“I would like to thank you for this chastisement.”
What’s it all about? Prim and proper Violet (Greta Gerwig) is the queen-bee of a trio of pretty (if extremely odd) girls who are determined to improve campus life as much as they can. When they meet a new transfer student named Lily (Analeigh Tipton), Violet and her minions show her what to wear, who to date, and introduce her to the life-saving attributes of tap-dancing and free donuts.
After a thirteen-year absence, Whit Stillman returns with DAMSELS IN DISTRESS, an offbeat comedy of manners which, though not as biting as his previous work, is just as quick-witted and assured. It also benefits from being delightfully, immensely bizarre.
Despite not being a fan of Gerwig in ARTHUR and NO STRINGS ATTACHED — I have not seen GREENBERG — I was won over by her portrayal of the self-possessed (and secretly crazy) Violet immediately. Her delivery is so confident that, even when she suggests ridiculous things such as free donuts preventing suicide, it’s difficult not to be pulled in, at least for a moment. It is no wonder Lily and the other girls listen and obey. I found myself comparing Violet with Cher from CLUELESS often, as both women are meticulously put-together, certain yet completely naive. Violet’s sugar-coated campus experience is pretty much exactly how you would imagine Cher’s poorly-reasearched conception of university. The film does have its faults — Tipton’s lack of presence, some sillier plot points — but I forgot them every time Gerwig was on screen. Gerwig’s Violet is so infuriating and yet, at the same time, she’s irresistible. Heck, her life goal is to start a dance craze! I couldn’t help myself.
Not everyone will enjoy the film, and I’ll bet almost every critical review of DAMSELS IN DISTRESS will cry about Stillman not living up to METROPOLITAN and BARCELONA. They are right, of course. DAMSELS IN DISTRESS isn’t in the same vein as his previous work, not a satirical critique on today’s university crowd. It doesn’t merit inclusion in the Criterion Collection. Instead, DAMSELS IN DISTRESS is a whimsical, light-hearted romantic comedy with hilariously-weird female leads — and it ends in a musical number!
I guess if there is a niche crowd for this film, I’m it. Also, be on the lookout for two other rocking damsels, Alia Shawkat and Aubrey Plaza; They have cameos!
Notes: Directed by Whit Stillman; Produced by Martin Shafer, Liz Glotzer,Whit Stillman; Starring Greta Gerwig, Adam Brody, Analeigh Tipton, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Carrie MacLemore, Hugo Becker; Written by Whit Stillman; Cinematography by Doug Emmett; Edited by Andrew Hafitz; Sound by Tom Paul, Mikhail Sterkin; Music by Mark Suozzo, Adam Schlesinger.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
This sounds awesome. I’m pretty sure I am also a part of the niche crowd. And I haven’t seen Stillman’s other films so I won’t even be disappointed if it’s not the same as his earlier work!
Yeah, I’m pretty sure you’re going to like this movie.
I laughed a lot at this, and I think for Stillman, it’s a bit of a palate-cleanser before getting down to more serious projects. After all, 13 years is a long time and I bet this broad comedy was the easiest thing to get financed. Yes, it’s frothy and silly, but there are so many memorable lines and scenes that I can’t wait to see again.
Definitely. He said multiple times during the premiere Q&A that this was the only movie he could get financed. Clearly there is something up his sleeves that is much more in line with his earlier work.