Parker only bright spot in directionless ''Til There Was You'

By Julia Shih
Daily Arts Writer

When a movie is in the process of creation, its filmmakers usually have a vision in mind of how they want it made. Most of these blueprints are well thought-out and well engineered, leading to a high-quality final product. But unfortunately, the creators of the romantic comedy "'Til There Was You" only planned out the beginning and end of the film, leaving a severe lack of substance in the middle.

REVIEW
	'Til There Was You 2 stars At Briarwood and Showcase

The movie stars Jeanne Tripplehorn as Gwen Moss, a ghostwriter in search of love. Her experiences in this painful game have often been traumatic,including shocking events like discovering a lover's double sexual identity and being told by her father that he never loved her mother (in fact, he's been waiting for her to die). Gwen's loneliness consumes her life, as she asks herself why she hasn't found someone yet.

Little does she know that for the past 20 years, her life has been intertwined with that of Nick (Dylan McDermott), a smooth "love 'em and leave 'em" architect. Nick is extremely afraid of commitment, a result of growing up in a dysfunctional home. As the two search for love while unknowingly experiencing brief encounters with each other, they are finally and inevitably brought together by fate.

"'Til There Was You" is reminiscent of the classic film, "Brief Encounters" (which Gwen happens to be watching in one scene) and the '80s movie, "Made In Heaven" - both dealing with fated lovers. It portrays two people who are meant for each other but are kept apart by fate until they are ready.

From the beginning of the film, audiences already know that sooner or later, Gwen and Nick will meet. And when they do, they'll fall madly in love with each other. As a result, most of the movie deals with Gwen and Nick's brief encounters.

Many of the scenes in which both parties are present are amusing. One scene has Nick dining with an ex-child-television star (Sarah Jessica Parker), for whom Gwen happens to be ghostwriting an autobiography. Coincidentally, Gwen is having dinner at the same restaurant, one table away, with the man who used to be Nick's archnemesis in second grade. Gwen awkwardly enters the eccentrically designed restaurant, losing articles of clothing while almost being knocked out by the artwork, and narrowly escaping Nick's attention.

It is interesting to see how these two lives can intertwine. But it is obvious that screenwriter Winnie Holzman was aware that the main plot wouldn't be able to comprise an entire feature-length film by itself. She has included so many subplots and deceptively important characters that viewers will be left feeling dizzy.

With so many things going on and so much of it interrelated, it's hard to pay attention to everything. But attention to detail isn't necessary in this movie, as most of the subplots disappointingly amount to nothing.

Jeanne Tripplehorn is inadequate as the romantic lead in this film. Her character spends a lot of the time despairing her loneliness, but Tripplehorn does it with such a lack of emotion that it's hard to empathize with her character.

Audiences will probably prefer McDermott's side of the fated couple, even though his character is often shallow and incredibly one-dimensional.

The best performance by far is turned in by Sarah Jessica Parker, whose portrayal of the jaded and ex-junkie actress is excellent. She is entertaining and lively, especially during exasperating moments when her character is faced with the popular remark by fans, "I thought you were dead!"

Nevertheless, "'Til There Was You" blatantly lacks direction and a point. With only the beginning and ending having meaning, the middle of the movie is composed of nothing but senseless mush. It takes two entire hours and a lot of drag time to deliver a simple message: Love will find you when you're ready. And by the film's disappointing ending, most people will only be satisfied because the movie is finally over.

06-04-97