I Love N.Y.

There is only one reason to see I Love N.Y. and that is for Christopher Plummer to see both as an international superstar man of the theater and in character as Cyrano de Bergerac. I just loved seeing him as Cyrano, I just wish there had been more.

Outside the theater Plummer has got some other problems mostly involving his little princess of a daughter Kelly Van Der Velden. He's used to getting his way, he's also used to giving her whatever she wants within reason. But when she catches sight of up and coming photographer Scott Baio, that's what she wants and Plummer thinks he's beneath her.

A kid with a widowed mother, Virna Lisi, growing up in Little Italy aspiring for the daughter of a Sir Laurence Olivier like theater icon.

By the way though the film is set in New York, the title is a double entendre because the object of Scott's affection is named Nicole Yeats. By any name poor Ms. Van Der Velden couldn't act at all, though beautiful she is. It's the main problem with the film.

One thing I did like was in 1987 one of Baio's photographic assignments was a commitment ceremony between two gay men in Coney Island. In this day of same sex marriage on the verge of becoming a reality in more than two states, I Love N.Y. turns out to be years ahead of its time.

Still you can be years ahead of your time and not be a great movie.