Who's That Girl

In my last post, I wrote about director Paul Bartel working outside of his element on the movie The Longshot. Today I thought I would continue on that theme with director James Foley's 1987 comedy Who's That Girl.

This Madonna vehicle has her playing a recent parolee who was wrongfully accused of murder. A successful businessman, John McMartin, who had ties to the murder, has an employee, and future son in law, Griffin Dunne, pick her up at her prison release and put her on a bus back home. At first he finds her irritating, but then begins to fall for her and decides to help her clear her name.

Why did Foley, who is known for gritter dramas like At Close Range and Glengarry Glenn Ross, decide to direct a screwball romantic comedy? I don't think he had a burning desire to venture into this genre. Instead I think he did it as a favor to Madonna. Not only was he best man at her wedding to then husband Sean Penn, but he also directed Penn in At Close Range. A movie that Madonna contributed the theme song to. Even if he did this out of loyalty to Penn and Madonna, I think Foley does a good job handling the proceedings.

Madonna, doing her best Judy Holliday impression, can be both funny and annoying in this. I will say that this is the kind of role that best suites her. Fairing even better is Dunne in a role that was originally intended for Penn. Penn dropped out after his first on screen teaming with Madonna, Shanghai Surprise, tanked at the box office. Dunne, fresh from his role in After Hours, tries to keep his hip cred rolling. Even though he is supposed to be the straight man to Madonna, he gets the funniest lines and has to do a lot of physical comedy.

Interesting side note, this was Foley's first film to star a music icon, but it could have been his second. Prince was so impressed with Foley's first feature, Reckless, that he approached him to direct Purple Rain. Foley didn't think he was the right man for the job and suggested his editor Albert Magnoli. Not only did Magnoli take the gig, he also became Prince's manager for a short time.

I'll admit I actually like this movie. I think it's a fun throwback to the screwball comedies from the 50's. I would like to see Foley do another comedy.