Variety Review

Made-Up

A Sister Films presentation of a Vanity Films production. Produced by Lynne Adams, Brooke Adams, Mark Donaldo. Executive producers, Bob Weiner, Lois Weiner, George F. Fifield. Co-executive producers, Dave Becker, Susan Kolb, David Kolb. Co-producers, Bonnie Egan, Jim Issa. Directed by Tony Shalhoub. Screenplay, Lynne Adams.

Elizabeth James Tivey - Brooke Adams Kate James - Lynne Adams Sara Tivey - Eva Amurri Chris - Kalen Conover Molly Avrums - Light Eternity Eli - Jim Issa Simon - Lance Krall Max Hires - Tony Shalhoub Duncan Tivey - Gary Sinise

Brooke Adams, in front, with Eva Amurri, is made over in coming-of-middle-age comedy 'Made-up.'

Current Reviews... "Made-Up" reps a promising, if uneven, directing debut from thesp Tony Shalhoub, here teaming with wife Brooke Adams for this self-described "coming of middle-age comedy." The story of a fortysomething divorcee confronting the aging process, dating woes, and her teenage daughter's newfound independence… will have its admirers, as it did at Santa Barbara (where it won the fest's award for best feature),.. it could catch on with specialized auds.

Assigned to make a project for her video class, Kate James (Lynne Adams) decides she'll tape her niece, Sara (Eva Amurri), giving Kate's sister, Elizabeth (Brooke Adams), a thorough makeover. But the very idea of the video unleashes a host of insecurities in Elizabeth, once a successful actress who sacrificed her career for marriage and motherhood.

Since her ex-husband, Duncan (Gary Sinise), left her for a much younger woman (Light Eternity), Elizabeth has allowed herself to believe that if she were still young and beautiful, Duncan might not have left. And aspiring beautician Sara's obsession with appearances only reinforces her mother's fears.

Kate records the events of Elizabeth's life, beginning with the makeover but hardly stopping there. When the "new," younger-looking Elizabeth ventures out on a date with restaurant owner Max Hires (Shalhoub), Kate films the entire evening. But Elizabeth, tense on camera, wonders whether Max is attracted to the real or the cosmetically enhanced version of herself.

"Made-Up" has its moments, the funniest of these being Max and Elizabeth's first date, in which Elizabeth's makeover threatens to unravel before the night is over. …Is it a mockumentary on superficial attitudes about beauty and aging? An exploration of the complex, tension-fraught relationship between mother and daughter? Between sisters? A commentary on the trials of making documentaries? Or a dissertation on the often amorphous distinction between fiction and nonfiction?

Shalhoub has an eye for composition and a strong sense of pacing. Lynne Adams' script gets off some zippy one-liners. Brooke Adams gamely allows herself to appear (literally) in the worst possible light. And Amurri, who has her mother Susan Sarandon's gorgeous saucer eyes, acts with impressive poise and confidence.

Camera (color), Gary Henoch; editor, Michael Matzdorff; music, Michael Wolff; production designer, Miriam Feldman; costume designer, Lisa Lesniak; sound, Tom Williams; casting, Tighe & Dyle. Reviewed at Santa Barbara Film Festival, March 2, 2002.
Running time: 95 MIN.