor who feels like there aren't enough hours in the day. His solution--cloning. Imagine a whole gang of Michael Keatons. Scary, isn't it? Funny, too, I'll bet. Batman (1989) .... Tim Burton, a man with vision, couldn't picture anyone else donning the cape and cowl. Keaton was the original film version of Batman / Bruce Wayne. Clean and Sober (1988) .... Keaton was probably serious as Daryl Poynter, and no doubt he used his personal experience to some extent. Just a guess.Beetlejuice (1988) .... Beetle Juice is a great vehicle for the over-the-top Keaton. Geena Davis and Winona Ryder are in it too!!! Night Shift (1982) .... Bill Blazejowski was an idea man--memo to self--his idea was to start a brothel with Shelley Long (Diane Chambers from Cheers) as a hooker and Henry Winkler (The Fonz from Happy Days) as his business partner. Roles of Geena Davis:A League of Their Own (1992) .... Davis was ball player Dottie Hinson, along with Rosie O'Donnell, Madonna, and Tom Hanks: "There is no crying in baseball!" Thelma & Louise (1991) .... Geena was Thelma and Susan Sarandon was Louise in this classic fable of female empowerment. The Accidental Tourist (1988) .... Geena plays Muriel Pritchett who 'falls' for the accidental tourist and gets 'hurt'--William Hurt. Earth Girls Are Easy (1988) .... Valerie is a valley girl, and three aliens lose control of their UFO and land in her swimming pool. Jeff Goldblum, Jim Carrey, and Damon Wayons are the aliens in question.Beetle Juice (1988) .... Geena Davis is Barbara, see link above for Michael Keaton as Beetle Juice. The Fly (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) (1986) .... Geena is Veronica Quaife, love interest of mad scientist/fly Jeff Goldblum in this remake of a sci fi classic that is also a classic in its own right.

22 May 2013

speechless

thoroughly enjoyed this movie when i saw it on tv recently that's why i bought it regards, Bernie W N

Brian Wolters

12 May 2013

Delightful!

Speechless is delightful! The chemistry between Davis and Keaton is thebestI have seen in a long time. In my opinion, this is Davis at her best!Plus,the story is very interesting. I also give high marks for ChristopherReeveand it is sad to see that this was one of his last pre-accident movies. Aswith most romantic comedies these days, the characters have to go to bed,but thankfully, it is kept off screen.I give this film a "B."

Andres Cardenas

12 May 2013

Cute silly movie

When now a days the only news one hears are tragic and when going tothe movies is basically to see violence and sex, it is alwaysrefreshing to see a cute silly movie that allows you to smile and spendan hour and a half without suffering through its plot. This movie, inmy opinion, carries a little bit of several styles of comedy:situations that make it funny and the use of lines where you have tointerpret what they are saying in order for them to make sense andallow you to smile. This movie is very local, in the sense that youhave to be a native English speaking person to really understand manyof the intended meanings of the dialogues. Any way it is a well spent90 minutes of your time to relax a little and follow it through withinterest. For Spanish speaking viewers, the background song: NO SE TUmakes it very worthwhile to watch/hear.

04 May 2013

Had a great time!

This review is from: Speechless [VHS] (VHS Tape) Great romantic comedy,lot of laughs.Michael Keaton and Jena Davis are terrific.

03 May 2013

politically light

This movie is not heavy on political humor, but it is a fun one to watch. I have watched this comedy many times for its light-hearted banter between a man and a woman.

DarthBill

03 May 2013

Batman VS. Superman!

In a nutshell - insomniac political speech-writers Michael Keaton andGeena Davis meet and fall madly in love late one night, but their loveis held up when they discover that they are in fact writing for therival candidates of the latest election. Also complicating matterssomewhat is that Davis's fiancé, the late Christopher Reeve playing yetanother reporter, is trying to win her back.Not the greatest romantic comedy ever made but it has its moments,thanks to the likable back and forth between Keaton and Davis. Also ofinterest for the casting of Keaton and the late Reeve as the rivals forDavis's affections, in light of the fact that Reeve and Keaton playedDC comics two most iconic characters, Superman and Batman.Bonnie Bedelia and Ernie Hudson also star.

02 May 2013

DVD to Add to Your Romantic Comedy Collection

This review is from: Speechless (DVD) I was glad to find this movie in DVD format. Michael Keaton and Geena Davis are in great form in this romantic comedy about two political speech writers/insomniacs on opposing teams. Delivered promptly and in good shape, I'm glad to add this to my DVD collection.

Frapples

14 April 2013

Waste of talent

There are a lot of known names in the cast of Speechless, including a reunion of Beetlejuice stars Geena Davis and Michael Keaton with Christopher Reeve just prior to his horse-riding accident.All this star power leads to a lot of fizzle unfortunately. Geena Davis and Michael Keaton are great actors but I just could not believe their connection here. They meet, they get the hots for each other, they bicker, they steal from each other then backstab, then fall in love? Right. Both candidates for senator are on the take? Geena will fix everything. With no political background she is going to run for Senator from Rhode Island.Oh well, I'll say it wasn't horrible but there are better ways to spend your time.

13 April 2013

Semi-cute

Geena Davis is of course cute, but this romantic comedy about speech writers in opposing political camps is fluff and cotton candy, kind of like something from Neil Simon without the bite and with only a quarter of the wit. The candidates and the issues are trivialized and made into clichés. (But that's good.) Must have been written by a speech writer! She's a liberal Democrat and he's an amoral Republican hired gun. It might have been more interesting if they had switched them around. It's all surface and sound bite mentality including the performances by the leads, Geena Davis and Michael Keaton, who together produce enough chemistry to rival cold dishwater. If you're really, really bored and it's a choice between, say, a rerun of "Suddenly Susan" and this, flip a coin. Or better yet, go scrub the kitchen floor. This is the sort of mush that will turn your brain to cottage cheese.Some observations: Christopher Reeve is sadly miscast: he makes a very soft heavy. Geena can smile and smile and smile and occasionally frown. Big deal. Poor Bonnie Bedelia. They made her look so dowdy, so as not to upstage Davis. It must be frustrating to know that not only are you more talented than the star, you are even better looking; but for an actress in Hollywood, younger always wins out.

JohnL

07 April 2013

Best Romantic Comedy

I've seen plenty of romantic comedies, and this is still my favorite. Geena Davis and Micheal Keaton have this chemistry that is really unrivaled by other well-known pairs such as Tom Hanks and Megan Ryan, Ryan and Billy Crystal, Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, Roberts and Hughes. I recommend that everyone should see this movie.

06 April 2013

Delightful and Funny

Speechless is delightful! The chemistry between Davis and Keaton is the best I have seen in a long time. In my opinion, this is Davis at her best! Plus, the story is very interesting and has those great "ups and downs". I also give high marks for Christopher Reeve and it is sad to see that this was one of his last pre-accident movies. As with most romantic comedies these days, the characters have to go to bed, but thankfully, it is kept off screen. Rated PG-13 for some language and implied sex.

21 March 2013

Wonderful movie with a third-act botch

I guess you could say this contains a partial spoiler.* * * * I'm a little perplexed at the low ratings most folks seem togive this movie. I think it's because people tend to look at movies asa total product. Me, I'm the kind of guy who can appreciate a classiccar, and overlook the rust spots.That's kind of where we are on this movie -- a movie that hits on sevenout of eight cylinders. The problem is that romantic comedy is the mostdifficult of genres, and for most folks, it has to hit on all eight to"work." Viewers think about their feelings; they don't analyze aromantic movie in an intellectual way, and if something doesn't quitework, they leave the theater feeling dissatisfied without knowingexactly why.This movie has so much going for it -- a good premise, clever banter,believable characters, and a romance that doesn't seem forced. And forme, there's a double appeal -- I've worked in the press/politicalworld, and all I can say is I can tell the writers must have beenthere, too.Was it miscast? Was it shallow? Was the dialog unrealistic? Waseveryone too cute? Was the "strange bedfellows" premise beyond belief?Naah. None of that.The problem is the third act. I don't want to give away too much, butwe have a scene in a bar in which Michael Keaton is given someinteresting information, and he has a choice to make. Now, the moviemight have spun in a half-dozen interesting directions from this point-- first time I saw it, I was half-sitting up in my chair, once Irecognized where the whole thing was leading. I couldn't tell quitewhere it was going, but I knew it was going to be mighty interesting.There was plenty of dramatic potential, the sort you always need at thestart of the third act in a comedy, to make the ending seem a happyrelief. The way it spun out in my mind, I suppose the movie would havegone on for another five or six scenes.But here's the trouble -- the next scene is the big climax at theballoon fiesta, and the producers settled for an ending so simple, sodishonest, so downright cheap, that I'm sure it's the thing that leftthe bad taste in most moviegoers' mouths. Up to this point the moviewas a clever comedy of words and ideas and romance; suddenly we gotslapstick.How on earth could something like this have happened? How could writerswho had done such a good job up to this point have failed so miserablyat the climax? My guess is that they didn't -- my guess is that someonewith a complete lack of understanding of the material took a movie witha complex, adult, and somewhat ambiguous ending, something in whichthere were no heroes and no villains, and decided to "improve" it.Or maybe a different ending was shot, and it didn't test well inPomona, and the studio tried another approach.Or maybe the studio decided to save a little money by cutting 15minutes out of the script.But I suspect some big-time tinkering here -- something that basicallyspoiled the movie for most viewers, and turned a potential classic intoa bomb.Wouldn't it be cool if another ending was shot -- and if someday a"director's cut" might be made available? There was so much "right"about this movie, I hated to see it spoiled by a botched last couple ofminutes.Erik Smith Olympia, Wash.

WatchCat

20 March 2013

SPEECHLESS is a light-hearted, touching, and funny love story that deserves your positive vote! (Some language and situations not suitable for young children.)

I'm glad the writers of this movie were NOT speechless! Politics doesmake strange bedfellows, but this film was written well enough that itdidn't require bed scenes for it to be entertaining to adults andproves that love can be a funny thing.The very witty banter between Keaton's and Davis' characters is livelyand thoroughly enjoyable. Their chemistry is wonderful and believable.The storyline is credible, too. It probably doesn't happen often insideopposite political camps but, just as Carville and Matlin are livingexamples that relationships can survive working for opposing partycandidates, you'll savor watching the film's characters discover thatlove is the most important party.I voted SPEECHLESS an "8" – it's one you'll enjoying recalling againand again.

15 March 2013

Speechless..Well Spoken Movie.

An oddity of sorts because you have the two actors who played Batman and Superman in one movie (Micheal Keaton and Christopher Reeve respectively). With that aside, SPEECHLESS delivers on the grounds of a decent romantic/screwball comedy. Keaton and Geena Davis play speechwriters for rival candidates in a New Mexico senatorial campaign who meet and fall in love under unusual circumstances. They must keep their love alive when the campaign becomes intense and they must keep their loyalty to their respective candidates. Typical light characters played by Keaton and Davis and Christopher Reeve thrown into the mix as an old boyfriend of Davis trying to revive the old relationship. Overall, solid entertainment that's unoffensive with snappy dialogue.

mdm-11

14 March 2013

Speechless or Scriptless? Gives new meaning to far fetched.

Gena Davis and Michael Keaton fall in love "at first sight". OK, I'mstill with them. They BOTH are involved in OPPOSING politicalcampaigns, neither knowing about the other's activities at first. OK,it's about 10,000 to 1 now. After several additional twists and turns(resulting in incredibly unlikely situations), they end up together,apparently living happily ever after. Now the odds have increased toabout 10 million to one! This story is about as likely as the unspeakably unbelievable lovestory delivered by Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in "You've Got Mail". I wasentertained by this "light fluff", especially when "their song" wasworked in. The two leads worked well together, no problem there. I justfound the story to be shamefully unbelievable. If you enjoy romanticcomedies, you're getting a great romance, but be warned of the "I LoveLucy" lunacies!

arieliondotcom

12 March 2013

A Tasty Portion of Adams Rib

You see it all coming a mile away. The plot twists, the romance. Thebreak up, the making up. It's obviously supposed to be a pairing likeTracy and Hepburn in Adam's Rib or Pat and Mike and you know it fromthe opening credits. But the strange part is, it works! (Anotherstrange part is that Chris Reeves looks downright haggard and mucholder than the other two in a real miscasting. There's a welcomenessfor seeing him alive and well again but he looks so much older thanDavis and is so miscast in this role it is downright uncomfortable allthe way around.Except for two "over the top" spots in the script (besides themiscasting above, Davis dragging the sleeping Keaton around a room andthe ending) which is why I gave it several demerits, it really works.There is real chemistry between Keaton and Davis. I'm a big fan ofKeaton in his comedy roles anyway and Geena Davis is easy on the eyesbut especially sexy in this role for some reason. And that chemistry,Keaton's delivery of some funny lines and getting us through a lot ofunfunny ones and Davis being quirkily beautiful (again like Hepburn),as well as their rapport together, makes this an enjoyable investmentof time. Especially if you're spending it with a sweetie of your own. Atasty treat in a portion just large enough for two.

12 March 2013

DVD purchase

This review is from: Speechless (DVD) This is the DVD that I wanted at a good price. It shipped quickly to my home and worked fine was in good condition.

veinbreaker

08 March 2013

ahhahahaha

the only reason I saw this was to see SUPERMAN and BATMAN in the samefilm.apart from that.it sucked. totally lame story totally lame everything. butreeve and keaton gave us a glimpse of what their onscreen presence wouldhave been like in a team up

08 March 2013

Completely underated!

This movie is one of the best "love stories" of the 90's. It has both heart, and intelligence. Davis and Keaton have real chemistry on screen. The fact that they are both writers really adds to the humor as they tear into each other through their respective candidates speeches. This movie just feels real. The little nuances (necisito una toalla) really add depth to the movie and the characters. I own this movie,and really wish they would hurry up and release it on DVD. My VHS copy is starting to get a little thin and grainy from so many plays... Has anyone else noticed that they changed the cover art almost immediately after releasing the VHS version?Bonus* The soundtrack is great too. "Sorry seems to be the hardest word" really adds a melancholy tone right after the climax of the film--talk about memorable moments...