Sabrina (1995)

Directed by Sydney Pollack. Starring Julia Ormond, Harrison Ford, Greg Kinnear, Nancy Marchand, John Wood, Lauren Holly, Richard Crenna, Dana Ivey, Patrick Bruel, Fanny Ardant, Angie Dickinson, Míriam Colón. [PG]

A lesser Billy Wilder film (based on the Sabrina Fair stage play) is turned into a lesser Sydney Pollack film, though neither version is without their moments. The lead characters are all basically the same: the ugly duckling chauffeur’s daughter (Ormond) who “blossoms” into a swan in Paris, the rich playboy (Kinnear) she’s smitten with, his workaholic older brother (Ford) who doesn’t want the two getting involved for business reasons. Though it can’t match the star power of the original trio (Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart & William Holden), this is actually a case of more appropriate casting, and the low-key but valid chemistry between Ormond and Ford overcomes one of the chief faults of the original picture. This material lacks the periodic cynical bite of the Wilder production, though, and never really sparkles as a fairy tale either. The overlength is felt most during the overly sedate but beatific Martha’s Vineyard section and the predictable complications in the final act (what would a rom-com be without characters who wait forever to say or do the right thing?). Ford’s “battles” with an impervious television set and dowager Marchand’s pointed zingers provide the biggest laughs. Kinnear makes for a surprisingly well-rounded cad in his first major film role.

55/100