Alright, settle in and adjust the tracking, because tonight we’re pulling a well-loved, slightly worn tape off the shelf: Steve Martin’s 1987 charmer, Roxanne. Forget the gritty action for a moment; this is pure, unadulterated 80s romantic comedy gold, the kind that warmed your heart even through the slightly fuzzy picture on your parents’ old Zenith. This wasn't just another comedy; it felt smarter, sweeter, and wonderfully witty, a perfect antidote to some of the era's brasher offerings.
### More Than Just a Nose Job
Let's be honest, the premise – a modern retelling of Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac set in a picturesque Pacific Northwest fire station – could have gone sideways fast. But in the hands of Steve Martin, who not only starred but also penned the sharp, heartfelt screenplay, it became something special. Martin plays C.D. Bales, the fire chief of idyllic Nelson, Washington (beautifully portrayed by Nelson, British Columbia – the town loved the production so much they reportedly painted fire hydrants silver for filming). C.D. is intelligent, funny, athletic, deeply decent... and cursed with an astonishingly large nose. This isn't just a slight bump; it's a veritable facial landmark, a source of both insecurity and, paradoxically, comedic genius.
Martin, already a comedy legend from his stand-up and films like The Jerk (1979), tailored the role perfectly for himself. The physical comedy is pure Martin – think of the sublime sequence where he dispatches two louts in a bar using only an umbrella and impeccable timing, or his desperate, hilarious attempts to coach the tongue-tied Chris. But it's the vulnerability beneath the wit that truly sells it. His longing for the beautiful astronomer Roxanne Kowalski (Daryl Hannah) is palpable, layered with the painful awareness that his appearance, specifically that nose, makes him believe he's unworthy of her.
### Twenty Jokes? Try Infinite Charm
Of course, you can't talk about Roxanne without mentioning the scene: C.D.'s masterful "20 Nose Jokes" monologue. Challenged by a boorish bully, C.D. unleashes a torrent of increasingly inventive insults aimed at his own prominent feature, turning potential humiliation into a dazzling display of verbal dexterity. It’s not just funny; it’s a defining character moment, showcasing C.D.'s brilliance and the defense mechanisms he's built around his perceived flaw. Retro Fun Fact: Martin actually wrote more than 20 jokes for the scene, filming variations and selecting the best ones. Imagine the outtakes on that! Applying the prosthetic nose itself was apparently no joke either; it reportedly took Martin 90 minutes in the makeup chair each day.
As Roxanne, Daryl Hannah (coming off huge hits like Splash (1984) and Blade Runner (1982)) is radiant. She brings an appealing intelligence and warmth to the role, making Roxanne more than just a prize to be won. She's genuinely captivated by the eloquent words wooing her, unaware they originate from C.D. rather than the handsome but hopelessly inarticulate firefighter Chris (Rick Rossovich, perfectly cast as the hunky himbo). Rossovich leans into Chris's dimness with comedic flair, making him sympathetic even as you root for C.D.
### Small Town, Big Heart
Director Fred Schepisi, known for more dramatic fare like Plenty (1985) but also the later smart comedy Six Degrees of Separation (1993), strikes a masterful balance. He lets Martin's comedic set pieces shine but never loses sight of the underlying romance and the gentle rhythm of small-town life. The supporting cast of quirky firefighters and townsfolk adds wonderful texture, making Nelson feel like a real, lived-in community. Schepisi captures the beauty of the location, giving the film a bright, almost storybook quality that enhances the romantic fantasy. Remember how lush those mountain backdrops looked, even on a standard-def TV?
The film doesn't rely on crude humor or over-the-top antics (beyond the nose, perhaps). Its comedy comes from character, clever wordplay, and relatable situations (well, relatable if you've ever secretly written love letters for a handsome fool). It has that specific 80s optimism, a belief in the power of words and the possibility of connection, that feels refreshing even now. Retro Fun Fact: Steve Martin's script was widely praised, earning him a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay – a testament to how skillfully he updated the classic source material. The film itself was a solid performer, earning back more than triple its $12 million budget and charming critics and audiences alike.
### Why It Still Warms the VCR
Roxanne is a reminder of a time when romantic comedies could be both genuinely funny and deeply romantic without cynicism. Martin is simply brilliant, delivering a performance that's equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking. Hannah provides the soulful center, and the entire production has a warmth and polish that feels handcrafted compared to today's often slicker, more formulaic rom-coms. It’s witty, visually lovely, and possesses a sincerity that’s hard to resist.
Rating: 9/10
This rating reflects a near-perfect execution of a high-concept romantic comedy. Martin's script and performance are legendary, Schepisi's direction is pitch-perfect, and the supporting cast shines. It balances humor and heart beautifully, making it a standout of the genre and the era. It loses perhaps a single point only because the central deception, while classic, requires a significant suspension of disbelief by modern standards, but the film earns it through sheer charm.
Roxanne is pure comfort food cinema, a guaranteed smile-inducer that was always a welcome sight on the video store shelf. It’s proof that you don’t need explosions or effects, just sharp writing, winning performances, and maybe... just maybe... a nose for romance. A truly lovely film that still holds up beautifully.