Rating: 
Summary: LA Story
Review: LA Story"Wonderful, wonderful you", LA Story is a delightfully engaging comedy looking at the zany antics of the human tapestry centered in beautifully filmed Los Angeles. Funny throughout, LA Story is the quest for love and happiness in a world often attuned to the diversions of life and not its heart. The foibles of the presumptuous are the sandbox for an insightful comedian's eye and are presented in creative sightgags and always with good humor. The movie is subtle too in that it has a spiritual center played by, in a supporting role, a roadside traffic sign, that has its own desire to find its voice... and to direct. Love wins out and discovers that in its power, it can reverse even the fears of vulnerability. Be generous to yourself, treat yourself to LA Story.
Rating:
Summary: Completely wonderful
Review: LA story was one of the first grown-up romantic comedies that I ever loved. Grown-up meaning not only more mature humor (as mture as Steve Martin ever gets, anyway) but more mature characters. These actor and actresses are not in their twenties; they know what they want and damned if they have been able to find it yet. Steve Martin has a fantastic way of being charmingly funny and sweetly serious that is so disarming, it is hard not to fall for him. To me, that is the key point of any romantic movie...The viewer has to fall for the romantic lead in some way. And I did. And so has everyone else I know who has watched this. It is completely wonderful.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable dramady
Review: Some of the scenes are so darned funny... if you've every visited California, even more so. Nice drama mixed in. Great score. Love the mixing of story lines. Well done!
Rating:
Summary: Amazingly Funny romantic comedy
Review: If you love Roxanne you will love L.A. Story also. Steve Martin uses all his intellect and humor in the wonderful love story, and also skewers L.A. and everything that is trendy along the way. Top notch acting and a great cast!
Rating:
Summary: Yes, Fantasy; Yes, Wonderful
Review: You could easily rip this movie apart for its several flaws. It certainly has a novice quality to it. But that's also its charm, and that charm transcends the flaws. Frankly, if you don't like romantic comedies - keep away from this. It's over the top romantic. But if you like romance, this movie will win you over immediately. And yes, it's Steve Martin and it's very funny. This is the sort of vehicle where Martin is best - not as the Jerk or the wild-and-crazy-guy, but the slightly jaded, slightly too sophisticated, slightly too-intelligent-for-his-own-good guy who is very witty but inevitably a dope for being afraid to live. Martin's best when his comic characters are intelligent, and he (and Victoria Tennant and the rest of the cast) are great in this. And of course, who can resist jokes about L.A.?
Rating:
Summary: ...but we always know the moment that it ends
Review: What Amazon needs is a 100 star rating system for the sake of precision. : ) This movie could have been just a string of not-very inside jokes about Los Angeles and its culture. It turned out to be a less successful but still excellent west coast answer to "Annie Hall". In the text about the screenplay (found on the DVD, although there isn't too much else), Martin is said to have been inspired by that Woody Allen movie. I'm not surprised at all that "Roxanne" is my sister's favorite Steve Martin movie. I would also give a slight edge to "Roxanne" (an adaptation), but "L.A. Story" is more imaginative. Even the appearance of the undertalented Sarah Jessica Parker in this movie is satisfying because she plays a stereotype vapid Valley girl. I'd agree with those who found the talking highway sign idea to be a bit underdeveloped. At least there were no chase scenes. My favorite scenes are the "I'll have a twist of lemon" restaurant; the entire sequence of the weekend getaway; "not a date, a do"; and the finale in all but name. The actual ending was a bit of a rug-pull, but not a movie killer. Buy it, watch it over and over. Also recommended: -:- Roxanne -:- Father of the Bride (mostly I, but also II) -:- Manhattan -:- Annie Hall -:- Nothing In Common
Rating: 
Summary: Unwatchable self-indulgent nonsense
Review: First, it's not an "L.A. Story" at all, but a "Hollywood story," featuring a whole bunch of pretentious phonies who live and work in Hollywood. Then comes a street sign with all the signs of human life. (YAWN) Obviously it works for other people, but it didn't work for me, at all.
Rating:
Summary: CLASSIC ROMANTIC COMEDY IS ALSO SATIRE ON L.A. GOOFBALLS
Review: This is a well-written, well acted, very original romantic comedy that doubles as a highly successful critique of L.A. superficialities. Having lived in L.A. for over 20 years myself, I consider this a classic. It is a really special film, and tough to fully describe to someone who hasn't seen or heard much about it. It is NOT one of those mindless youth comedies, and has quite a different tone than some of Steve Martin's other films, like THE JERK or THE MAN WITH TWO BRAINS. This is more grown-up stuff, closer in tone to his ROXANNE, perhaps. It has a fine cast of highly entertaining characters, some extremely well written dialog, and succeeds in being a very funny film. In recommending this movie I most encourage those who enjoy social commentary mixed into their comedy, some worthwhile dialog among adults, and a very sharp wit when it comes to holding L.A. fads(and status-consciousness) up to the light. It's not a Woody Allen comedy exactly, but think more along those lines than the current crop of dumb comedies when trying to decide if this movie is for you. In fact, it is not overstating to say that L.A. STORY rises easily above our expectations -- it surprises us with its specialness and originality. It is so charming, has such truly funny performances by Martin, Tennant, Parker and the rest, and has such a keen eye for identifying the ridiculous elements of life in L.A. that it has already become a classic in many people's minds. The fact that it is also a study of a man confused about his identity who finds himself when he discovers true love is the icing on this cake. Martin's character is essentially baffled about his own life and surroundings, and is looking for fulfillment with the younger woman played stunningly by a very teenaged-nubile-looking Sarah Jessica Parker. Parker is absolutely fascinating in this movie as the uninhibited girl in tight shorts who steals Martin's heart (and mine) in the first act. A young pretty girl with this much energy, openness, and unabashed sexuality, who can become infatuated with an "older man" like Martin, is bound to make the rest of us men weigh the virtues/drawbacks of such a relationship. Anyway, the relationship is hilarious and also poignant, and one of the many tremendously successful elements of this movie. I can imagine a viewer who would not find this his or her cup of tea, but few comedies are so easy to recommend to the more intelligent portion of the movie-viewing public. Go for the romance, go for the L.A. social commentary, go for the fascinating characters, or go for the interesting discussion you'll be able to have with your date about relationships and true love afterward. This movie has much to like.
Rating:
Summary: I'll have a twist of lemon...
Review: A brilliant and often overlooked comedy, L.A. Story will have you laughing all the way to it's end. Stellar performances from everyone involved helped Steve Martin tell his tale of falling in love in the City of Angels. One had to watch carefully to see all the gags that are put before the viewer. One of my favorites is the name of the pompus fancy restaurant our hero tries to get a reservation to. Look for Partick Stewart for the stand out performance in this film. He is simply hilarious. As the DVD goes, here aren't too many extras except the ususal trailer and filmographies. The quality of the transfer looked great. So get yourself a half-double decaffinated half-caf with the twist of lemon and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Self-Serving Smorgasbord
Review: Whimsical, and at times even magical, look at the smorgasbord of mostly self-serving shit-heads who populate both L.A. and the entertainment business in general. Steve Martin heads an excellent cast as a TV weatherman in a city where the sun always shines. Watch for the grilling "interview" he goes through just to get a dinner reservation at a trendy new restaurant.
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