Shopgirl

It's not the plot that sets this Steve Martin vehicle (which he adapted from his own novella) apart from the usual run of romantic comedies: a venerable love triangle involving a woman, an older man, and a younger admirer, the story—if played less deftly—would seem a trifle, uh, shopworn. What's special here is the style: although there are a few explosively funny moments—mostly in the early going, and almost exclusively involving Jason Schwartzman as the scruffy, inept young suitor—the general tone is one of measured melancholy, and the attitude favored by director Anand Tucker and the other leads (Martin and Claire Danes) is one of cool elegance and reserve. The narrative even has Martin occasionally stepping out of his role to intone, with exaggerated precision, general statements about the onscreen relationships in the voice of some godlike observer. But the distancing and affectations surprisingly aren't irritating, and—in fact—lend a sense of depth to the material, turning what could easily have been a typical bit of fluff into something more substantial. With its striking production design, exquisite (almost metallic) visuals, and subtle acting (especially by Danes), Shopgirl is a highly mannered telling of a familiar story—a lovely, refined meditation on modern romance that is all the better for not being the standard issue Hollywood sitcom version. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Anand Tucker, a 22-minute “Evolution of a Novella” making-of featurette, two deleted scenes (6 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a fine film.] (F. Swietek)