Lay the Favorite
“Lay the Favorite” is loosely based on the memoirs of sports gambler Beth Raymer. Screenwriter D. V. DeVincentis wanted to capture her uniqueness on screen and co-wrote the script with Stephen Frears who he also partnered with for cult hit “High Fidelity” (2000). Frears has had success with “Dangerous Liaisons” (1988) and “The Queen” (2006).
The story centers on Beth (Rebecca Hall) who leaves her job as a private party dancer in Tallahassee to pursue her latest dream of being a cocktail waitress in Las Vegas. After searching for what seems like an entire afternoon she takes advice from her new, topless sunbathing friend (Laura Prepon), and goes to see professional gambler Dink (Bruce Willis) about a job.
Her aptitude for memory and numbers plus a bubbly personality win Dink over and she becomes part of his business, for about 20 minutes. Dink’s wife Tulip (Catherine Zeta-Jones) isn’t happy about his new employee and their growing relationship and he fires Beth to keep her happy.
Beth wallows for a bit then finds a new man, regular and sensible Jeremy (Joshua Jackson). After a particularly painful losing streak Dink makes a deal with Tulip and re-hires Beth. This seems to make things worse for Dink’s luck and he lets her go again. Frustrated, she heads to New York to hang with Jeremy and work for Dink’s enemy Rosie (Vince Vaughn) an illegal gambler.
The first 30 minutes whizz by with little to no proper character development. A few plot turners arrive by minutes 32 and 36 which is barely enough time to build investment in the story or characters, creating frustration when big events occur. The audience barely has time to connect with Beth and her quest for a better job/life/something before she’s off to New York to start over (again).
Rebecca Hall’s performance as over eager hustler is either an accurate interpretation of the real life person or really bad acting. Hopefully for the real Beth Raymer Hall’s portrayal isn’t too literal. We can only hope that her overly giggly interpretation is deliberate for some god only knows reason as it becomes increasingly irritating.
Hall’s film bio tells a better story about the actress who holds a Golden Globe nomination for playing Vicky in Woody Allen’s “Vicky Christina Barcelona” (2008). Success on the stage in the US and UK (twice under the direction of her father, Peter Hall (heavily involved in the formation of the Royal Shakespeare company in the early 60’s) provided her with a great jumping off point into the world of acting. This lead to roles in “Frost/Nixon” (2008) and Ben Affleck’s “The Town” (2010) as aforesaid character’s hostage then lover.
Bruce Willis’ part as Dink, head of Dink Inc, showcases his more sensitive acting traits, opposite to the hard man persona he’s more famous for. He adds a touching vulnerability to the character trying to keep right with his wife and help a clueless Beth at the same time. Despite this, his talents are somewhat wasted on the tired script and a plot that develops too quickly.
As Dink’s pampered wife Tulip Catherine Zeta-Jones really owns the jealous wife bit, rolling her eyes at Beth sniffing money, and becomes frustrated with her husband’s attempts at rescue. Reacting to the idiots surrounding her it’s no wonder she becomes so vexed. She and Willis are a good pairing as attentive husband and demanding wife, particularly when planning Beth’s rescue from Rosie’s business dealings and travelling to New York to save the day.
“Lay the Favorite” is sort of a rom com, or it could be a dramedy, or a film about sports gambling, but is not really any of them. Even the country-girl-trying-to-make-it-in-the-big-city riff doesn’t sit right which is why the film fails at being an overall success. Expect all loose ends to be tied up, the girl to find her dream, the married couple’s bond strengthened and the bad guys get their comeuppance.
2 yaps
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyse4bN_s-U&w=560&h=315]