Otherwise known as the " Bobby Darin story", I looked forward to seeing this movie with great anticipation. Not only because I enjoyed his music and singing, and I thought he was cute,but because as a couple Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee were so cute together. On their own, they both had very wonderful careers, but when they did a movie together, it was an event for all of their fans, myself included, because when they were on screen together, the chemistry between them was so strong, you knew they were in love.Both of them looked at each other in that very special way that can't be faked for long. Actors and Actresses may be able to give the proper emphasis to certain lines, but the look in the eyes tells the true story.
So, when Yon son brought me the DVD, I was ecstatic,and immediately popped it into the player. I liked the music very much. Kevin Spacey did a wonderful job of capturing Bobby's style and even managed to sound a lot like Bobby, but I knew it wasn't Bobby Darin singing, so I was disappointed over that. I was also vastly annoyed that the make-up department saw fit to go overboard on making Kevin's nose more like Bobby's,and then did nothing to gloss over the lines in his face that Darin didn't have. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with Kevin Spacey's face,as a rule, but when you are trying so hard to become someone else, a glaring flaw like that should not be overlooked. Yet, according to the critics, Kevin did a wonderful job of being the dazzling Mr. Darin! So much so, that he was a golden globe award nominee for best actor. And yet, when it came time to introduce Sandra Dee, who turned out to be the love of his life,the casting director chose Kate Bosworth to represent her. They didn't bother to even try to find a young lady whose look and ways were even close to Sandra Dee. Instead, they chose a blonde girl who could stand there and say the lines. To be fair, she did an adequate job of doing just that, but I kept watching in fascination, hoping that somewhere along the way, this girl would blossom,and it just didn't happen. Her hair was all wrong, it was too brassy and too long, and yes, those are just superficial differences, but come on, they could easily have changed those things! But, her delivery and voice were all wrong, and in the first few seconds of her exchange with Bobby on the screen, all I could do was say, that is not Sandra Dee! No way, shape or form of her could possibly be construed as Sandra Dee. I already mentioned the hair, but barring that, this girl was too big to be Sandra.Too tall, too big boned, with a huge mouth, and great big square teeth, which she displayed often in open mouthed smiles,and underneath that mouth, dead center, was a mole that they couldn't cover up. Altogether, this told me they had no intention of even creating the illusion that this girl was Sandra Dee. Sandra Dee, was and is, tiny, with a delicate ethereal look about her, whose smile, tho sweet, was generally a closed mouth smile,and usually accompanied by shy downcast eyes,and a fluttering of lids. Her voice was soft and had a naturally sweet timber to it, that, had this girl spent just one day studying her, she would have played the part, with any luck at all, completely differently. But to me, the worst part of all was that when it came time to mention the two movies Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee did together, which should have been a very happy point in their lives together, and at least a glimpse of the amusing work they did in tandem, it was glossed over with just a voice over of Kevin Spacey, saying that they did two movies together, and they weren't much. Weren't much? HUH? They were very popular with their fans! We loved them,and wanted more!
In closing, all I can say is, Kevin Spacey did an adequate job of recreating Bobby Darin, and obviously worked hard to do justice to the soundtrack. He sang "Splish-splash","Beyond the sea", and "Mack the knife" very well,but I thought they put "Dream lover" in there just as an afterthought, so all in all, If you're a fan, you will enjoy most of the music,as well as the big production number for "Beyond the Sea" Which I have to admit was very well done! And, if you have never seen or heard of Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee before, then this is almost a good introduction to them and to Bobby's music. But, if my review has made you curious about Sandra Dee, then go out and find a copy of " If a Man Answers"...You'll love it!
OUI?
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