THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 16, 1995 TAG: 9512150054
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Movie Review
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
``A MONTH BY the Lake'' is a delightful little piece of fluff that reminds us, as if the knowing needed reminding, that there is, even in the movies, romance over age 18.
A mature woman openly chases a reluctant and proper Englishman in a romantic adventure that is more a diversion than outright romp. It provides us with the unlikely sight of Vanessa Redgrave in a Doris Day role - something we thought never to see in the movies, or anywhere else.
Redgrave is perfectly cast as Miss Bentley, a lively and energetic spinster who is on vacation at a lake resort in Italy. She's been going there for years, but this is the first year she is on her own. (Her father, who was her longtime traveling companion, has recently passed away).
She sets up several frivolous flirtations with Maj. Wilshaw (Edward Fox), a proper but not quite stuffy visitor, only to have each turn out to be a disaster. He resents it when she beats him at tennis. He is irritated when she's late for cocktails.
To top things off in the love-never-runs-smoothly category, he is smitten, understandably, with a young American nanny played by none other than ``Pulp Fiction's'' Uma Thurman. When the nanny gives him a good-bye kiss, he decides not to leave.
In the meantime, our lively spinster also is having a great time. She's getting the attention of a handsome young Italian stud, played by Alerssandro Gassman, son of the famous Italian actor Vittorio Gassman. The lad is attractive enough, but she only wants to use him to make the Major jealous.
Redgrave is unexpectedly delightful in this role. Of course, everyone knows by now that she is one of the most accomplished actresses in film or theater, but there is little in her recent past that would suggest she is capable of undertaking a performance quite this lively and perky. Lately, she's been relegated to playing stuffy old women - who usually die. Here, she's the very breath of life.
In this year of repetitive male-bashing at the movies, it is novel to see a woman who actively goes after a man and revels in the pursuit. (After all, we've had ``Now and Then,'' ``How to Make an American Quilt'' and the upcoming ``Waiting to Exhale'' to suggest that there isn't a decent man left on the face of this Earth). Fox is pleasantly stand-offish as he avoids women in general but doesn't stay too far ahead of the chasers.
The one weak point is Thurman in the role of the flirtatious American. Rather than harmlessly empty-headed, she comes across as rather silly and callous - physically attractive but hardly an interesting being to add to either a triangle or a quartet. At no point is her shallow presence a threat to Redgrave's suit.
``A Month by the Lake'' is nothing special, but it is highly entertaining - in a light and frivolous manner. As a diversion, and nothing more, it is recommended.
Redgrave has often been awesome in dramatic portrayals but never has she been as effervescent. It's a different Redgrave, and a delightful one. ILLUSTRATION: MOVIE REVIEW
``A Month by the Lake''
Cast: Vanessa Redgrave, Edward Fox, Uma Thurman, Alida Valli,
Alessandro Gassman
Director: John Irvin
Screenplay: Trevor Bentham
Music: Nicola Piovani
MPAA rating: PG
Mal's rating: ***
Location: Naro Expanded Cinema in Norfolk
by CNB