Bounce Review
By Joe Lozito
True Romance
I'm just as surprised as anyone else to hear that I liked "Bounce," writer-director Don Roos' romantic comedy which plays as a vehicle for its stars, Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow. The film has the feel of the classic Tracy-Hepburn movies. Yes, we know that they're a couple off-screen but that doesn't detract from their onscreen chemistry the way some Big Hollywood Couple Vehicles have (The Getaway and Eyes Wide Shut come to mind).
Mr. Affleck and Ms. Paltrow bring out the best in each other. It would seem that they are comfortable enough together to take some real chances on screen. Mr. Affleck is the lesser talent, but he turns in his truest performance to date, reaching down into the fear that is commonly repressed among most commitment-phobes. When she asks him what he wants from her, he responds, "I want that last call before I go to sleep. Do you have anyone to call?" It's similar to Billy Crystal's speech at the end of "When Harry met Sally..." but it still works. Mr. Affleck's Buddy Amaral is a crass advertising salesman who would give up his plane ticket to spend a night with a beautiful blonde he met in an airport bar. It's hard for the likeable Mr. Affleck to come off sleazy, but he plays up Buddy's arrogance enough for the character to work.
Ms. Paltrow, however, happily discards her near-trademark radiance to disappear into the character of Abby, a single mother of two. She is frazzled and her life is slowly spiraling out-of-control, but she maintains a delicate balance of strength and vulnerability which makes her performance a pleasure to watch. Already a fine if obvious actress, Ms. Paltrow is beginning to develop that rare facial subtly that Kevin Spacey has nearly cornered the market on. After they first consummated their relationship, Abby offers "You're off the hook, you don't have to say another word. I'll just go." In the ensuing pause, her face registers only for a moment the deep fear she feels at this faux attempt at independence.
Mr. Roos' script breaks no new ground, it follows classic Hollywood structure; there are the set-ups in Act I and the payoffs in Act III. Aside from a few forgivable contrivances (particularly, Abby's overly precocious eight year old son), however, the script hits all the right notes, even stopping for a subtle dissection of alcoholism.
The film lives or dies completely on its two stars. These two seem like such a good couple that, when the secret Buddy's been keeping is finally revealed to Abby, it doesn't seem to matter that much. You want Abby to forgive him. It's nice to see a Hollywood movie in which you are rooting for a hero, and it's not because he's saving the world.
