BARBRA'S JULY PORK BELLY
(The For Pete's Sake DVD Review)
Recently I saw Jim Carrey in Me, Myself and Irene (MMI). Jim is probably the greatest comedian of our time. MMI had an interesting plot, a plentiful budget, and lots of talent. But somehow, it didn't work. The laughs were few, the movie dragged, and the box-office receipts were disappointing. Plot aside, MMI has a lot in common with For Pete's Sake (FPS).
At the height of her movie career in 1974, Barbra could have done almost any movie she wanted to. After The Way We Were, a comedy seemed like a good choice, and I'm sure FPS looked good on paper. Not to mention that Marty Erlichman, her manager, was also one of the producers of this film. So, I can imagine he did what he could to convince her.
Barbra is actually quite good as Henrietta Robbins, the wife who will do anything for her husband's sake (for Pete that is, hence the title). For that matter, all of the cast performs exceptionally well. With bombs blowing up, cattle running through the street, outdoor locations in NY, etc., it's also obvious a lot of money was spent on FPS.
So, what went wrong? The problem lies somewhere between the director and the scriptwriter. The story goes from good to bad constantly in the film. Frequently, it seems the script is just an excuse for a another chase scene, for Barbra's eyes to pop again or for some other form of craziness. After a while, FPS seems to be just another senseless product of a Hollywood formula.
In this formula, the story is tertiary (after Barbra and the chase sequences). For example, what should have been the logical climax and turning point of the film (the revelation that July Pork Bellies – whatever they might be – have made a fortune), is lost in the middle of a cattle chase. Also lost in this movie, and even less important than the script, is Michael Sarrazin (Pete). While Barbra is in almost every scene, Michael is clearly not. Let's just say it is clear what or who is the director's priority.
As with formula films, repetition is evident. The chase scenes and the accident with glass are reminiscent of What's Up Doc (WUD). The "pot roast" motif takes us back to The Way We Were. WUD also has a scene in the tub, while Estelle Parsons reminds us of Eunice Burns. This kind of repetition is one of the problems of Streisand films in general. No matter who is the director, all of Barbra's movies seem to have elements copied from her earlier films.
What is not usual for a formula film or a Streisand film is the lack of style. The visual presentation of FPS is just plain awful. Why the director insists on using so many fabric patterns is beyond comprehension. In one scene, there are two clashing patterns in the curtain and a third pattern in Barbra's dress. What is also surprising is Barbra's short-haired wig. It's simply the worst hairstyle of her career. Interestingly, Jon Peters, who was the love of her life, is given credit for it. Last but not least, what's with the tight jeans? Barbra, flabby and not a shapely women, doesn't pull it off. On the contrary, it's really quite unattractive, if not grotesque.
This DVD presentation offers both the standard and widescreen presentation, as well as a Director's commentary. The most interesting special feature is the FPS trailer, which was very well done and probably the best of the Streisand trailers. From this DVD (on sale since 4/2/01) we have the following photos:
Overall, FPS comes up short in the laughter department, lacks visual appeal, and drags. It does have its moments, but they are very few and far between.
For Pete's Sake on a scale of 1-10: 4.
Did you know that...
Barbra met the love of her life, Jon Peters,
during the filming of For Pete's Sake?
|
The Irreverent Guide to Barbra Streisand wishes to thank the following sources of inspiration for this web page...
On second thought, maybe not.
Please note that this site is neither maintained nor supported by Barbra Streisand or her management. Furthermore, The Irreverent Guide to Barbra Streisand is not an official or unofficial newsletter or publication related
to or endorsed by Barbra Streisand, Barbra Joan Streisand, Barbara Streisand, Babs or her fan clubs.
Original content and design © 2001, 2003. The Irreverent Guide to Barbra Streisand is for entertainment value only; no financial
gain or profit is sought nor has been obtained through this web site. What's more, the site is not intended
to reflect the political and/or personal views of the author nor web hosting provider. It's for fun, ok?