THE MIRROR HAS TWO FACES
A film review by Ben Hoffman
Copyright 1996 Ben Hoffman
How does it feel to be very bright, to yearn for a man's love and passion and still regard yourself as pretty close to being an ugly duckling? That is what Rose Morgan (Barbra Streisand), a professor of Romantic Literature at Columbia University, has to confront. Has not her mother, Hannah, (Lauren Bacall) told her, in not those exact words, that she is a plain-looking woman? Mother Hannah, despite her getting along in years still has traces of her beauty and makes the most of it.
On the other side of the coin there is handsome Gregory Larkin, a Columbia U. mathematics professor who has to ward off the advances of a host of beautiful women only too eager to get him into the sack. (We should all have that problem.) Gregory yearns to meet a woman whom he can love because they have things in common, because she is bright, rather than because she is beautiful. In desperation he places a Personal Ad that reads "Columbia University professor (male) seeks a woman interested in common goals and companionship. Must have a Ph.D. and be over thirty-five. Physical appearance not important." With a little chicanery by her sister, Rose and Gregory meet.
Almost immediately there is that chemistry of admiration and respect and love and Gregory asks her, to her great surprise and happiness, to marry him. Of course, Gregory has not so much as kissed her yet, His love is that of the aforementioned admiration and respect variety. Rose, for her part, agrees but she also looks forward to making passionate love with her husband. What happens when she discovers that is not at all what he had in mind. Had he not told her that stuff about admiration and respect? Why is she obviously angry and frustrated? What is wrong with women? Cannot a husband and wife have love without sex? Apparently not in their case.
Based on the French film, LE MIROIR A DEUX FACES, Streisand's version is a delightful romp as we witness the metamorphosis of a plain-Jane into a svelte, glamorous, sexy-looking woman. Let Gregory handle that when he comes home from Paris after a three-month's lecture gig during which Rose has not returned any of his many pleading phone calls.
Bridges is charmingly terrific as is Streisand. Aided by such experienced actors as Lauren Bacall at her best, Georges Segal, Mimi Rogers, Pierce Brosnan, Brenda Vaccaro, the stunning Elle MacPherson, the film is most entertaining. This is one you will not want to miss.
Directed by Barbra Streisand
Rating 3.5 Bytes
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Ben Hoffman
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