Have you ever found yourself stuck in a life that seems to be the result of those around you? You may not be completely miserable, but you feel like you are following other peoples’ dreams until one day you get to a point where you have to make a statement to remind others of your independence. As important as this moment may be, it can cause a strain in your relationship with your significant other but can also open the door to a new friend. Based on Nick Hornby’s novel, “Juliet, Naked” is such a tale.
Rose Byrne is Annie, living the life left to her by her father and in a relationship with Duncan (Chris O’Dowd) whom is obsessed with vanished rocker Tucker Crowe (Ethan Hawke), who is trying to be the man he should have been years ago. In small world fashion Annie and Tucker begin an online correspondence, that takes us through majority of the movie.
Screenwriters Evgenia Peretz, Jim Taylor, and Tamara Jenkins have created a script that along with the directing by Jesse Peretz, brings a believable Rom-Com. The cast is strong, and they deliver good performances even though there are a few small things that could have been removed or done differently to give room for a stronger ending instead of the feeling of “oh wait… we only have five minutes left to tie up all loose ends”. While I am glad things are not left hanging, I would have enjoyed a bit smoother telling of the story as a whole.
Props to the set design team for blurring the line of fiction and reality, shown specifically in all of the Tucker Crowe memorabilia. There is even a show poster that includes Drowning Pool as one of the bands he worked with, reminding me of when they used to play in Dallas prior to having a recording contract. With all of this, I will still recommend “Juliet, Naked” for a matinee viewing.