STARRING: Bruce Willis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rob Reiner, Rita Wilson, Julie Hagerty

The best way to describe "The Story of Us" is as a self-absorbed dramatic comedy starring two attractive leads, guided by a director who has done better work with music by Eric Clapton that sounds like a tribute to the "thirtysomething" theme. I don’t want to give the impression that I hated this latest offering from Bruce Willis, Michelle Pfeiffer and director Rob Reiner, but all involved have done better work.

This movie follows the 15-year marriage of Ben and Katie Jordan, played by Willis and Pfeiffer. They appear to have it all: nice house, nice cars, nice kids. In reality, their relationship is falling apart and they don’t know what to do. Flashbacks show the couple in happier times and "interviews" with the Jordans are supposed to help us discover why this seemingly perfect couple has come to the brink of divorce. Unfortunately, the flashbacks are very brief and provide little information on what made this couple happy in the first place. The "interview" segments make the characters tell us their problems instead of show us what’s happening.

While we’re on the subject, how long before Hollywood gets over this trend of speaking directly to the camera? It seems to be the most abused device in current films and TV shows. There’s so much talking to the audience in this flick that I thought I was watching an episode of "Once and Again," that new ABC show about pretty divorced people. This movie plays like a prequel to that series. The other annoying thing about these "interviews" is that the device is ripped straight from "When Harry Met Sally," a much better movie that was also directed by Reiner.

It seems as if the actors are working from a script that says, "Insert Joke Here."

Reiner appears to be in a slump these days. He hasn't made a good movie since "The American President" and even that flick paled in comparison to his work on "A Few Good Men" and "Misery." His movies used to be a guaranteed good time, but his most recent work has been very hit or miss. Reiner’s strength has always been blending comedy and drama together in the same film, but there are many scenes in "The Story of Us" where the humor seems forced. It’s as if the actors are working from a script that says, "Insert Joke Here."

When the humor works, it is thanks to a group of great comic actors. Red Buttons, Betty White, Jayne Meadows and Tom Poston have fun cameos as Willis and Pfeiffer’s respective parents. Rita Wilson, Julie Hagerty, Paul Reiser and director Reiner also get laughs as friends of the troubled couple. Reiner has one of the best moments in the film when he offers a lengthy explanation on why his butt does not exist.

Another bright spot is the scenes between the Jordans and their kids, played by newcomers Colleen Rennison and Jake Sandvig. Willis and Pfeiffer have very good chemistry with these young actors. They act and sound like a family. Rennison and Sandvig don’t act like obnoxious pseudo-adults, which is how Hollywood usually portrays kids.

There are glimpses of a stronger, better movie here, but it’s lost in an endless barrage of whining. Wahh, life is hard.

The acting in this movie is the best reason to watch. This is Willis’ best work in a long time. He does a nice job balancing his smart aleck persona with the emotional displays necessary for a man facing the end of his marriage. It's great to see Willis continuing in "actor" mode with this role following his memorable performance in "The Sixth Sense." When he wants to be, Willis is a very likable actor with passion and humor. It's too bad that he doesn't get to show that side very often.

Pfeiffer is good, but she plays the wife a little too bitter and sullen. Her character feels that she does all the work in the marriage while her husband has all the fun, but we never get to see that disparity ourselves. The worst thing this guy does is forget to cancel their newspaper delivery while they’re on vacation. Without scenes supporting her argument, Pfeiffer’s character just ends up looking uptight. When she finally cuts loose in a hilarious bit toward the end of the film, it’s a case of "too little, too late." Throughout most of this movie, I just wanted to shout at the screen, "Oh lighten up, Michelle!"

"The Story of Us" is the latest in Pfeiffer’s "mom" series. She seems to be moving away from the sex appeal of her earlier roles to play more mothers. Some would say that’s because she’s getting older, but I disagree. Susan Sarandon is still playing sexy roles and she’s even a few years older than Pfeiffer. Perhaps marriage and motherhood have influenced her choice in roles. While there’s nothing wrong with "mom" roles, Pfeiffer has always been best when playing a bad girl. Her sultry turns in "Batman Returns" and "The Fabulous Baker Boys" are two reasons why she’s one of my favorite actresses. Something tells me that we’re not going to be seeing any risky performances in her immediate future.

There are glimpses of a stronger, better movie here, but it’s lost in an endless barrage of whining. Wahh, life is hard. Wahh, marriage is hard. Wahh, raising kids is hard. Well, duh! Tell me something that I don’t know.

One of those glimpses is a montage toward the end of the film. In three minutes, it encapsulates the entire life of the Jordan’s 15-year marriage, from their engagement to the birth of their children to their most recent arguments. It's fast-paced, emotional and well conceived. Eric Clapton and Marc Shaiman’s score beautifully complements the images. I wish the entire movie were as powerful as that montage. Now that would have been a Rob Reiner film worth seeing.

10/19/99

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