Alfie

Alfie - ***

From director Charles Shyer comes Alfie, a modern reinterpretation of the classic Michael Caine film that was nominated for 5 Academy Awards in 1967. This time around, Jude Law plays the role of Alfie Elkins, and this must be his third movie in less than three months to see release. This is a truly multidimensional character, and Law plays it soundly. Susan Sarandon also gives a noticeably good, if less crucial performance as the man eating Liz. The acting is solid, and the writing is tolerable; the only problem with this movie is its pacing. It feels as if they tried to accomplish too much in the first half, and the second seems rather short winded. There is a period of about 20 minutes that drags, and this is mainly because of the dramatic shift in tone halfway through the movie. However, this wickedly funny romantic comedy is sure to entrance the fairer sex on its romantic end, and captivate the male audience with the bevy of beautiful women. A flawed comedy that succeeds enough to warrant recommendation. Thumbs up.