Russ B. (Happyfeet) from BENSALEM, PA Reviewed on 10/20/2023...
How could I not enjoy this movie. Back when Steve Martin was funny and Daryl Hannah was hot.
2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Jennifer D. (jennicat) from ST AUGUSTINE, FL Reviewed on 4/2/2014...
Good/funny movie.
2 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Nick H. from ALTON, IL Reviewed on 6/8/2012...
Brilliant reworking of Cyrano de Bergerac as a romantic comedy by star and screenplay writer Steve Martin, fully capturing ther flavor of the original which won Jose Ferrer an Oscar. Martin is C.D. (for Cyrano de Bergarc), a firfe chief whose sensitivity about his huge nose leads him to coach his dumb-as-a-rock friend, Chris (for Christian) in wooing the fair Roxanne, knowing he could never have him herself. I loved the original-- the swashbuckling, brilliant speeches, the flair, but I despised Roxanne -- she clearly wasn't worth his trouble. Martin makes Roxanne much more real and worthy. Cyrano's stirring speeches are such as his filling in for tongue-tied Chris in wooing Roxanne, while concealed by the darkness below Roxanne's balcony, telling her what he really feels for her. In a confrontation with a clod, C.D. provides 20 off the cuff things to say other than "you gotta big nose" which, if you count, goes way over 20. Even the swashbuckling is there as C.D. fences with two wisecracking jerks, tennis racklet to ski pole (one is Kevin Nealon). Funny, warm, I've seen this movie so many times I can't watch it any more.
1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Dan F. from JACKSON, KY Reviewed on 2/25/2010...
Love this movie!
2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Steven M. from PORTLAND, OR Reviewed on 4/22/2008...
This version even though it is listed as fullscreen it is the widescree/fullscreen version.
1 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
"I have breathed you in, and I am suffocating..."
Y. Collins | Fairfax, VA United States | 06/26/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This one is an all-time favorite and a long-time resident of my home video library. Comedy legend Steve Martin, in a way that only Steve Martin can, plays the role of the emotionally and intellectually-wealthy goblin of a man who falls for the equally emotionally and intellectually-wealthy blonde bombshell (Daryl Hannah--hey, why not?) who visits his small town. Unfortunately, this bombshell is lacking in the common sense department, because she immediately falls for the beefcake village idiot, played convincingly by Rick Rossovich. Go figure. But what happens as a result of this scenario is altogether funny, charming, touching and totally entertaining. This movie flows. Martin compounds his genius in the movie by assembling a stellar supporting cast (which includes Shelley Duvall and a young Damon Wayans) that more than holds its own throughout the film. Pay extra special attention to the balcony scene--from its beginning to its end, Martin and Rossovich are allowed to shine their brightest. Martin teams up for this 'Cyrano' retelling with director Fred Schepisi, the visionary behind 'Six Degrees of Separation', the movie that first separated Wil Smith from his legendary "Fresh Prince" persona. 'Roxanne' gets the highest possible recommendation for its perfect balance of humor and romance and the stellar performance of its entire cast. Please, please make it your business to own a copy of this movie."
The worst possible DVD edition for this romantic comedy clas
TANTRUM!!!! | CHILE | 03/15/2008
(1 out of 5 stars)
"I think we all agree that this 1987 classic romantic comedy is absolutely wonderful, entertaining, magic, funny and hylarious. The best romantic comedy for some, one of the best comedies of the 80's for others. Great story, incredible performance of steve martin , great production and artistic direction by Fred Schepisi. We can argue with that of course, but one thing beyond discussion, is that this Sony Pictures 2002 DVD edition for this masterpiece is so awful, that it manages to destroy the experience.
I had to put up with a VHS edition for 15 years, for what! This? I can say without any doubt, that this is one of the worst DVD editions i own, behind my Asian bootleg martial arts copies. Absolutely awful, this edition manages to restrain the impact of the movie with all the worst features of the fullscreen edition: Extreme close-ups, alternate or moving angles from the same take, chopped off characters from the scenes, people talking to shoulders and corners, people talking from outside the picture, missing scenarios and landscapes, blurry video quality... my god! Not even the 5.1 english soundtrack could emerge, not even the movie could! Extras? The movie trailer...In widescreen! It was torture.
By far, the worst 7 dollars i have ever spent, and a disapointment i'm never gonna forget.
My recomendation for fans looking for this wonderful movie in DVD: Go outside the store and get the widescreen edition, online or on local stores. I'm desperatly seeking for other better editions, i'm even willing to download it, or even buy a bootleg.
Whatever you do: Please, please, don't buy this awful Sony 2002 fullscreen edition.
And Sony pictures: Widescreen versions fit the screen too!"
Pan & Scan travesty
Marlowe | Bayonne, NJ | 12/20/2007
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Like other reviewers, I am apalled that this wonderful movie is available only in pan & scan format, chopping off close to half the picture. This is just inexplicable--even when this was released a few years ago, it was quite unusual for high profile anamorphic films like this to be released only in a P&S version. I'd love to add this to my collection--here's hoping a propererly framed version is forthcoming (hopefully also in Blu-Ray or HD DVD)."
Where is the widescreen?
D. Harlan | Oregon | 09/07/2006
(2 out of 5 stars)
"It's September 2006, and they *still* have not released a widescreen version. I got through the first 20 minutes of this pan-and-scan version before I couldn't stand it anymore. There are so many beautiful shots; I just can't watch them butchered like this.
Roxanne is a great movie, and it deserves more than this poorly rendered DVD version."
One of the best Steve Martin films
C. Middleton | Australia | 04/02/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Steve Martin's LA Story and the remarkable Roxanne have to be the two best films from his huge body of work.
Having penned the screenplay, Martin cleverly adapts the Cyrano De Bergerac tale to a modern setting, however, manages to maintain the original story line and large personality of Cyrano in the character of C.D. Bales, a fire chief of a beautiful small town in the mountains of British Colombia.
C.D. Bales is an educated, romantic and modern swashbuckling man who can street fight and win with style, possess a sharp wit, can swing and climb rooftops with the agility of a cat and write poetry and love letters that will make any woman swoon with delight. Unfortunately, Bales like De Bergerac, has a nose the size of a small tree, resulting in his shyness in the matters of love.
C.D. falls head over heels for Roxanne, a visiting astronomer with alluring beauty and a keen mind but feels his appearance, a nose the size of Kansas, will prevent any relationship.
A handsome man, Chris, (Rick Rossovich) joins the fire station to help train the volunteer crew of town misfits but cannot talk to women. Bales' woos Roxanne through Chris with love letters and poetry, thus Chris wins her heart. This unusual situation turns complicated, (similar to De Bergerac) when the masquerade starts to come undone to hilarious results.
Australian director, Fred Schepisi, brings Martin's adaptation of De Bergerac together in an entertaining modern romantic comedy that even today, despite the dated soundtrack, continues to be funny.
Some movies deserve only to be seen once though Roxanne can be pulled from the cabinet and viewed time and again as it remains a classic tale of the 80's & the 18th century.