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Cyrano vs. Roxanne (the Steve Martin movie)

posted 17 years ago by Navaros
6 replies | jump to latest

Last weekend on public television where I live first they showed Roxanne (the Steve Martin move), followed by Cyrano. I had seen neither before.

I found "Roxanne" to be highly asinine. Ie: Steve Martin beating up two guys in a ludicrously silly way with a tennis racket. Steve Martin knowing there is a fire somewhere in the town because he smells it from the fire station and then he leads the firetruck by jogging in front of it until he finds the fire. etc. etc.

I had no idea why anyone women would want the Steve Martin character, as he seemed very bland to me.

I also thought Steve Martin's nose in that movie looked completely ridiculous and unbelievable (whereas Cyrano's looked believable).

I didn't find any scenes in "Roxanne" to be at all funny, either.

As the credits rolled, I couldn't even come to grips with why a usually reputable public television station was showing what in my view was a total crap movie (Roxanne) that was way below it's normal standards.

I was groaning when Cyrano came on thinking that with "Roxanne" being so terrible and then Cyrano comes on with his big nose and doing the same things Steve Martin did, I was ready to gag.

But, then I was captivated by Cyrano. Cyrano had true wit and charm, listening to him speak was always fascinating and unpredictable (exact opposite of Steve Martin). Every scene in Cyrano was intelligent. I went on to determine that Cyrano was a great movie, in my view very much unlike "Roxanne" was.

I also found the Cyrano movie to be much more serious and respectable as a meaningful piece of work, which in my view "Roxanne" was not.

What I am really trying to say here is that Cyrano is so far better than "Roxanne", it's a wonder why "Roxanne" was so popular at the box office and Cyrano was not (according to the interviews of critics between the films). I don't understand why "Roxanne" would get any respect from critics, whereas Cyrano does indeed deserve the highest praise.

What is your take on Cyrano vs. Roxanne (the Steve Martin movie)?

[–] orangeallstar12 17 years ago

film course?

[–] monsterpop 17 years ago

roxanne is an amazing movie. you're a bad person.

[–] pleasure-friendly 17 years ago

Navaros, I couldn't agree with you more. Cyrano de Bergerac is by far a timeless masterpiece. I used to like Roxanne too, but now I think it's very dated and corny. The movie was basically a rehash of something beautiful and
touching into something uneven and uninteresting. Steve martin was funny in th past, but Roxanne wasn't his best work.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Harepusholderen 16 years ago

Are you guys serious? Comparing this very serious movie with Steve Martin's comedy? I think they are both good films, in their respective genres. I Love Roxanne, and I would sooner fall in love with Steve Martin's character than with Cyrano. I mean, have you seen when he climbs up the roof of Roxanne's house? *swoons*

[–] davidfcochrane 14 years ago

I actually liked the Martin version more, and rank it about equally with the 1990 Depardieu version. This one hasn't aged all that well (though it's still good), but I can understand why it was so well-loved back in 1950.