Not even a huge crush on Jude Law will make you fall in love with Hollywood's shallow remake of "Alfie."
Originally played by Michael Caine in the now classic 1966 version, Alfie is the quintessential ladies-man who cruises around New York City as a limousine driver, charming and seducing every female he encounters. Refusing to get attached and constantly breaking hearts, Alfie keeps company with a range of gorgeous women who we meet gradually as the film progresses.
His bedside beauties include a rich, neglected wife (Jane Krakowski), a lonely single mother (Marisa Tomei), a best friend's flame (Nia Long), an out of control party girl (Sienna Miller), and even meets his match in a strong, sexually-charged, older woman (Susan Sarandon).
Aside from his chronic bed-hopping, Alfie dreams of starting his own business with his only male friend (Omar Epps), but such aspirations take a backseat to his busy playboy lifestyle. The closest thing he has to a relationship is with Tomei's character Julie, who he refers to as his "semi-permanent-quasi-sort-of girlfriend." But our leading man manages to screw that one up by oh so slyly disposing of his previous fling's panties in Julie's kitchen garbage.
Not surprisingly, this love-em-and-leave-em attitude gets Alfie into a whole lot more trouble. His one-nighter with the ex-girlfriend of his best buddy leads to some devastating consequences that the oblivious and carefree Alfie should have seen coming.
Though Alfie thinks he is the one in control with these women, each temporary fling or shattered relationship brings him closer to realizing what the audience knew all along; lasting happiness isn't found in a one night stand.
Our protagonist is in need of some serious soul searching.
Unfortunately, this climactic moment is more predictable than it is profound. Even though Jude Law makes you care about his character's internal struggle, showing Alfie at his most accessible and human so far in the film, the script just does not allow for depth within his
character.
In the Michael Caine-fueled original, Alfie was played much more like a predatory playboy as opposed to Law's accidental heartbreaker. Caine's Alfie even offensively refers to his woman du jour as "it." For the remake, the director and writers got rid of most of the controversial content, softening Alfie and bringing the film into more politically correct terms.
The original applied well to the gender politics of the time, and wasn't afraid to delve into some darker territory, not the least being an illegal abortion. But now, set in the liberated 21st century city of Manhattan, Alfie's situation is outdated. With too much fluff and not enough substance, the film lacks the progressive core of its predecessor.
Using a technique adapted from the original film, the character of Alfie often talks directly into the camera, turning the audience into his confidante. This device gives the movie several humorous quips and Law obviously has fun delivering Alfie-esque lines like, "Julie hasn't got enough of the superficial things that really matter." But as engaging as Law is, and as pretty as he may be, the number of monologues spoken directly to the audience eventually grows tiresome.
The film is much like Alfie himself: a pretty package that revels in its superficiality. Visually speaking, the film is very appealing. "Alfie" is fun, stylish, cosmopolitan and very easy on the eyes.
A bevy of beauties light up the screen, making us surely believe Alfie's assertion that New York City is home to the most beautiful women in the world.
And, of course, there is Jude Law: one of the rare combinations of male model looks coupled with fantastic acting chops. He carries the film with his solid performance and seduces the audience with his charisma. Who could blame all those women for falling under the spell of his dashing British charm, playfully tousled hair, and intensely soulful blue eyes?
But as we all know, and as Alfie soon realizes - looks aren't everything.
"Alfie" tries too hard to be profound without having anything to say. Are we supposed to be surprised or even satisfied when Alfie realizes that all his womanizing will leave him feeling lonely and unhappy?
The plot is predictable though breezily entertaining and Law does his best with a fairly unoriginal and dull script. In fact, he does an incredible job of making us sympathize and even care for this lothario, despite his reprehensible actions. Unfortunately, just as Alfie leaves his women wanting more after the seduction is complete, the audience too is left wanting more: a movie that delivers on its potential.
