Is there anything more torturous than the fact that Salon doesn't like ANY fucking movies?

As someone who's read the book, but wisely refused to see the movie, it sounds like they're very true to each other. Meaning, I'll pass.

Wow, this review is harsh. I almost want to watch the movie and see if it's really that bad.

Andrew O'Hehir's frothing-at-the-mouth hatred of this movie is palpable and incredibly amusing. I could have used more explanation of why the Steve Martin character was so movie-killingly repulsive -- it's not hard to believe that he is, but I don't really have a sense of why that's so beyond the fact that he's weird and waxy. Maybe a snippet of dialogue would help? Overall, though, I loved the energy of this review; it's my favorite thing I've read today.

I haven't seen the movie yet and I've been afraid to, mostly because what I loved about the book wasn't the story. That's kind of lame and simple. What's fantastic about the book is Steve Martin's prose. His descriptions are clever and refreshing, and kept making me think "Damn, I wish I could write like that." Like for example when he describes the different layers of perfume hanging over the perfume department at Barney's (I'm assuming Barney's didn't want to be in the movie).

I couldn't imagine how they would translate Martin's prose in movie-form, and it sounds like they couldn't, even with Martin's narration.

Forget the movie. Read the book. Aren't they always better, anyway?

t

My Goodness! This is too harsh! Mister O'Hehir needs to take off his shoes & relax.This seemingly open hate letter to Steve Martin disguised as 'review' - is giving me a chuckling cringe.I have just watched the movie -Shopgirl & found it exceedingly entertaining.I like the intelligent witty dialogues above all.This seems to be a labor of love for Steve Martin & Andrew O'Hehir simply takes liberty to disintergrate it.Clare danes as usual 'acts' too much.Steve Martin was perfect if i may scream so.

The novella will probably take you only a few hours and it might quell some of your confusion about the movie. For one, you read about an awkward older man, instead of a suave sugar daddy, so you feel more sympathy than nausea. The novella also points out the glove department is out-dated, and uses it as a symbol of the out-of-time, out-of-spirit characters. The bottom line is that it's a little story about simple characters, not the meat of a great comedic film. I enjoyed reading your review. And I've had a theory for a while now that Bill Murray's character in Lost in Translation was inspired by Steve Martin, so I liked the idea that Steve Martin's current acting imitates Bill Murray's character.

I caught a screening of "Shopgirl" at the Austin Film Festival last night. While I don't think it's as bad as O'Hehir believes it is, it's not a great film. My biggest problem with it is that it came across, to me, as a cold, distant movie that never really lets you in. That and the fact there are several subplots that seem unconnected with the rest of the movie.

Though in fairness to Andrew's review, a director with a film in competition at Austin was offended at the thought of Martin romancing a Claire Danes, and stated that Martin had "zero sex appeal." The latter, at least, I can agree with.

Romantic Comedies are boring, but make money. I recently watched an interview where Kristin Durst said she hated romantic comedy. Surprising since that is how she makes her money. Could she act in another role? It�s hard to say since we�ve not seen her in one. Adam Sandler tried to show he was a genuine actor by staring in the hideous Punch-Drunk Love. The script was horrible the attempt at acting worse. Could the Water Boy ever star in a serious production? Well, should he ever be offered a serious script, maybe we would be pleasantly surprised.

The problem is when a new script, one that isn�t a romantic comedy comes along, it has a slim chance of making money. It has even less of chance when the leading roles are played by actors who usually star in the sweet movies aimed at tweens falling in love. Robin Williams has been the only comedian that has pulled it off, but not without horrible reviews for serious work. When his serious work (like Hamilt) was aired, he was ridiculed and mocked. His audience screamed he couldn�t act. However, Williams got the secret of transitioning from silly to serious. He played some stepping stone roles. Patch Adams and Toys, for example, were hits because it had some comedy though ultimately it was a dark film.

Steve Martin needs to find those stepping stone movies. I believe the man can act, but I don�t think the scripts show his multi-facetted ability to bring characters to life. Though not a huge fan of his, I think I could be if chose the Williams� path. I wasn�t a Robin Williams fan either until I saw him in serious roles. Martin needs the breathing room to find what works.

as in "I would have been grateful, nay, delighted, ".

Sure sign of an English Major who hasn't quite graduated, whatever the degree.

First of all I think people are entitled to hate movies. Reviewing is harldy ever an objective profession and if it is to be of any use, it cannot be. However, Hehir's review comes across as childish disdain dressed up in fancy language with a little anti (or is it pro) New York angst thrown in for good measure. I loved Shopgirl the book. I was shocked Steve Martin could write so well. I identified with the book as a whole and it was a book that made you sad and yearn in equal measure-much like life except life sucks.

But the notion of L.A. story being merely 'enjoyably sweet' actually made me shudder.The movie is one of my all time favourites which led me to call Steve Martin an absolute god, an adjective I tend to be sparing with. I don't think Shopgirl is a great movie but I definitely don't believe its any worse than silly hollywood crap like Forrest Gump which I am pretty sure had Hehir peeing in his pants for sheer joy. In any case, his review like my rejoinder is simply an exercise in airing feelings/opinions/prejudices. It is part of what makes Salon fun but there is such a thing as throwing money away