Snow Days (1999)

Perhaps not the most typical of romantic comedies, "Snow Days" seems familiar nonetheless. It does have a lot going for it including a script that is usually pretty clever, great acting, wonderful assured direction and, well, Bernadette Peters.

Peters is the only name in the cast and although she has only maybe 15 minutes of screen time, she outshines her younger contemporaries in the film. She's a joy here and it's so nice to see her in a good film.

She plays mother to a young man (scripter Kip Marcus) who falls in love with his neighbor girl. Perhaps this is the first indication of what seems familiar about the film. It's about high school sweethearts. But here is where the film is unique and different, it follows the lovers all through school and out into the real world. And it never gets typical or too sugary. In fact, we see the couple, especially him, struggle with a friendship that is turning to love, long distance relationships, break-ups and make-ups. It goes through the whole relationship with passion and intelligence and shows us a love affair that is typical but not typical, cinematic but never really seen exactly like this before.

The acting is great. Marcus and female lead Alice Dylan have a crackling chemistry that makes you dive into the romance and care about their characters. Watching them grow from animosity days to friendship to separation at college is quite delightful. Marcus has a natural charm and comedic sense and although he isn't attractive in the traditional sense of Hollywood (i.e. modelesque), he does have a chiseled face and a warm smile that ingratiate him into your heart. Dylan, meanwhile, is a sweet and charming, beautiful creature that never lets her attractiveness overwhelm her character. We don't care about her because she is pretty, we like her because she is warm and human and real and nice. A perfect love interest for a romantic comedy.

Director Adam Marcus, Kip's brother, films the piece with assuredness and almost perfect pacing. The jokes are amusing and the chemistry oozes from the screen. Adam's work here may be traditional (i.e. not trendy cutting edge stuff), but his film is sweet and heartwarming and likable. We don't need cutting edge here.

Yes this film is a bit of a warm fuzzy. But it's a delightful little heterosexual love story that we can all enjoy. It's got sweetness and a real sense of honest emotion. It should be an indie hit.

Note: 888 A great score by Sean McCourt.

The film's final scene will remind you of both "the Graduate" and TV's "Rhoda."

Report Card

Script: B+

Acting: A-

Cinematography\Lighting: C+

Special Effects\Make Up: A

Music: A+

Final Grade: B+