Michael Caine, young and light and full of charm, became a star in 1966 with the release of “Alfie.” That tale of a womanizing cad introduced Caine and Swinging London to much of the world.
It’s hard to imagine a good reason to remake this movie in 2004, and even less reason if you A) set the movie in Manhattan, and B) cast Jude Law in the lead role.
Jude Law is a fine actor, and he created smashing characters in “A.I.” and “Cold Mountain” and “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” But he creates characters; he doesn’t exude personality, the way Michael Caine does. (I acknowledge that he does have the looks, however, to play a man irresistible to women.)
Setting this Englishman in New York City seems a completely irrelevant choice, except as an appeal to the American audience. But here he is, Alfie Elkins, a limousine driver prone to shagging his female clients and pretty much any other woman that comes into view.
Alfie glides through the movie, bedding his best friend’s girlfriend (Nia Long), eluding the clutches of a semi-regular companion (Marisa Tomei), and moving up in the world by romancing an older, wealthy free spirit (Susan Sarandon, with a tattoo on her cleavage).
Like the original film, it’s a mix of comedy and serious stuff. If memory serves, a sequence involving an unexpected pregnancy and an abortion clinic is given shorter shrift in the remake.
All along the way, Alfie keeps getting lectures, from his ladies, his friend (Omar Epps), and from complete strangers he meets in the men’s room. He gets lectured by Mick Jagger, too; Jagger, that emblem of Swinging London sexual permissiveness, sings three new songs on the soundtrack, which intrude at key moments to remind Alfie of his hollow lifestyle.
Indeed, “Alfie” manages to make a life devoted to hedonistic pleasure seem dreary. Manhattan looks tacky, too, thus negating any positives the locale change might have had. (The film was largely shot in England, thoroughly confusing the issue.)
The only chemistry Alfie has with any of his girls is with a somewhat unstable “Christmas miracle” played by Sienna Miller. Sarandon, naturally, brings some sauce to her role, but like everybody else in this movie she’s playing a cartoon.
“Alife” is directed and co-written by Charles Shyer, who hasn’t gotten any better since the days of “Father of the Bride.” The comedy is ill-timed, and the device of having Alfie speak directly to the camera (held over from the Caine film) never quite flows.
And the theme song? You remember: “What’s it all about, Alfie?” That Burt Bacharach-Hal David tune sneaks into the end credits (sung by Joss Stone), and by then this movie is a lost cause.
Jude Law stars in “Alfie.”
“Alfie” H
Tepid: A remake of the 1966 Michael Caine film, about a womanizing cad who learns his life is hollow. Jude Law, a fine actor, doesn’t have the bursting personality of a Caine, and setting the story in 2004 Manhattan seems completely irrelevant.
Rated: R rating is for language, subject matter.
Now showing: tk
“Alfie” H
Tepid: A remake of the 1966 Michael Caine film, about a womanizing cad who learns his life is hollow. Jude Law, a fine actor, doesn’t have the bursting personality of a Caine, and setting the story in 2004 Manhattan seems completely irrelevant.
Rated: R rating is for language, subject matter.
Now showing: Everett 9, Galaxy, Grand, Marysville, Mountlake, Metro, Oak Tree, Pacific Place, Woodinville, Cascade.
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