Starring: Michael Caine, Aubrey Plaza, Scott Speedman, Ellen Wong, Cary Elwes
Distributor: Rialto Distribution
Runtime: 102 mins. Reviewed in Nov 2021
Reviewer: Peter W Sheehan
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This comedy-drama tells the story of a retired book author, who is no longer famous, and has grown difficult. He is contracted to write another book and goes on a book tour at the request of a young publisher who is trying to rescue a failing publishing house.
In this US-Canadian film, a once-prolific author, Harris Shaw (Caine) is pressured by a publishing company, and especially its current president, Lucy Stanbridge (Plaza), to take part in a book tour so as to promote another book –ostensibly his last. Lucy is Harris’ path out of obscurity, and Harris represents the best way for Lucy to financially rescue a failing publishing business.
The Berlinale screened the film in 2021, and the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival gave an achievement award to Caine for his ‘contribution(s) to world cinema’. This is the first feature length film for director Roessler, and the screenplay was written by Anthony Greico, who has received a screenwriting award for it. The film is set in Montreal, Canada.
In the film, struggling young editor Lucy Stanbridge is desperate to rescue the reputation of her father’s publishing house, which has been placed in her hands. The company was once New York City’s best boutique book business, but is now in deep trouble. The ambitious would-be editor has nearly sunk it with failing YA titles and bad reviews.
While delving into the company’s past records, Lucy discovers Harris, who performed well for the company decades earlier, and who owes the company one more book. However, it is a long time since he was famous. Harris currently lives a lonely life, addled by excessive alcohol and an irritable disposition. Back in the day (30 years previously), Harris was the reason the publishing house survived so well, but such is no longer the case.
Harris has a new book called The Future is X-rated; he owes money; and he needs cash quickly. Lucy is shocked that Harris’ original contract specifies that his work should never be changed. Both Lucy and Harris come to an understanding that the book will go to press as is, but Harris must agree to go on tour with Lucy to promote it. In the movie’s key roles, Caine and Plaza look an improbable comedy pair. Exercising guile, Lucy talks Harris into helping her, and together they embark on an exhausting tour to promote the promised book. On tour, situational comedy is delivered at a brisk pace, and Harris behaves badly enough to become a celebrity sensation. The film develops a surprise twist, which allows the movie to explore some seriously dramatic themes, such as the authenticity of authorship, the agony of frustrated ambition, media distortion, and the personal freedom provided by legitimate literary expression.
The comedy demands of the situations that are created on tour provide a level of humour that provide some interesting satirical thrusts. Caine and Plaza work together skilfully to explore ‘happy recollections of earlier days’ – which seem particularly pertinent to an ageing Harris. The film, however, combines comedy with dramatic themes of some weight. Caine pushes situational comedy hard in ways some might consider too confronting – such as urinating on his books, and setting them on fire. But serious drama looms ahead, and it points to the way out.
Crises on the book tour occur regularly, and dramatic themes slowly surface that are developed thoughtfully. The final plot twist makes entertaining sense of it all, and gives Caine and Plaza the chance for serious rapprochement that targets the film’s core concerns.
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