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

I was in the hospital and high on drugs when I saw this. That also explains my delay in reviewing it since during my recovery I had limited time online and there were other priorities.

Even though it felt like I was dreaming this episode, I still remember some details. David Walton did a very good Boston accent and he was quite appealing as an obviously blue-collar character. And yet Elliot wanted more from life than just delivering beer. An executive position was open in his company, and the uptight but still adorable Hannah tricked him into letting her train him to talk and act properly for that position. Only her goal was to replace the deceased congressman she had wanted to see elected. Elliot did very well in his transition to a sophisticated executive, but did he want the job of congressman? Well, you'll just have to watch for yourself. And there appears to be romantic potential here as well.

Not quite up to the usual Hallmark Hall of Fame standards, but it would have made a very good Lifetime movie.

Give me Julia Stiles in any sauce and I'll have it. I walked into this movie half way through it at lunch time when I switched on the "box" and there she was, I soon realised I had seen that movie before and loved it. Not well educated or with a very poor memory I always have trouble to associate these with Pygmalion, I probably never read anyway. But I do remember...was it Rex Harrison and the Spanish rain.... Never mind I just enjoyed this plot for what it was. As for Pygmalion, well if it has not existed that story might still be possible, and likable too, why not! It's amazing how people react differently - This guy can't believe it's possible for 2 people so different to fall in love. But one has to realise what people portrait is not necessary who they are, they may have shaped themselves through a variety of influences. However their inner personality remains to emerge... Sometimes I enjoy (in a variety of ways) reading these commentaries as much as watching the movies themselves. I'm not sure why but watching David Walton I thought I was watching Jim Carrey a little more behaved, Oh well! Oh what the story is about? hmmm it's a fairly nice story with a nice ending *SPOILER* Oh again, I should have put this at the front of the sentence. Damn!

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.

Well worth watching. Many people watch movies looking for things not to like about them. I watch movies and hope to enjoy them or not. If you like the characters, most times you like the movie. I liked all the characters in this movie. I enjoyed the story too.