THE THIRD WHEEL (**)
THE THIRD WHEEL belongs to a category of movies which I least look forward to writing about... the bland films. It has a first rate cast, familiar plot elements, and a standard execution. After watching it, you'll be left befuddled, most likely asking yourself, "Was I entertained? Was it bad?" The probable answer on both counts will be no. It's a sailboat that managed to get out to sea, but is now stuck in the doldrums. It makes you wonder how it got made in the first place.
The film circles around the aspirations of Stanley (Luke Wilson of THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS), a lowly office worker who dreams of getting a date with the seemingly perfect woman and co-worker, Diana (Denise Richards of WILD THINGS). It takes him more than a year to muster up his confidence to ask her out, and it takes a final push from his best friend Michael (Ben Affleck of GOOD WILL HUNTING) for him to take the plunge. Stanley succeeds in asking her out. But just as his date starts to go right, he accidentally hits a homeless man, Phil (Jay Lacopo), with his car. Both Stanley and Diana spend the whole night coping with Phil, and whether their date ends up a success is for me to know and for you to find out.
Would you want to find out? That's what this review is for. So let's gets straight to the questions.
Is it funny? Kinda. Only sporadically. The film's director Jordan Brady knows how to set up the laughs, but for a one-time comedian, it's surprising that he doesn't know how to capitalize on them once he's gotten them. Once a funny moment has occurred, no momentum seems to build from it. Like a rooster, it can get going, but it never takes off.
Is there any skin? Nope. Except for an obligatory final kiss.
Are there any gross-out jokes? Nope. But would you want to see them anyway?
If it ain't that funny, what keeps it from being bad? Two words. The cast. Like HIGH CRIMES, the actors playing their parts are too good for the story. But oddly enough, some of these people are miscast, underused, or play their parts too well. Let me explain.
Miscasting: Luke Wilson is a very handsome leading man who emits a weightiness that he couldn't hide even if he wore a dress. He's very likeable, but c'mon... him playing a dateless loser? Not likely for a guy who just appeared on People Magazine's 50 most beautiful people, and who gave a perfect performance as a the sullen Richie in THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS (where he became even more gorgeous after shaving his head). I liked his character, but I just couldn't buy his predicament. He is best when serious (his brother Owen is better suited for this role).
Playing their parts too well: Jay Lacopo, who plays Phil, doesn't need the mystery surrounding his character. I won't spoil it for you, but you'll realize this after you discover what he is in the end. It would have been better if his real nature was revealed from the start, and would have made his attempts to help out Stanley even funnier, by knowing his need to conceal his true nature. His character is funny and sweet at different times when he tries to help out Stanley (hence the title). His charm grows slowly but surely as the movie progresses. He even makes you laugh once the ending credits start to roll (He and I are probably the only people left who know all the lyrics to Young MC's "Bust A Move").
Too Little Of: There are very few times where I really enjoy Ben Affleck's performances (both of them in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and GOOD WILL HUNTING), but he really made me smile here. He's probably the best thing in this movie. It showcases his strength, which is his sly charm, his enthusiastic smile, and his willingness to be laughed at. He's a scene-stealer every time he makes an appearance. He is sadly underused, but when he pops up, it's worth it. It also makes me wonder why he doesn't keep the goatee look. It's actually an improvement.
Other Bright Spots: I can't help but wonder how Hollywood has forgotten about Denise Richards. I never thought that she was a brainless bimbo that many people made her out to be (she was wonderful in WILD THINGS), she's only had lousy scripts. Here she proves that she really can dial down her energy to play someone more subdued, to be sexy yet guardedly captivating. She still has a radiant smile and proves that she can stay in character (Can't say the same for Shannon Elizabeth or Tara Reid).
There's also a great cameo from an actor who plays Diana's ex-boyfriend. And what Phil does to him draws the picture's biggest laugh.
Why do you think this got made? Ever since Ben Affleck and Matt Damon won their Best Screenplay Oscar for GOOD WILL HUNTING, they've become Hollywood power players (they're the executive producers of this film). They're highly involved with the independent moviemaking scene, helping first timers get their movies made with Miramax Films (see PROJECT GREENLIGHT on HBO to get a good idea of their honorable contributions). I'm not 100% certain, but I believe that Jay Lacopo is a good friend of Ben Affleck (he was a lead for the only film Mr. Affleck ever directed) and that this is a return favor. If you notice carefully, THE THIRD WHEEL seems to be a quasi-vehicle for Mr. Lapoco.
So should I see it? Only if you're interested in the actors more than the entire experience. I went to see a comedy, but I didn't get enough laughs. Yes the cast was good, but the story was humdrum. Here's a casting idea that might have been good: Cast Owen Wilson (who is always charming and funny) as Phil, and Ben Stiller (who plays losers as good as anybody) as Stanley. Ah, if only we could.
Posted by FLIPCRITIC at July 23, 2002 12:00 AM