Written by Linda
February 14, 2009
This movie was quite a surprise, and another example of mis-marketing. The bikini-babe cover of the video portrays The Real Blonde as a shallow sex-movie, but it is really quite another thing entirely.
The film is an ensemble piece, following several different characters in New York City. The main focus is the relationship between Joe (Matthew Modine) and Mary (Catherine Keener). Joe is your typical struggling actor working as a waiter, and his live-in longtime girlfriend Mary brings home the bacon as a make-up artist for a modeling agency. Stories of other characters splinter off from there: There is the vain soap star (Maxwell Caulfield) who is obsessed with finding the ultimate Real Blonde (and yes, he checks), Daryl Hannah is his soap co-star, a quite funny and intense Marlo Thomas plays the photographer at the modeling agency (her photographic inspirations are hilarious), and Elizabeth Berkley appears in different incantations as Joe's fantasy love interest.
Tom DiCillo's films tend to be classified as "indie" comedy, since they have a somewhat dry, ironic sense of humor. Of course Catherine Keener, who he has used in almost of all his films, is perfect for this style. Her scenes are great, especially the storyline of her taking a self-defense class to deal with the obnoxious drunk who hoots comments at her everyday on the street. Matthew Modine almost seems a bit mis-matched with her. His Joe is not-too-bright seeming, and he is quite annoying... you're not really sure why they are even together. But Modine slowly warms into his role, and is almost redeemed by the end of the film.
What on the outside appears to be just an ironic commentary on the shallowness of the acting and modeling industry, actually turned out to be a rather touching portrayal of modern relationships. You actually start to care about dim-bulb Joe, as well as some of the other self-centered, but well-meaning characters. The Real Blonde is an enjoyable rental.
