Isn't She Great

Rating:
Summary: A PARTY, WITH LOTS OF HEART
Review: This movie was so good,funny, and affecting that I ended up seeing it twice in the cinema. Now, I'm a BIG Bette Midler fan. I mean BIG.But I can't really say that I am biased, because ANY film with her radiates such warmth, and energy, and this one is no different. This movie isn't very thought-provoking, but it is sincere,hilarious, but at the same time very, very fragile.All the costars did a solid job, but this is Bette's party, this is her movie. I won't give away the plot, but it's about a writer, Jackie Susan (she wrote 'Valley of the Dolls"), in the 60's, and she is in every sense of the word a rockstar.Over the top,dramatic, in your face, flashy, but with lots of heart and soul.She keeps getting rejected, 'till she finally gets her chance at becoming what she aspires to be- a writer. Then Jackie gets a punch, she's diagnosed with cancer. But she gets ten more years, and on those ten years, she takes you on ana entertaining and delightful ride, without ever once losing spirit. The way Bette portrayed Jackie, she made her seem like such a lovable person, warm,fiery,crazy,shrewd,witty, and full of heart-someone a lot like me.I bet Jackie was great.And you know what, so is Bette. I reccommend everyone sees this film.It's the perfect comedy, with just a touch of sad.

Rating:
Summary: Bette RULES!
Review: THIS WAS THE BEST MOVIE I EVER SAW AT THE MOVIE THEATERS IN MY WHOLE LIFE! I CRIED AT THE END AND I WOULDN'T HESITATE TO SEE IT 1,000,000,000(ETC.) MORE TIMES!

DEFINATELY A MUST SEE!

Rating:
Summary: ISN'T THIS DREADFUL?
Review: Truly bad movies are a dime a dozen, but how often do they boast credits as outstanding as those found in "Isn't She Great"? What attracted such talents as Bette Midler, Nathan Lane, and Stockard Channing to this ludicrous script by the usually competent Paul Rudnick? What inspired director Andrew Bregman ("The Freshman") to add this piece of fluff and nonsense to his resume? It's no surprise that the film remained shelved for some time after its completion, and disappeared from screens soon after its release . . . sadly, it's not even bad enough to be funny. Allegedly a bio of trash novelist Jacqueline Susann of "Valley of the Dolls" infamy, "Isn't She Great" plods along from Susann's (Midler) first meeting with the man she eventually married, Irving Mansfield, (Lane, miscast as anyone's husband) until her death from cancer in 1974. Midler is forced to spend several scenes conversing with a tree she imagines to be God; moments the couple spend with their autistic son seem to have been included simply to keep the audience from asking, "Whatever happened to the kid?;" Channing, as Susann's gal pal, periodically flits in and out looking terrific but with absolutely nothing to do. Reality simply doesn't exist here. The newlywed Mansfields are apparently struggling to make it - publicist Irving's biggest client is Perry Como's ex-brother-in-law, a juggler, no less, and the highlight of Jackie's acting career is a one-time appearance on the "celebrity" panel of a TV quiz show called "What's My Job?," yet they live in the lap of luxury in a highrise, have breakfast delivered, and eat at Lindy's on a regular basis - long before "Dolls" hits the best-seller lists. Rudnick's script promises drama, but never delivers - Mansfield's jealousy of his wife's success, for example, is suggested, but never developed. No one in the cast makes any effort to rise above the weak material - they either sleepwalk or bulldoze their way through scenes, as if they were resigned to this being a lost cause. Only one true moment is to be found in this disaster - during the premiere of the film version of "Dolls," Susann turns to her husband and mutters, "I HATE this movie!" . . . so believably that Midler no doubt is describing this whole, sorry mess.

Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Movie of All Time!
Review: What can I say about this movie. I happen to be a huge fan of Bette Midler and I love all of her movies, but this one is the best! It deals with the life of author Jackie Susann and her Husband Irving Mansfield. Her husband helps her to become famous and gives her the idea to write a book. And that book happens to be "Valley of the Dolls" one of the best selling books of all time. After being diagnosed with breast cancer she tries to make more out of her already highly productive life. If you want to see a great dram that could possibly make you cry. Be sure to check out the greatest movie ever made starring the greatest actress ever: Bette Midler in "Isn't She Great"!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Great movie; Nathan Lane is H.O.T.!
Review: What more can you ask for, Bette Midler and Nathan Lane, two of favorites. Plus, I loved Valley of the Dolls, so I saw this. It was great! I kind of already knew about a lot of Jacqueline Susann's life, but it was pleasant to see it on the screen. I wish they had done more stuff on how she viewed the actual film Valley of the Dolls. Maybe Patty Duke could have made a cameo as Neely O'Hara.

While this isn't necessarily one of Midler's best, it's good for a couple of hours, and if you have an interest in Susann, this is pretty good. As always, Nathan Lane makes me burn with desire.

Rating:
Summary: Yes, she was great.
Review: Whether or not you're a fan of Jacqueline Susann's novels(I am),"Isn't She Great?" is a very watchable film. Bette Midler is perfectly cast as the author as she makes Susann comes across as a reprise of her "Beaches" character - CC Bloom - hungry for fame and recognition, fighting private sorrow etc. Her husband Irving Mansfield is a very warm and likeable character - well cast. The film is very light. John Cleese's is very well cast as her eccentric publisher. My main disappointment is that the film ends too early. It seems like after "Valley Of The Dolls", the rest of her life is wrapped up in 15 minutes. I would have liked to have seen more of her planning her other novels such as 'Yargo', 'Every Night Josephine' and 'Once Is Not Enough.' and discussing them on talk shows. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed what I did see. We saw the true Susann spirit in her prayers to God in Central Park and walking into the lake fully clothed because she was a 'nobody.'