The bar is so low, people. C.D. Bales (Steve Martin) is a hyper-competent fire chief of a sleepy Colorado town. He falls immediately for Roxanne (Daryl Hannah), an astronomer in town to prove her theory about a new comet, but he is self-conscious of his enormous nose. When he finds out Roxanne likes Chris (Rick Rossovich), a good-looking idiot who can't talk to women, he steps in to woo her on Chris' behalf.
This is Steve Martin's version of Cyrano de Bergerac, based on the play. In some ways, it is an improvement in that it gives Roxanne a brain and a personality and changes the ending from tragedy to comedy. I didn't find it funny but other people have. The problems I have with this and the source material is that the plot still revolves around exploiting Roxanne's feelings and gaslighting her. This isn't "being a wingman." He props up a man bound to fail far longer than the initial encounter as a show of ego.
The problem I have specifically with this version is that the makeup doesn't do enough to make Steve Martin look unfuckable. Sure, they added a prosthetic to his nose but it's honestly not that bad. It's supposed to be a deformity. This is the same issue I have with people trying to make the Phantom of the Opera hot. Let bad people be ugly if that is what is driving their character!
Oh, did you not think that Cyrano is the villain? You are wrong. He totally is. He just also ruins his own life as well as others'. That's my 19th Century hot take.
Anyway, it's better than Three Amigos. Currently only available to rent or buy, but free with a VPN.
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