If Lucy Fell (1996)

Highly-defined stupidity

Since acquiring a Sony HD TV, I've been watching far too many bad movies for no better reason than the novelty of seeing images in high definition. But with fare this bad, and with HD channels comparatively few, I'm seriously considering returning to the old 20" GE--either that or order one of the pay services like BET Jazz.

This film is so sophomoric, from conception to script to realization, that either the filmmakers are cinematic ignoramuses or colossal cynics, serving up anything intelligible to the lowest forms of humanity. The writing, especially the dialog, is on the level of the most obvious sit-coms minus the laugh track--a regression by light years from any 30-minute Norman Lear production. There are even more close-ups than you're likely to see in a made-for-TV counterpart. About the only thing that distinguishes this turkey as a theatrical release is the explicit crudeness of the language (which doesn't begin to approach Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor or "The Aristocrats"--this film can't even make talking dirty much fun).

The two male leads are cast in the roles of archetypal, short-guy losers who still make out. But clearly neither they nor their writers have seen a Woody Allen film or, for that matter, Chaplin, Keaton, or the Marx Brothers. Maybe not even Steve Martin. Ben Stiller walks around like a clueless guest at a Halloween costume party trying to get noticed with a whoopee cushion.

At least the two women do justice by my Sony picture, permitting me to turn off the sound and improvise my own script inspired by the possibilities of the intelligence lurking beneath faces that, while expressive, leave you wondering about what--and why. April 7, 2008

Oh, so bad...

After watching this movie, I couldn't understand why Sarah Jessica Parker and Ben Stiller agreed to participate in this juvenile romantic comedy (if you can call a movie that's not remotely funny "comedy"), which has one of the most idiotic plots ever.

It was painful to watch Elle MacPherson trying to pretend to be romantically interested in an ugly guy who barely reaches her shoulder and (although she knows he's been watching her for five years, like a pathetic voyeur who's incapable of talking to the object of his obsession) ask him why he's single, considering he's so "cute, funny, smart, blah, blah, blah." That was the only part of the movie where we laughed, but only because it was so ridiculously unbelievable.

I just googled the movie, and I found out this quote from Sarah Jessica Parker, talking about her experience working in the movie: "Perhaps it would have been better if Lucy had fallen." My thoughts exactly.
December 23, 2007

ROX MY SOX

This movie is genius. I have been a fan of Eric for a long time now. He is hilarious. This movie had me laughing from start to finish. Sarah Jessica Parker is Brilliant and I love the character Ben Stiller Plays.
When I am asked what my favorite movie is....Besides all the obvious classics like star wars and any 80's flick....This is my all time favorite movie. Thank you Eric Schaeffer. Oh and YOUR HOT. October 17, 2007

great movie!

this was a great movie. anyone who likes ben stiller or sarah jessica parker would really enjoy this movie. October 17, 2007

One of my all-time favorites

Life is not cohesive. It's series of moments.

This movie is very similar and it's one of my favorites because of that. Take a look at reality. The supermodels are rarely with the "Ken dolls" and there's a reason for that.

'If Lucy Fell' is warm and funny. Eric Schaeffer has the odd charm of his early days. You can tell he's still amazed he got discovered driving a cab with a screen play in the front seat. Sara Jessica Parker bubbles and Elle McPherson performs as well as many in top box office films out there. What some people may not like about this film is that the actors are genuine--not actors acting like people who appear to be genuine.

There's a difference. October 8, 2007

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