View from the Top (2003)

A small-town woman tries to achieve her goal of becoming a flight attendant.

Director:

Bruno Barreto

Writer:

Eric Wald

Stars:

Gwyneth Paltrow, Christina Applegate, Mark Ruffalo

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Donna Jensen
Christina Applegate	...	Christine Montgomery
Mark Ruffalo	...	Ted Stewart
Candice Bergen	...	Sally Weston
Joshua Malina	...	Randy Jones (as Josh Malina)
Kelly Preston	...	Sherry
Rob Lowe	...	Co-Pilot Steve Bench
Mike Myers	...	John Witney
Marc Blucas	...	Tommy Boulay
Stacey Dash	...	Angela Samona
Jon Polito	...	Roy Roby
Concetta Tomei	...	Mrs. Stewart
Robyn Peterson	...	Donna's Mom
Nadia Dajani	...	Paige
John Francis Daley	...	Rodney

Storyline

Donna Jensen was raised literally and figuratively on the wrong side of the trailer park in Silver Springs, Nevada. She always believed it was her destiny to get out of Silver Springs. After reading Sally Weston's book, Sally who is arguably the most famous now ex-flight attendant in the world, Donna believes the path to leaving Silver Springs is to become a flight attendant despite never having been on an airplane. After an initial bumpy start to this career, Donna shows a natural flair for the job, so much so that she applies to work for world class Royal Airlines, where Sally Weston mentors. After meeting Donna, Sally believes Donna is destined for flight attendant greatness, namely working first class in the New York-Paris flights. Donna believes in herself as a flight attendant, but has to overcome some obstacles, including flight attendant trainer John Witney, who has some hidden anger issues, and her friend Christine Montgomery who also wants to be a great flight attendant ...

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Plot Keywords:

flight | flight attendant | airline | class | nevada | 

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Taglines:

Prepare for her arrival.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language/sexual references

Details

Official Sites:

Miramax [us] Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 March 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

A View from the Top

Filming Locations:

Bullhead City, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$114,257 (South Africa) (17 October 2003)

Gross:

$396,628 (South Africa) (14 November 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax Films, Brad Grey Pictures, Cohen Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film wrapped filming in 2001, and was originally scheduled for a Christmas 2001 release, then after initial tests, an April 2002 release. However, after the terrorist attacks on the USA of 11 September 2001, the studio felt it was not appropriate to release a comedy which made light of airline flight crews. After another year in the can, and another round of edits which cut out cameo appearances by Robert Stack and Regis Philbin, the film was finally released in summer 2003. It promptly flopped and disappeared.

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Goofs

Donna is walking through an airport terminal and sees two other flight attendants from her airline. They both salute her using their right hands, but she returns their salute using her left hand.

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Quotes

John Whitney: You peaked too soon. You're was what we call a "peak too sooner".

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Crazy Credits

At the end of the movie, there are outakes and deleted scenes.

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Connections

References Jackie Brown (1997)

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Soundtracks

"I'm Not Anybody's Girl"
Performed by Kaci Lyn Battaglia (as Kaci)
Written by Jason Levine and James McCollum
Courtesy of Curb Productions, Inc.

User Reviews

No frills flying experience

Middle of the road comedy about the dreams and experiences of a small-town girl (Gwyneth Paltrow) who longs to be an international flight attendant.

Another forgettable comedy with (supposedly) high-powered talent that seems to be unused. Gwyneth does have a good comedic presence, and she looks good in the skimpy outfits, what with her lean, leggy body and all.

But it's all just light fluffy trek. The movie struggles to even fill its 87 minutes with substance. Basically just girl from small town, longing for high life and glamour, trials and tribulations achieving her goals, and final realization that love and home are really what cranks. My, my, original indeed.

Yes, Gwyneth is OK, not totally sleepwalking through this role. She obviously needs to be stretched artistically, though. The supporting cast don't provide much. Mike Myers' cross eyed instructor provides a few laughs, but seems mostly like an overplayed Saturday Night Live character.

Candice Bergen seems settled into these time-killer comedies, and that is her prerogative. As the grand damme of flight attendants, she does get a couple of humorous lines, and her lispy, stilted, staccato, deliberate vocal delivery is always funny to me.

5/10 because I did laugh a few times. When it's not funny though, it's not much.