Here's a review from Light House Shines of TOWN AND COUNTRY.... Take a gander...
I actually didn't really plan on ever seeing this film nor did I
expect to enjoy it as much as I (surprisingly) did. Especially since I
have never been the biggest Warren Beatty fan, even less so after
witnessing the absolutely atrocious Bullworth( Which still makes
me cringe with fear to this day, as Warren rapping is just so very
wrong!). Hence I had little to no expectations whatsoever about this film,
which can be both a good as well as bad thing in terms of giving an
accurate review or interpretation of any film. For if you initially expect
absolutely nothing from a film, you will of course be happy when or if
anything out of the ordinary or expected happens. regardless of
whether or not it's good or even all that interesting, for at least
something happened. Which was exactly the case with Town & Country,
as I had no idea what the film was about other than that fact that it had
a large cast and was supposed to be a comedy. As I got the flyer for this
film while attending another screening from another company, so it wasn't
a screening I had actually planned on seeing as far as I was concerned.
Regardless, the film was actually rather nice as a whole, as well as
nicely played out. As Town & Country is the story or two longtime
friends who basically have a semi midlife crisis. In the sense that Gary
Shandling's character Griffin is caught by his wife Mona ( A nice to see
again, Goldie Hawn) sneaking into some remote Bed & Breakfast Inn with
another woman (who later turns out to be a man in drag), which is where
all the trouble really starts. As Warren Beatty's somewhat out of touch
husband and father character, Porter, is believed to have had beforehand
knowledge of the affair that he kept from everyone ( including his wife
and Mona, another childhood friend). Which it turns out he didn't, though
as a result of all of the accusations and subsequent turmoil inadvertently
directed his way. Porter ends up having an affair of his own, several in
fact. As the idea was (basically) placed in his head by the going ons of
everyone around him, even his loving wife Ellie. A rather nutty Diane
Keaton, who goes around most of the film in her own world of interior
design and decorating for the most part. As is evident by the fact that
her daughter Alice (Tricia Vessey) is sleeping with some foreign guy no
one really knows and who doesn't even speak English right under her very
nose, as is her son Tom (a better than in the past Josh Hartnett). Though
his girlfriend turns out to be just some random weird chick of the moment
with studs and a pierced tongue, which actually makes for some of the
funnier parts in the film. As we get to see just how dysfunctional Porter
and Ellie's family is, though in a good way. As no one is on drugs,
beating or killing one another, it's much more subtle than that. As
Porter's character starts to sleep with more and more women, often with
the most disastrous of results.
Especially since Poter can't seem to get any of his affairs right, or even
pick viable women. As he first sleeps with a cellist, played by Natassia
Kinski, who later turns out to be pregnant and shows up at his high rise
apartment further complicating his life. Then he sleeps with his wife's
best friend and the soon to be ex wife of his other best friend Griffin,
Mona, one drunken night on a business trip his wife suggested he take with
her in the first place. Which also doesn't work out, as they almost get
caught in the act by both Griffin and Ellie when both of them suddenly
show up at Mona's house unannounced (A nicely done/comedic scene overall).
Then to make matters worse, Ellie finally discovers that Porter did have
an affair, just not with her best friend. Which hastens Porters departure
off into the woods with Griffin on a much needed retreat, where Porter
meets Euginie Clayborne. An as always hot Andie MacDowell, who turns out
to be completely insane (though aren't all the really hot ones?!). As she
forces Porter to meet her gun toting psycho Father ( pro NRA gunsmith
Charlton Heston) and her alcoholic wheelchair ridden witch of a mother
(Nicely played by Marian Seldes). Who turns out to be her husband, rather
than her father, as he apparently likes his wife to pick up men so he can
watch them have sex (Yes, the film got decidingly weird and surreal at
this point). Which never happened in Porter's case, as he found her and
her family to be just too creepy so he escaped during the night ( Look
for a really good stuff toy bedroom scene, that is so bizarre, it's
hilarious). Only to be tracked down by Euginie's crazed gun weilding
husband later on, seeking retribution for refusing to pleasure his wife (
Yeah it's a strange family).
All of which if you haven't guessed was actually somewhat confusing, though in a good way mind you. As everything and everyone eventually relates to one another and all misunderstanding are subsequently cleared up, as well as all bad behavior ultimately forgiven. Much in typical movie going fashion, which truthfully was a little disappointing. As there was nothing new about the film in that regard, which made the ending of the film seem like a little bit of a cop out. Though if the film didn't have a typical Hollywood happy ending, I do not think a lot of people would have liked the film as much as they did. Which reminds me, me and my friend were probably some of the youngest people there. Which leads me to believe that they are attempting to market this film towards a more upscale audience, especially since some of the questions they asked on the survey were rather odd ( Such as what our political affiliations were as well as religious background, which actually pop up on screening questionnaires every once in awhile). So who knows exactly what audience they were trying to reach, as there were quite a lot of sexual jokes or sexual humor in general. So the film is not exactly highbrow material as it were, nor does it have anything particularly all that original ( or even interesting) to say about, love, honest or the institution of marriage. As the film was simply a a series of (well done) comedic events executed by a group of talented actors that eventually all related back to one another in typical movie-style fashion. Hence other than for that reason alone, I can't really sing the praises of this film as anything more than pure entertainment. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, just pleasantly different overall, much like the film itself.
Sincerely,
Light House Shines
