Roxanne

Arguably Steve Martin's best film and surely his most grownup romance, director Fred Schepisi's Roxanne offers a modern reworking of Edmond Rostand's classic play Cyrano de Bergerac, transplanting the tale to a quiet rural town in Washington state. In place of the swashbuckling soldier Cyrano is C.D. Bales (Steve Martin), the big-hearted, good-humored chief of the utterly incompetent volunteer fire department—a funny and genial man with the soul of a poet and a nose that would give Pinocchio a run for his money on his naughtiest days (C.D. is extremely touchy about it). Daryl Hannah is his Roxanne, a beautiful young astronomer who arrives in town and enjoys C.D.'s good humor and easy charm even as her eyes stray to his handsome new assistant Chris (Rick Rossovich), a hunk with the soul of a frat boy and a limited vocabulary. So, C.D. gives Chris the words to woo his lady love, resigned to live out his own romantic yearnings vicariously. Martin, who does a fine job as the dreamer hiding his wounded heart behind a funnyman exterior, also deserves kudos for his award-winning script that opts for a lighter whimsical touch over the comic's trademark madcap style, while also introducing a number of offbeat characters, including the town mayor (Fred Willard) who is always looking for a new gimmick to attract tourists. Making a handsome-looking debut on Blu-ray (minus any extras, unfortunately), this warm and funny romantic comedy is highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)