A Brilliant Conflict

There are women in the film, but none has anything you could call a personality.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Not as lousy as its rep might lead you to believe, this Myers vehicle gets a lot of mileage out of the star's brand of off the cuff humor. He's a beat poet in San Francisco who seems to exclusively use his soured relations with weapon for his club material. Having trouble with committing to a woman, always coming up with excuses for why they aren't compatible, Myers finally might have met his girl: a butcher played by the lovely Travis. Anthony LaPaglia, as Myers' cop buddy, is hilarious in his Serpico-inspired cop attire and look, often bewildered by his pal's inability to have a successful relationship. Myers as his lead's loud and blunt-honest Scottish immigrant father, Brenda Fricker as the mom who reads cheap trash mags and believes their stories to be true, Amanda Plummer as Travis' scary sis, and Arkin as LaPaglia's boss trying to learn a rougher side to address future officers under his watch (seeking LaPaglia's advice!) all offer fun parts to curb the rather ho-hum plot developments regarding whether or not Travis is indeed an axe murderer or not. In the end it is more about the cast playing off each other and Myers reacting to tell-tell signs of Travis' behavior that give this its charm. Travis plays with her character's facial expressions to keep us guessing if she is a killer while Myers is a toy of the plot machinations. San Francisco makes for an appealing back drop, too. Fricker's strong attraction to LaPaglia and Myers naked meeting with "Ralph" are highlights. Cool intro and closing credits song really sets up the romance for the city and its leads.

The only reasons to watch this film are:(a) you are a Mike Myers scholar, and you need to learn the origin of some of his most oft-repeated character lines in his boffo, bonzo (totally hilarious) Scottish idiom; or(b) you are a Mike Myers scholar, and you need an exhibit illustrating your to-be-published thesis on how Mike Myers cannot act a romantic lead role (this would be exhibit A, his inability to create even one spark with Tia Carrere in Wayne's World is your Exhibit B). So I Married . . . has so much promise at the start. Gorgeous, looping, looming, sweeping shots of San Francisco at night, a rollicking soundtrack opener--the jangly, infectious indie pop song the LA's "There She Goes"--and a funny opening line from Myers about a latte the size of a pizza. What a film this might be, the viewer thinks.But no. Despite a couple rip-roaringly funny character scenes, with Myers playing his own, cartoonishly Scottish, father, some funny bits about a butcher's shop, and very good work by Anthony LaPaglia in a supporting role, the film more or less flops. The funny sequences are fleeting, and they get buried by other scenes where Myers is supposed to be, in turns, dashing, or lusty, or trapped like a winking, assured Cary Grant in the midst of an unfolding whodunit. And in those other scenes, and there are lots of them, Myers doesn't deliver, he does not sell himself or the story with his acting. Myers scholars, this film is for you. All others, let an SNL nerd do the Scottish thing in homage and you'll have seen the movie.

Written by Robbie Fox, "So, I Married an Axe Murderer" is basically a silly film that is made palatable thanks to the comic genius of Mike Myers and the charms of Nancy Travis. Myers makes the most of all the comic opportunities and often has us laughing in fits. Look out for the nude scene, and Mr. McKenzie, Mike's dad.Nancy Travis is a beauty we don't see enough of, while Anthony LaPaglia, Amanda Plummer and Allan Arkin (unbilled) have great fun in support roles. Charles Grodin pops in briefly too. Directed by Thomas Schlamme.Sunday, January 2, 2000 - Video

Well, let's just say, I don't know if it was one of his best, because he's known throughout the WORLD as Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery. However, like most Canadians, I am proud to say that Mike Myers is one of us, and he has a great sense of humor.This wasn't my favorite Mike Myers role, but it was really funny. Anthony LaPaglia is perfect in this movie as the bumbling cop, it really suits him well. I can't give away the story line, but let me just tell you it has all the right twists and turns.Usually comedies don't have a lot of suspense in them, but this one did, and yes it had me guessing all the way to the end, is she or isn't she? I loved the cameos especially the late, the great, Phil Hartman, being a Saturday Night Live fan, it was really great seeing him in one of his great roles. Charles Grodin is funny as the angry guy in the car, very funny.Anyways, it's a great movie filled with laughs, suspense and of course Mike Myers. I gave this movie a 7 out of 10, because well, it was a pretty good movie, maybe even great, and it had me guessing right up until the very end.