Originally, I had watched The Fabulous Baker Boys for Valentine’s Day marathon but that’s until I realized its more of a drama than a romantic comedy. It also was also hitting a Netflix expiration and seeing as I have a Michelle Pffeifer crush since forever, I wanted to see this one. Not knowing the plot or anything about the Fabulous Baker Boys, I turned it on…almost a month ago.
Side note, this is my kind of new plan. I’m tracking my movies and there will always be movies that I don’t review right away but when I’m short on time with other priorities, I’ll dig the one I’d like to write about and do a post on it. Let me tell you, that list is long, maybe I’ll do some double features also.
Let’s check out The Fabulous Baker Boys, shall we?
THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS (1989)
Director and writer: Steve Kloves
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Michelle Pfeiffer, Beau Bridges
Frank (Beau Bridges) and Jack Baker (Jeff Bridges) are known as the Fabulous Baker Boys who are a long time piano duo who performs at lounges. Times are changing and Frank feels that the two of them are no longer enough to thrive in their business. They now need to audition and find a third person: a classy girl who can sing to their music. Thats when they meet Susie Diamond (Michelle Pfeiffer), a former escort girl who is not only pretty but has a magnetic voice. With Susie, their act is revived and everyone wants to book dates with them. Eventually, the younger and less committed Jack start feeling attracted to Susie while the latter tries to keep their relationship strictly professional.
The Fabulous Baker Boys was really quite a treat. The whole story wasn’t anything spectacular but then its hard to find a script thats going to not have been used or predictable, whatnot. The Fabulous Baker Boys starts with Frank and Jack who are quite opposite from each other. Jack is the more talented and less committed younger brother. For him, this duo is a part of his life to survive but his passion isn’t in playing lounges. While Frank, being more responsible and having a family to take care of, is the logic and reason behind their gigs. He is less talented but he makes up for it in his management and social abilities. Being brothers in real life, Beau Bridges and Jeff Bridges are extremely great together. They pull off the right chemistry and dynamic that they need to make this whole story about them seem convincing. I’m going to be honest here and say that, I’m not exactly sure I’ve seen a lot of Jeff Bridges but his role here is really great. It makes the decision to forego watching all those not to good looking movies he’s been in lately feel like a good decision because I’d like to remember him as Jack Baker.
Alert: massive girl crush here! Michelle Pfeiffer… What a talented lady! Susie Diamond is an amazing character. I mean, Michelle Pfeiffer was awesome as Catwoman, Velma Von Tussle (Hairspray) or Ingrid Magnussen (White Oleander), which are all extremely memorable roles. But Susie Diamond is right there on top of the list. Right off, she brings in a much more relaxed feeling to the duo. In a way, the Baker boys needs to transform her into a lady suitable for their classy acts. They need to guide her to learn the songs and lyrics. There’s little clumsy bits on her performance and then when she finally finds herself completely, Michelle Pfeiffer is absolutely sexy in that performance there. Plus, her and Jeff Bridges has this really great connection and chemistry going on. There’s the one scene (and if you’ve seen this, you’ll know which one I’m talking about) that is just breathtakingly romantic and passionate all at the same time (or maybe there’s a few more).
Thats what makes The Fabulous Baker Boys good, I believe. These characters are believable and real. They struggle and fight and need to find the courage to follow their heart. There’s a bit of romance, really classy music, lots of great piano playing, a little brotherly drama and just great characters and performance all around.
This is a charming movie and I’m telling you, I never thought it possible but I think even I fell in love with Jeff Bridges just a little. Well, 1989 Jack Baker version of him at least 😉
Have you seen The Fabulous Baker Boys? What did you think of it?
Tranquil Dreams 