A Life Less Ordinary (1997)

Cameron Diaz + Ewan McGregor + Holly Hunter

First off, I love the movie. It's a bad B-movie but I love it. I went through a Ewan phase and it is one of the films that pulls at my memories. It does not try to be a good movie. In fact, it makes fun of the fact that it is not a good movie and that good romantic movies are all comprised of the same things.

The two main characters are a rich girl and a man her rich father has just fired from his janitorial staff. To get back at the world, he kidnaps the girl and she fuels his kidnapping scheme by telling him how in fact to kidnap someone. She wants to get back at her father and learns to stand on her own throughout the film. In the background, however, this is all orchestrated by angels in heaven. True love is a fairytale in today's world. Two angels are given one last chance to get it right. No more divorce. No more unhappiness. They have to pair these two rich girl and janitor or they are doomed. They don't make it easy, these humans. Throughout the stresses and strains, they push against this celestial design. Nothing is ever simple. 

"Jeopardy, Jackson. Always works" And this is the scene that gets my heartstrings. Ewan can cry to the point that you are ready to cry with him...not sure if it's because they are pathetic tears or because he is truly upset. I wanted to post that scene but unfortunately, it is not on youtube and I am too lazy to post it myself.

I do not recommend this movie to a lot of people. With the exception of my sister (my movie tester) and a former friend (who suffered through my Ewan phase as well as attributed to it), I would not suggest a lot of my friends to this movie unless you are a Ewan fan. Cameron Diaz is not her bubbly pretty self but pre-Hollywood in 1997.

Overall, I would have given this movie a 7/10 in the past. It now wavers between a 6 or 7 just for pure memories. The pro's of this movie is that it is not serious. It goes against traditional thoughts and physics even but it has a fun aspect. So, if you're ever bored and lounging around in bed on a Sunday morning with nothing on TV but this film, it's something that will entertain you. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

O'REILLY: Human fucking beings. What do you have to do?
 
JACKSON: We did everything for them! Brought them together. Put them in jeopardy.
We damn near killed them both! We gave them every opportunity.
All they had to do was fall in love...and we could've gone home.