(rated PG13)
In this musical biography the story unfolds in flashback form as an unrecognizable Kevin Kline portrays the legendary Cole Porter, first as an old man reflecting back on better years. Instantly the audience is swept into a comfort zone of familiar tunes, transporting us to his younger days in Paris and a specific New Years Eve party, where he first eyes Linda Porter (Ashley Judd) across his piano keys. Soon life is one new melody after another negotiated into their world of mansions, fame and time-tested-love with the obvious need for Porter’s sexual preference. All the while Mrs. Porter has her own passion – the passion for her husband at his keyboard. She understands him – understands they are single as a couple. Kline and Judd devour their roles. Kline plays his own piano. The music is timeless with de-marvelous stars Elvis Costello, Natalie Cole and Alanis Morissette simply de-lightful, (despite musicals getting a bad rap in Hollywood, “Chicago” aside – especially those released in the summer. Never.) But seasonless musicals aren’t the problem here. Instead it lies in the words Cole Porter wrote “I love you often enough” and wanting to mean them, but never able to. This is where the tale fails. Neither character ever finds a satisfying romance, yet we as an audience come away somehow romantically fulfilled.
In this musical biography the story unfolds in flashback form as an unrecognizable Kevin Kline portrays the legendary Cole Porter, first as an old man reflecting back on better years. Instantly the audience is swept into a comfort zone of familiar tunes, transporting us to his younger days in Paris and a specific New Years Eve party, where he first eyes Linda Porter (Ashley Judd) across his piano keys. Soon life is one new melody after another negotiated into their world of mansions, fame and time-tested-love with the obvious need for Porter’s sexual preference. All the while Mrs. Porter has her own passion – the passion for her husband at his keyboard. She understands him – understands they are single as a couple. Kline and Judd devour their roles. Kline plays his own piano. The music is timeless with de-marvelous stars Elvis Costello, Natalie Cole and Alanis Morissette simply de-lightful, (despite musicals getting a bad rap in Hollywood, “Chicago” aside – especially those released in the summer. Never.) But seasonless musicals aren’t the problem here. Instead it lies in the words Cole Porter wrote “I love you often enough” and wanting to mean them, but never able to. This is where the tale fails. Neither character ever finds a satisfying romance, yet we as an audience come away somehow romantically fulfilled.