Roxanne (Wide Screen) > Reviews > HEY, BIG NOSE!

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	Hilarious .   Steve Martin is brilliant !
Disadvantages:	It's over to quick at only 107 mins

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I think Steve Martin is hilarious. I see him an older version of Jim Carrey. Every film of his that I've had the pleasure of seeing has had me in stitches including this, Roxanne. It also has romance which makes it appealing for me.

This film is based on the novel Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand written in 1909. This is brought forward to modern day. The main character played by Steve Martin is named CD after Cyrano. CD is a very confident, witty and charasmatic man. There is something very unique about Charlie though. He has a very large nose. Not just big but BIG! This has not proved popular with the ladies so far so CD is on his own. He fancies people like anyone else and longs to have it sliced off. He has other things to occupy his time though. He is head of the fire department. A perfect occupation for him as with that nose he can smell a fire miles off. Not a very good one though and he has to babysit them otherwise accidents happen. Referring to a fire in the station CD says "Guys, we're supposed to put them out!"

He meets a lady, Roxanne (Daryl Hannah) on duty as she is locked out of her house. He performs some amazing acrobatics (which are all done by Steve),gets into the house through an open window and unlocks the door. She is not only beautiful but interesting to him as she is astronomer. She tells about a discovery of a comet, Comet Kowalski. He instantly falls for her. He is in love. An obsticle gets in the way though. A guy named Chris is recruited at the fire station. An attractive but somewhat dumb fireman who has very little to say for himself. Who will get the girl? Will CD be able to tell Roxanne how he feels or will his nose get in the way?

There are so many funny scenes in this film, it's hard to pick a favourite. I think it has to be the insult scene at the local pub. CD, having this big nose, is obviously used to getting a few insults from time to time. You almost pity the stupid drunk guy who decides to pick on CD that night. He may have been drunk and stupid but he didn't really deserve the kind of humiliation he receives. Though watching CD's response to the drunk's insult of "Big nose" is extremely satisfying.

The drunk had been strangley pleased with himself for coming up with such a witty remark. CD's wit, outweighing the drunks by a million to one, challenges him saying is that all you can come up with? The response being I suppose you could thing of something better. At this point I cringe, knowing what is to follow and wanting to tell the drunk to shut up. The humiliation begins. "Yeah," says CD "I reckon I could think of something better." To decide the amount of insults that he must come up with another punter suggests they decide it with darts. Only after agreeing to this does CD finds out the drunk does have something going for him after all. He's a darts champion. The first shot...21. CD asks "Two out of three?".He aims, 21. "Twenty-one it is then." Although CD sounds worried he rises to the challenge with ease, and having finished off the drunk in style leaves the pub being the talk of the town. You don't mess with CD.

My dad challenged my sister to recite all the insults once. She did it too. I couldn't remember them all. Here are a few to give you an idea

Who mows your nose hair?

Keep that man away from my cocaine!

You must love the little birdies to give them this to perch on.

It must be wonderful to wake up in the morning and smell the coffee...in Brazil.

You get the idea. The comedy writing is excellent in this. I never tire of watching this film. I couldn't tell you how many times I have seen it. If you haven't seen this and you like comedy, romance Steve Martin or Jim Carrey then watch this. Jim Carrey is not in this I just mean that they share the same eccentric style of comedy acting. The film was made in 1987. It was directed by Fred Schepisi. The running time is 107 minutes.

I highly recommend this to anyone who likes laughing. If you watch this let me know what you think of the alien scene too, it's hilarious.

Hope to hear from you soon. Enjoy the film. x