Suburban Girl (2007)

A Manhattanite book editor finds her take on the game of romance changed after she lures the attention of an influential older man.

Director:

Marc Klein

Writers:

Marc Klein (screenplay), Melissa Bank (short stories "My Old Man" and "The Worst Thing a Suburban Girl Could Imagine" from the book "The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing")

Stars:

Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alec Baldwin, Maggie Grace

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Brett Eisenberg
Alec Baldwin	...	Archie Knox
Maggie Grace	...	Chloe
James Naughton	...	Robert Eisenberg
Chris Carmack	...	Jed
Vanessa Branch	...	Faye Faulkner
Peter Scolari	...	Mickey Lamm
Marian Seldes	...	Margaret Paddleford
Ebon Moss-Bachrach	...	Ethan Eisenberg
Jill Eikenberry	...	Marlene Eisenberg
Marin Ireland	...	Katie
Nathan Corddry	...	Jason (as Nate Corddry)
Amad Jackson	...	Seaver
Jason Antoon	...	Dean
Stephanie Berry	...	Nurse

Storyline

Brett, a young woman from the suburbs, is an associate editor at a small New York publishing house, hoping to be promoted when, on the same day, she meets a literary lion, Archie Knox, who's 50 and who shows an interest in her, and gets a new boss, a dolly-dolly Brit. Brett is soon dating Archie, then moves in with him. He's charming, attentive, and gives advice. He also has a history - ex-wives, a distant daughter, a couple of diseases, and a photo album of former girlfriends. It's no fairy tale: family issues (and more) intervene, and Brett has decisions to make. Meanwhile, she's working with a writer who fears peanut butter sticking to the roof of his mouth. Is Archie dinner, an hors d'oeuvre, or a peanut-butter sandwich?

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Plot Keywords:

editor | advice | book editor | writer | book | 

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Taglines:

Rewriting her dream in the big city.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual material and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

October 2007 (New Zealand)

Also Known As:

The Girls' Guide to Hunting & Fishing

Filming Locations:

61st St & Lexington Avenue, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Oddlot Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There was wide spread fan gossip that George Clooney was set to play Archie Knox before the film began production.

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Goofs

Right after the 'Sanctuary' title when Brett and her father are driving to her parent's house Brett's seat belt goes from across her body to under her arm.

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Quotes

Archie Knox: Congratulations are in order if you're breaking bread with Brett. Looks like you're planning to sign with Gitlin and Stern?
Cas Coyote: Well, we haven't actually settled on anything yet.
Archie Knox: Well, you better hurry. You have before you the savviest editrix in this town. I've tried to hire her myself for the last couple of years, and she turned me down. You know why? She say's I'm a letch.
[both laugh]
Cas Coyote: Archie, you are a letch.

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Crazy Credits

While the credits are rolling, Brett is walking down the street and sees the book she edited in a store window. Brett also finally puts on the leather pants.

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Connections

References Touch of Evil (1958)

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Soundtracks

"Speeding Cars"
Written and Performed by Imogen Heap
Courtesy of RCA Victor
By Arrangement with Sony BMC Musci Entertainment/(UK) Limited

User Reviews

Surprisingly intelligent

Unlike the Europeans, Hollywood has never been comfortable with May-December romances. One film after another they throw the 50-something Daniel Auteuil into the arms of a 20-something babe without explanation or apology and we sit in the cinema never questioning the logic of it. When it comes to Hollywood, it is either a tragedy or a morality tale. Jack Nicholson can only be redeemed by settling for a woman near his age at the end of Something Has to Give.

Suburban Girl has an intelligent script that manages to sidestep such apologia. It also doesn't try to dilute the issue or make the motives of its main characters nobler than what they are. The December character (Alec Baldwin in excellent self-parodying mode) is a diabetic and recovering alcoholic. He is also a self-confessed womanizer and an absentee father with serious daughter issues. The May of the film (Sarah Michelle Gellar acting as if she is using the film as personal therapy) is a father-worshiper and has no qualms about allowing the older man to use his influence to better her career. It is all too real. It is a pity that Mark Klein directs the film like an afternoon romance for Hallmark channel – without flair or imagination, and that Alec Baldwin's personal life interfered unnecessarily with the screening. The unevenness of the directorial treatment might alienate the mainstream audience that seem to prefer their comedies separate from their dramas. The script skilfully avoids the known clichés without taking too many risks. The sweet-sour ending will also add to the audience confusion.

Supporting roles are cleverly underplayed by a competent ensemble. Maggie Grace, one of the early casualties of the TV hit Lost, is surprisingly effective in a role that seems to have been written for her.