The Makeover

The result is an adorable and faithful update that spoofs politics, television and Boston while making underlying points about education, class conflict and being oneself. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 2/8/2021

This sex-change version of George Bernard Shaw's PYGMALION (best known in its musical version of MY FAIR LADY) seems a trifle tired. It works best when it moves furthest from its source; the standout character is Elliot Doolittle's sister, although Frances Fisher as his mother is obviously having a lot of fun with the bowdlerized version of Alfie Doolittle. Julia Stiles as Higgins seems to be clueless about how things actually work and David Walton as Elliot seems to go from a mush-mouthed Southie to someone whose greatest problem with language seems to be when to use "whom" without much struggle.

However, it's a great story and despite a few missteps in the script -- intended to make it fit the standard Hallmark romcom format -- it has some great moments of actual comedy. If, unlike its original, it does not start out all head and let the emotions of the matter sneak in later, that is a choice I can understand.

One particularly praiseworthy fact is that there are a lot of shots that show how clearly this one is set in Boston, and not just the typical setting shots, but real places that someone familiar with the city would choose. I always take special pleasure in seeing things like that in a movie.

Julia Stiles character was too cold, mean, and uncaring. I didn't enjoy the movie because of her. The writers should have allowed her character to change into someone more likable. I like that the movie was set in Boston. It was very​ authentic. I don't understand why Julia's character had to remain so callous during the entire movie. I don't recall her smiling at all.

Wow! What a wonderful romantic comedy this was and still is, even though IMDb doesn't have it as a romance movie. The acting was top notch! No part of this movie was displeasing, except the Boston accent at the beginning, but thankful that part was short-lived. I adored the script very much! I adored the leading actor and the leading actress as well. What a cute couple! The Dolittle mom was something else. Come on Hallmark movie watchers and raters, this movie was great! The Boston accent was the ONLY piece of this movie that wasn't my perfect cup of tea. Otherwise, everything else was so enjoyable including the Boston scenery. Watch it at least once and if you really like it, come here and give it a better rating.

The Makeover is itself a remake of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and the musical version of that play, My Fair Lady, but with an interesting twist; the genders of the main characters in the film have been switched. Set in Boston, The Makeover takes much of its initial energy from the contrast between the varied dialects used by the upper and lower classes of that city's population.

The film is a fun romantic comedy that is reasonably well acted and photographed. It could have been improved by continuing the musical score through the fades between scenes instead of leaving them silent, but this probably was not considered practical with a made for TV movie.