After spending nearly seven meticulous years perfecting its script, Steve Martin uncorked a love letter to the City of Angels with his delightful and insightful comedy, L.A. Story in 1991… It’s one of our favorite DVDeep Cuts!
🥃🥃🥃🥃 4 Stars – Premium Pour (Highly Recommended)
A whimsical, satirical cocktail shaken with romance, laughter, and just enough surrealism to make it delightfully quirky. A little dated around the edges, but still an essential tasting for movie lovers.
Steve Martin’s Satirical Love Letter to L.A.
Martin presented audiences with a uniquely clever narrative that playfully skewers the superficial and absurd elements of life in Los Angeles. From traffic jams and trendy cafés to pretentious art scenes and bizarre cultural obsessions, Martin’s razor-sharp wit dissects L.A. culture, turning everyday eccentricities into comedic gold. The film follows quirky weatherman Harris K. Telemacher (Martin), a man experiencing a distinct midlife crisis amidst the colorful backdrop of early-’90s Los Angeles. Frustrated with his hollow career, shallow relationships, and the city’s relentless superficiality, Harris receives unexpected guidance from a sentient freeway traffic sign that cryptically nudges him toward romance, personal growth, and a deeper understanding of his place in this sprawling metropolis. This whimsical touch of magical realism adds an enchanting element that sets the film apart from standard rom-com fare.
Real-Life Romance, Genuine Chemistry
The romantic core revolves around Harris’s attraction to the thoughtful, down-to-earth British journalist Sara McDowel, portrayed with grace and subtle charm by Martin’s then-wife, Victoria Tennant. The genuine chemistry between Martin and Tennant effortlessly translates on-screen, grounding the film’s romance with sincerity and warmth. Sara serves as the antithesis to Harris’s shallow world, her refreshing honesty guiding him toward a more authentic version of himself.
An Ensemble of Delightful Characters
Adding vibrant splashes of comedic brilliance, Sarah Jessica Parker shines as SanDeE*, an exuberantly spirited and quirky aspiring spokesmodel who embodies every Los Angeles stereotype with wide-eyed enthusiasm. Parker’s spirited portrayal injects a youthful energy into the film, contrasting delightfully against Harris’s cynicism.
Richard E. Grant, always a treat, offers up dry wit as Sara’s pretentious ex-husband Roland Mackey, delivering precisely the kind of smarmy charm you’d expect from a Hollywood cliché. And Marilu Henner adds an extra layer of sparkle as Trudi, Harris’s image-conscious nightmare girlfriend (who’s cheating on him with his agent – soooo LA), perfectly capturing the city’s superficial charm and comedic vanity with sharp, effortless wit.
A colorful array of cameos further enriches L.A. Story. Patrick Stewart makes an unforgettable appearance as a haughty maître d’, hilariously satirizing the city’s culinary snobbery, while Rick Moranis delivers laughs as an overly earnest gravedigger, providing perfect comedic punctuation to Martin’s script.
Aged Just Enough to Notice
At its heart, L.A. Story is a cocktail of romance, satire, and gentle absurdity. Its charm comes from Steve Martin’s ability to balance satire with sincerity, humor with heart. The film remains a highly entertaining experience, even if its references occasionally betray its age. The fashion, hairstyles, and some cultural jokes clearly evoke its early-’90s origins, giving it a slightly nostalgic—but still enjoyable—finish.
Timeless Themes, Lasting Charm
Ultimately, while the film feels gently dated around the edges, the universal themes of love, self-discovery, and finding meaning amid life’s chaos are timeless. Martin’s deep affection for Los Angeles—its quirks, foibles, and charms—radiates through every frame, making this film not just a sharp satire but also a touching homage to the city itself.
CocktailsandMovies.com Bottom Line:
Steve Martin poured heart, soul, and wit into L.A. Story, creating a cinematic cocktail worth savoring repeatedly. While it may have aged a bit stylistically, its humor, insightful commentary, and delightful cast ensure it remains a must-see on the shelf of movie classics.
Pull out the DVD (or watch it on Amazon Prime) and enjoy with The Weather Report Cocktail.
