Rating: 
Summary: NOT QUITE A HOME RUN, BUT SUAVE EYE-CANDY
Review: Intolerable Cruelty, while cleverly critical of material culture and romance-killing cynicism, never really knocks your socks off. There are several legal leaps of imagination (signing a pre-nup at the altar) and quite a few corners in terms of unnecessary scenes that could have been cut as they don't add either to the plot or to the visual quotient of the movie. But fortunately some rapid-fire dialogue and slapstick situations (Keyes' asthmatic hit-man is one for the film vault) help elevate the occasionally strained chemistry between the two charismatic leads that nonetheless prove to be utterly charming. The movie offers a garden-variety twist, and it's pleasant enough, but it's the kind of surprise where nothing truly unexpected or outlandish happens to turn the tables on the audience. What completely spooks me is that this is billed as a comedy. Yes, it is pleasantly charming (driven more by the dialog than situational tiggers) but it is not your Raizing Arizona or Hudsucker Proxy type of ruthless fun. A watchable film, sure, carried predominantly by Zeta Jones and Clooney. But don't quite go expecting the class we've come to expect from the Coens.
Rating: 
Summary: Witty, intelligent (for a change) romantic comedy.
Review: Being a huge Coen Bros. fan (in my opinion they only make two kinds of movies: very good and excellent) I was a little concerned about this one, seeing that it wasn't a production where they had total control. Not to worry. While not one of their best films, this movie is a very funny romantic comedy which assumes a certain intelligence in its viewers. This in itself should warrant some praise. As usual with the Coen Bros., the screenplay is excellent and if you are a viewer who doesn't mind paying close attention to the dialogue, there are some real gems here, just as there were in "O Brother..." and "The Big Lebowski." Some of the best lines are George Clooney's 'cast-off,' almost under the breath asides, again echoing "O Brother..." And the nice thing is, the film never descends to the lowbrow, potty-humor of Austin Powers or "There's Something About Mary." Seems to me that the reviewers who find this film boring and unfunny are probably those who think the "American Pie" series is a landmark in American film comedy. Enough said. So why 4 stars and not 5? Well, frankly, I felt it wasn't quite OTT enough, like "Raising Arizona" and "The Hudsucker Proxy" were. It didn't need to be any darker, just loonier. This is a small complaint though, and since the Coens' outtakes would be worth paying to see, a new feature from them is always welcome. If you've got an IQ above room temperature, go see this movie. You won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Funny, but is that enough?
Review: In their most recent film, the Coen brothers created a hilariously funny movie yet failed to spark sympathy for its protagonists. George Clooney and Catherine Zeta Jones, beautiful and aloof, recite their lines most expertly but lack conviction. Their performance seems well rehearsed rather than intriguing and spontaneous and gave me the impression that they finally got it on take 33. Not to say that the movie lacks the Coen brother's trademark genius. A parade of caricaturistic characters march on screen, from a private detective with an anal fixation, to a hit man with asthma who's prone to anxiety attacks. The movie also features the funniest suicide scene that I've ever seen on screen. Ironically, both Clooney and Zeta Jones fade into this colorful background as yet another caricature and lack the depth that I expected from the main characters. I enjoyed the movie and had a lot of laughs, but with Big Lebowski and Raising Arizona on their belts, I expected more from the Coen brothers. Gained three points for brilliance, lost two for unfulfilled expectations; altogether, I gave the movie three points.
Rating:
Summary: uneven film with a most beautiful woman
Review: I doubt that there are two more strikingly attractive actors in movies today than George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Zeta-Jones, in particular, has the kind of classic beauty that puts her right up there with the great screen legends of all time, women like Ingrid Bergman, Natalie Wood and Audrey Hepburn, who, with their ravishing good looks and photogenic quality, came to define the ideal of female pulchritude in their time. Credit the Coen Brothers, who made "Intolerable Cruelty," with having the good sense to know what they had in these two stars and for exploiting it to the full. They have allowed the actors to play off their good looks, most especially Ms. Zeta-Jones, portraying an icy gold-digger who specializes in marrying rich men with the express purpose of taking them for everything they've got once the marriage is ended. Clooney is the first-rate divorce lawyer who finally meets his match when he falls under the spell of this strangely bewitching woman. The major joy in "Intolerable Cruelty" comes from watching these two tremendously attractive stars go at one another - be it in lust, passion or anger. Miles and Marylin are both seasoned game-players and world-class manipulators who know how to get the better of the hapless victims who stumble headlong into their paths. Unfortunately, the film itself never lives up to its promise of becoming a slashing satire on the mores of our divorce-happy society. The main reason for this is that the script often shoots too low in its tone, opting for an overly broad, slapstick approach when a slyer, subtler style is what's really called for. It's not that "Intolerable Cruelty" doesn't provide its fair share of laughs; it's just that we feel there should be a whole lot more of them given the pedigree of the film's makers and the high-powered acting of its amazingly gifted cast. In addition to Clooney and Zeta-Jones - who hit all the right notes in their playing off one another - the lineup also includes Geoffrey Rush, Billy Bob Thornton, Edward Herrmann, Richard Jenkins and Cedric the Entertainer, who steals the few scenes he's in with his manic interpretation of a private investigator who specializes in capturing wayward spouses in compromising positions. Perhaps, "Intolerable Cruelty," for all its moments of mirth and fun, simply doesn't go far enough into the realm of outrageousness to make the concept really work. The Coen Brothers, who have proven themselves masters of the absurd in the past, for some reason seem to be holding back in this film, going for the easy laugh and the easy sentiment when what we really want is for them to cut loose and go for the jugular (as Danny De Vito did with similar material in "The War of the Roses" so many years ago). Maybe Miles and Marylin need to be a little more nasty, a trifle more cutthroat in their demeanor to bring it all to life. "Intolerable Cruelty" offers some hearty chuckles and some definite eye-candy in the person of Ms. Zeta-Jones, but, when all is said and done, the film is mainly just promises and not enough delivery.
Rating: 
Summary: Intolerably Not Funny
Review: I saw it today. Sorry I wasted the time. Could have been funny, had a good story line and plot. I only chuckled once when a thug mistook a gun for an asthma inhaler (not giving too much away, I hope.) This movie was more of an outline than a fleshed out story, I felt. The Coen brothers have not made a decent comedy since "Raising Arizona" which was classically hilarious. Even "Fargo" (which I loved) was funnier than "Intolerable Cruelty." The Coens are either very good, or very, very baaaaaaad! I give it two stars for CZJ's beauty (however she seemed to be sleepwalking through this film) and clothes and the gorgeous mansions.
A good one to rent on a rainy day when you've rented everything else.
Rating:
Summary: Choppers
Review: It actually is an intriguing idea that the iconoclast brothers Coen would choose to direct/write/produce a big splashy, star driven Romantic Comedy in the tradition of "Desk Set" or other such Hepburn/Tracy vehicle. But though George Clooney, playing a high paid, dissatisfied with life lawyer, gives it most of his all as does his nemesis Catherine Zeta-Jones, as an often married gold digger looking to score big once and for all, they never do reach the Nirvana that Hepburn and Tracy or Grant and Doris Day do, which is surprising because they both look great: sexy and sensual but exhibit very little tangible electricity between them.
There are a couple of good bits: one involving a creepy, dilettante "Baron" and his Pomeranian testifying in court but mostly, "Intolerable Cruelty" is smile and grin time viewing: not bad, but no cigar.
Rating:
Summary: misunderstood
Review: To start things off, this is a Coen borthers film, but not as much so. The script was only written in part by them and was basically already written when they got wind to the project, and had gone through several directors (incluing Johnathan Demme). This is not the greatest Coen film. It is not Barton Fink, Miller's Crossing, Raising Arizona, Blood Simple and is certianly not superior to The Big Lebowski or Fargo. I think somthing was taken out of the movie for some because they were expecting somthing on the level. I came in thinking it would be horrible and loving it. DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE IF YOU ARE EXPECTING FARGO. IF YOU WANT TO SEE A GREAT COEN BROTHERS FILM, DON'T EVEN BOTHER. BUT IF YOU ARE GOING ONLY TOO SEE A GOOD COMEDY, THEN THIS FILM IS ESSENSIAL. In fact, it is better if you don't think of this as a Coen film by meerly a above average comedy. And remember, this is not the worst of their films either. I thought both The Hudsucker Proxy and The Man Who Wasn't There were not as good. IN CONCLUSION, IF YOU WANT TO SEE A GREAT COEN BROTHERS FILM, RENT FARGO. IF YOU WANT TO SEE A GREAT COMEDY, SEE INTOLERABLE CRUELTY!!!
Rating:
Summary: Coen-lite is still Coen
Review: This movie is in "(..) if you do, (...)if you don't" territory. The critical cliche about the Coen's "coldness" has been bandied about regarding this film, but the alternate universe of Coen fanatics are saying this film has them going Hollywood and mushy besides, because it ends with a kiss. Instead, I think what we have here is adulterated Coen. Unlike most of their other films, this one is not entirely their work, but a work that contains enough of their brilliance to qualify as a lesser, but nonetheless enjoyable Coen Brothers experience. Although there are numerous hilarious and bizarre scenes worthy of "Raising Arizona," "The Big Lebowski" or "Barton Fink," (such as the concierge, the Vegas wedding scene, the almost erotic thrill these lawyers get from tearing up paper, the wheezy hit man), the best thing about "Intolerable Cruelty" is George Clooney, who approaches the brilliance of his "O Brother..." performance with another wide-eyed character for whom cynicism is only a pose to cover an essentially childlike and romantic nature. Thanks to the Coen Brothers, George Clooney has become my favorite comic actor, and I hope this film's success allows them to work together many more times in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Where Is The Love?
Review: INTOLERABLE CRUELTY stars George Clooney and Catherine Zeta Jones in a romantic comedy about marriage, money, and most of all: divorce. Clooney and Jones both make a good performance in the movie. The movie certaintly has its funny parts as well. In example, Cedric the Entertainer as a cheating-spouse-investigator. The film is altogether very well put. I think the film does have its faults as well. The plot is wish-washed, and all together the character's don't have any romance at all. The relationship between Clooney and Jones' characters is not real and is completely fake. It is a fun movie to watch though, but certaintly not the Coen Brothers up to peak.
Rating:
Summary: A bit of treacle
Review: With stars of the caliber of George Clooney, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Geoffrey Rush and Billy Bob Thornton and writers like the Coen brothers, INTOLERABLE CRUELTY seemed to have everything going for it. The problem with this fairly funny script is that the story itself is so hackneyed and dull and, actually insulting to the intelligence of the audience, that it crashes and burns. Over-decorated, banal pastiche that even the quality of the performers can't salvage. Maybe it will play better as a DVD rental.......
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