Three hankies, easy

Weepy 'Autumn in New York' good for a cry -- but that's all

By Paul Clinton
CNN.com Reviewer

(CNN) -- "Autumn In New York" was not available for critics to screen until the day it was released in theaters. Usually, this is bad news for a film, because that often indicates a lack of faith in the movie on the part of the studio.

But, MGM representatives say, such is not the case this time. Rather, they're only protecting a fragile little love story that needs time to find its audience; the movie, like a relationship, needs nurturing. Or so they say.

Folks, "Autumn In New York" is your basic weepy romantic movie paying homage to that fount of tears, Erich Segal's "Love Story" (1970). This time, director Joan Chen used real actors -- Richard Gere and Winona Ryder -- in the lead roles Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal occupied three decades earlier.

Gere plays Will Keane, a 48-year-old restaurant owner whose real job seems to be professional cad and womanizer. Flirting and flitting from bed to bed is his apparent goal in life. Then he meets 21-year-old Charlotte Fielding (Ryder) who's celebrating her birthday at his restaurant. It's love at first sight -- on her part, anyway. For him, it's lust at first sight. The young thing is another morsel served up as his eatery.

The age difference between the characters is rationalized ad nauseam. He makes it clear that all he has to offer her is just what they have right now; there is no future for them. He promises nothing more than a good time, no strings attached, with a parting of the ways a foregone conclusion.

Surprise! Charlotte has a trump card. She's dying of something called neuroblastoma, which is described as either a "weak heart" or a "soft tumor" near her heart.

Basically, she calls his bluff. He wants to set limits? Baby, she's got a big one! She dares him to let go and fall in love. Why not? She only has a year to live.

Now the film turns into your typical boy-finds-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-gets-girl-back-but-she's-still-dying movie. He learns what real love means. She decides to try a risky operation now that she has a reason to live.

He cries. She cries. We find out that, contrary to anything we may have learned from "Love Story," love means having to say you're sorry -- over and over again. In fact, you can start being sorry the moment you buy your ticket.

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This script by Allison Burnett bangs on all the emotional buttons, while providing dozens of chances for our two star-crossed lovers to exchange long, lingering, meaningful looks.

Cinematographer Changwei Gu's depiction of New York City is gorgeous, making this film look a whole lot better than it sounds. Chen's straight-forward direction is not as inspired.

Pretty faces both, Gere and Ryder light up the screen, but provide no heat. You get the feeling Gere is a favorite uncle fighting for his niece's life. The age difference, combined with their total lack of chemistry, results in a love story that's more platonic than passionate, more healing than heated.

Elaine Stritch does a great turn as Charlotte's acerbic grandmother, and Lisa Farmiga is wonderful as a mysterious woman in Keane's life who also makes him grow up and accept responsibility in love and life.

This three-hankie romantic potboiler may find an audience as a date movie. "Chick flick" aficionados also will want to grab a fistful of Kleenex and head to the nearest multiplex.

The rest of us can wait until it comes out on video.

"Autumn In New York" opened nationwide on Friday, August 11. Rated PG-13. 103 minutes.

Autumn In New York

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