Beau Jest

Very Funny Romantic Comedy
If you like romantic comedies, you will love BEAU JEST, which writer-director James Sherman has adapted from his long running off Broadway play of the same name. At a screening I caught of the film at a Chicago movie theater last year, the audience laughed almost non stop at Sherman's witty dialog and the sparkling performances of his cast.

The premise is clever: Sara Goldman's parents want her to marry a Jewish boy, but she's really in love with a Gentile. To get her parents off her back, she hires an actor she believes to be Jewish to pose as her boyfriend. Too late she discovers that the actor is also a Gentile, and the closest he has ever come to being Jewish is appearing in a production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. But, when Sara's parents fall for the masquerade and decide the actor would be their ideal son in law, that's when the fun really begins.

You don't have to be Jewish --- I'm Gentile - to enjoy BEAU JEST anymore than you have to be Jewish to enjoy ---...

Adorable romantic comedy
The plot has the feeling of being a pastiche of 1930s - 40s screwball comedies. Kindergarten teacher Sarah Goldman (Robyn Cohen) has Jewish parents who incorporate every stereotype that has appeared in a movie or novel since the beginning of time. Sarah has fallen in love with Chris, who isn't Jewish. Lainie Kazan plays Sarah's mother - and totally steals the show.

Sarah hires an actor, a gentile, to play Dr. David Steinberg, her new boyfriend and brings him to meet her parents. Greg Cromer plays Bob Schroeder (sp?) a/k/a Dr. Steinberg.

Well you know how these boy-girl things develop. You've got Chris, the boyfriend Sarah wants to hide; Bob, the imitation doctor, whom the parents fall in love with . . . and . . . well you can guess.

It is romantic. It is funny. It is lightweight, well done and thoroughly enjoyable. And the movie belongs to Lainie Kazan, though the entire cast performs well. It is her movie.

Jerry

Old fashioned comedy
Beau Jest is a light hearted comedy that is a pleasure to watch. No sex, no car chases, no special effects, no filthy language and no violence. Can it still be a good movie to watch? You bet! It works well when staged as a play or done as a movie because the basic premise is still there.... lying to someone, so as not to hurt them, but then realizing that the truth is usually best (though difficult to come out with). I recommend this movie to anyone who wants to laugh and enjoy seeing what love can do ... make us lie so as not to hurt. Love at First Lie! Yes, but only because she loved her parents! Enjoy!

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