Retro Review: Curly Sue (1991)

Curly Sue
1991
Cast: John Belushi, Kelly Lynch, Alisan Porter, John Getz, Fred Dalton Thompson
Genre: Comedy- Drama
Worldwide Box Office Gross: over $33 million 

Plot: A homeless man and his young companion, who survive by conning people, meet a woman who may need them even more than they need her 

'Not Great, Not Deep, But A Surprising Watch For A So-Called Early '90s Flop'

When I first saw the TV ad for this movie, it gave off the impression that it might be a slapstick comedy, but much like with Home Alone with John Hughes at the helm, I thought this was going to be a mawkish type of movie. Whilst the story could have been better developed, Curly Sue was nonetheless a surprising and cordial watch.

The tale in Curly Sue centres on two con artists and street hobos, Bill Dance portrayed by James Belushi and Alisan Porter as 9-year-old Curly Sue, Bill's adopted daughter; Bill enjoys scamming people out of their wealth by faking deaths and passing out on the street to gain people's attention. Together, with he and Sue, rather than steal from the rich, the pair sneakily filch cash out of the rich through trickery and deceit. When they pull off a scam on an attorney, Grey, she becomes concerned about the welfare of Sue and Bill and the pair undergo a transformation: a la Pretty Woman-style. Soon, Bill falls in love with Grey, whilst Grey's so-called boyfriend, Walter goes out of his way to spoil the party.

A comedy-drama written, directed and produced by John Hughes, famed for Home Alone, Curly Sue is noted for being the last film Hughes wrote and directed, & one that tanked and sank without a trace, 11 months after Home Alone made millions. After the release of this movie, Hughes retreated from directing and turned his attentions to producing and writing credits with films such as Home Alone 2, Dennis the Menace, Baby's Day Out, Disney's '90s remake of Flubber and the live-action version of 101 Dalmations. Opening to negative critical reviews, the comedy-drama still managed to make over $33 million in North America. It is considered by many as the low point in John Hughes' career.

Some of the slapstick humour feels out of place at times and is a bit corny and whilst he is at his best when he is anarchic, here Hughes takes a cue from Chris Columbus when he attempts to dredge up the schmaltzier side of things and echoing his saccharine feel.

Many seem to take a loathing to this one, but and although it's not great I thought it wasn't too bad, whilst there is certainly room to explore other ideas the film needed to touch upon a little more.

A rags to riches tale, the film takes Pretty Woman's premise, minus the hooker thing and throws in a cute kid and some slapstick. This is John Hughes' PG version of that film.

James/Jim Belushi is at his most emphatic and endearing than I have seen him in many of his other films, as he sells himself as the fatherly-type and whilst it can be a little cloying, especially towards the end, Curly Sue was still watchable. Is it great? No. It felt like it needs more, but I wouldn't say I disliked it. I didn't care much for Alison's Sue (played by Porter), the little girl or paid much attention to her, whilst Kelly Lynch surprised me and the role she had here had a bit more depth than many of the others she has taken on, before and after this film. Lynch's best moments in the film were in a handful of scenes when her character is required to react and to be explosive in serious mode when she does so, Lynch is convincing. Although one would question that her characters' transformation, Grey from aggressive ice queen to a heart of gold - kind of girl that catches Bill's eye seemed too sudden.

Final Verdict: 

A John Hughes formula movie where the formula doesn't (quite) work, though Curly Sue could have helped had the story delved into the aspect of the culture clash between the rich and poor since there is a potential in that aspect of what might happen when the homeless move into the home of an affluent person, whose motives aren't necessarily materialistic. That, and there is very little in the way of conflict and tension to contend with, which the film needed more of. 

As a quasi-romantic comedy, it tries to veer in that direction with Bill and Grey; however, there isn't much in the way of development and the characters' attraction towards each other in that respect, whereas the comedy is few - yet scattered and is flimsy.

Granting all this, the film tries to keep the story going and moving forward and with that in mind, even if Hughes didn't or doesn't intend to make it to be particularly groundbreaking, Curly Sue is not a complete and sheer loss on me and that it is a tad watchable for me to get behind it. 

Overall: