VIEW FROM THE TOP (2003)

Directed By: Bruno Barreto
Written By: Eric Wald
Cinematography By: Alfonso Beato
Editor: Ray Hubley, Christopher Greenbury & Charles Ireland

Cast: Gwyneth Paltrow, Mike Myers, Christina Applegate, Candice Bergen, Mark Ruffalo, Rob Lowe, Joshua Malina, Kelly Preston, Marc Blucas, Stacey Dash, Jon Polito, Concetta Tomei, John Francis Daley, Nadia Dajani



Donna Jensen was raised literally and figuratively on the wrong side of the trailer park in Silver Springs, Nevada. She always believed it was her destiny to get out of Silver Springs. After reading Sally Weston's book, Sally who is arguably the most famous now ex-flight attendant in the world, Donna believes the path to leaving Silver Springs is to become a flight attendant despite never having been on an airplane. After an initial bumpy start to this career, Donna shows a natural flair for the job, so much so that she applies to work for world class Royal Airlines, where Sally Weston mentors. After meeting Donna, Sally believes Donna is destined for flight attendant greatness, namely working first class in the New York-Paris flights. Donna believes in herself as a flight attendant, but has to overcome some obstacles, including flight attendant trainer John Witney, who has some hidden anger issues...

This film seems like a holdover from a bygone era. It’s a film that seeks to show empowerment of women by a certain dignified profession. It also seems to want to have a behind the scenes comedy of the wacky hijinks that went on behind the scenes of being a stewardess. There were plenty of movies centered around being a stewardess on the 70’s and 80’s so by the time this film came out it seemed to try to pick up the turned and make it popular again while similarly being a throwback. Sort of like Wet Hot American Summer. Though with that film at least it had the good foresight to satirize it’s subject. This film seems more like a Starring vehicle for Gwyneth Paltrow while also being a rags to riches story.

Mike Myers has a comedic role that seems like a afterthought. Almost like he was a last minute replacement. Did he owe the studio a favor? Like the film was running too short and not funny enough so they brung him in to do a few scenes to pad-out the film and add some laughs in a list ditch attempt to save the film. When the film came out it seemed like the film was partly built around his character even though he is only a small supporting character. He also acts like he is in a totally different film.

The film is entirely too short. It barely counts as a feature as it seems as soon as it is beginning and getting interesting it’s winding to a close. It almost seems like a pilot for a tv show. Poor farm girl makes good type of story. The strange characters she meets and the situations she finds herself in the middle of week to week.

The film has a mostly recognizable cast so that it can distract you with some glamour. The film was postponed from it’s initial release due to 9/11 and from there edited the film down after test screening it over and over until it was dumped into theaters in 2003

The film plays campy like everyone should be in on the joke. Since the stories and scenes play out like a film that would count as a romp in the 60’s or 70’s.
Skip It

GRADE: D