REVIEW: "Living Out Loud" (1998)

Some say that with the right people, anything can be made into gold. Others argue that with the right resources, anyone can create magic happen. In 1998, a creative team set out to produce a funny and dramatic piece of motion picture that didn’t fall between the lines of the standard rom-com template. What they accomplished was, give or take, half of that set.

The film is a chick flick disguised as a rag for a more diverse audience. Set in the inevitably flirty Manhattan, it displays the pick-up-the-pieces scenario that took place after Judith Moore (played by Holly Hunter) divorces her unfaithful husband. Through the highs and lows of her new life, she finds herself befriending a local musician (Queen Latifah) and supporting herself by supporting another struggling character (Danny DeVito). The two learn lessons from each other and eventually overcome their weaknesses to ultimately reshape their lives and fully move on.

What’s initially noticeable about the film is Judith’s indecisiveness. Where in most films a strong female character is admired, this woman holds the opposite in the drowsy and back-and-forth mindset. She never fully validates her emotions, in times where she’s seen getting beligerently drunk in public or watching other women sit alone at dinner. There is never any substantial explanation for what Judith is about to do or say. This isn’t Holly Hunter’s fault, either. In fact, no harm was done by DeVito, Latifah or any other actor during Living Out Loud (though the masseuse’s work is debatable).

Can we all just take a moment to note IMDB's reccomendations for Living Out loud?

It’s possible that drag in the overall flow was all surely due to the work of writer/director Richard LaGravanese. The scene could be filled with Hollywood’s biggest names and faces but there was still no hope for the film. Its screenplay is difficult, uninspiring and unoriginal. Ten years later, many people haven’t even heard of it. This is because although it tried to push past the standards, it ended up being odd and unmemorable.  Nobody really knows why Judith had a choreographed ecstasy-tripping dance scene or what she gained from her relationship with her singer friend. These scenes didn’t add anything to the film. They just added length to it.

In the beginning, the audience is given a look inside her head.  This neat recurring sequence showcases what would happen in her fantasy next to what happened in reality. The segments not only tricksthe mind of the viewer but also add another element of mystery to the layers of the show. If only the effect had continued past the first third of the movie, it could’ve served as a fun narrator. Instead, it’s one of the only exciting parts of Living Out Loud.

The greatest successes in the film reside in the artists of acting and of music. Each actor carried out their character’s greatest wisdom, and it’s easy to see how they all pushed themselves to further the intent of the picture in its entirety, though it wasn’t always a success in the long run. Even the old-timey covers of Gershwin and Etta James were surprisingly lovely. Sadly, though, these elements couldn’t redeem the legitimacy of the production. It was doomed from the start.