Roxanne Review

Edmund Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac ranks among the most eloquent and powerful, as its moving storyline and inimitable characters yield a truly timeless love story. There have been many cinematic interpretations of this great piece, one of which is Roxanne, directed by Fred Schepisi. The film transports the script from the glamorous 17th century City of Love to the equally magnificent town of Nelson, British Columbia during the present day. The characters remain fairly unchanged, quirky and original, through a changed wardrobe, setting and century. Steve Martin portrays an epically proportioned Cyrano, now a firefighter chief, Daryl Hannah plays the smart and sexy Roxanne, and Rick Rossovich, rounds out the trio as Chris.

I really enjoyed this remake of the age old love story, mainly because of the increased amount of comedy throughout the play. The combination of Steve Martin’s comedic wit along with an already funny script result in a fairly entertaining piece. The verbal jousting scene and the antics in the firehouse are two such examples. Hannah and Rossovich also deliver convincing performances, as well as the other supporting actors and actresses who provide a solid foundation from which the movie is built upon.

Another aspect of the film that I enjoyed was the changes made to the storyline. The most important of which is the alternate ending. Roxanne and Charlie end up together, while Chris runs off with a bartender who possesses enough masculine characteristics to accommodate for Chris’s social interaction prerequisites. Even though these changes “Hollywood” the plot, they wrap up the loose ends of the original story in a less tragic fashion, which is easier for the audience to swallow.

The balcony scene was also well done, as the back and forth dynamics between Christian and Roxanne, and Charlie and Roxanne were truly eloquent. The magic of the original scene was retained, while the old English was transformed into 20th century banter. The mention of the July 85 Playmate would surely make Rostand proud.

Overall, I think that Roxanne is a fantastic interpretation of Cyrano de Bergerac. The combination of the comedic flair, a concrete story line and strong players resulted in a piece of work which will ensure that this timeless love story has a place in pop culture for years to come.