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Canberra Today 16°/18° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Review / ‘Mistress America’ (MA)  ***

Mistress AmericaGRETA Gerwig and Amy Schumer (from “Trainwreck”) have each found notoriety from writing kooky leading characters whom they play in funny ha-ha movies.

In Noah Baumbach’s film, two young women are about to become step sisters. Greta Gerwig plays Brooke, big on ideas for future fame and fortune, devoid of practical skills for implementing them. Tracy (Lola Kirke) is less dippy but with a different set of problems for her and, ultimately, for Brooke.

One of Brooke’s ideas is to become a famous writer of fiction. The film takes its title from the short story that Tracy writes from an idea that Brooke has fantasised aloud. Then Brooke decides to convert a derelict warehouse into a restaurant. She can’t cook, she has no money to do the building up. But an adversary from school days has a genial and wealthy husband.

When Brooke, Tracy and two friends visit the former adversary’s home to plead for a loan, the film morphs into serious farce performed by an ensemble cast with quick dialogue and movement that make great fun. And a welcome change from Brooke’s tedious fantasising about her intentions.

I wonder what sort of result would come from some courageous filmmaker, perhaps Noah Baumbach or Judd Apatow, bringing Gerwig and Schumer together.

At Dendy and Palace Electric

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Dougal Macdonald

Dougal Macdonald

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