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Focus
(Reviewed October 28, 2001, by James Dawson)
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In this embarrassingly simplistic mess, William H. Macy and Laura Dern play WW2-era Goyim who are mistaken for Jews by the citizens of what must be an alternate-universe New York City where such a thing would count against a person. Meat Loaf (yes, Meat Loaf) plays Macy's shifty-eyed neighbor, who is starting a hate-group franchise in his basement. Even when Macy and Dern try to get out of town for the weekend, they are turned away from resorts because everyone simply refuses to believe they are not of The Tribe. Believe it or not, all of this is not played for laughs.
Incredibly, "Focus" is adapted from a novel by "Death of a Salesman" author Arthur Miller. Maybe something fell on Miller's head the weekend he wrote it. How else to explain the fact that we are expected to believe it is Macy's new glasses--with what are inexplicably the only frames available--transform his appearance to such a degree that his employer of more than 20 years suddenly thinks Macy looks too Jewish to sit in the front office, where he would scare away business clients. What is this, Superman-in-Reverse Syndrome?
Also straining credulity was the scene in which Macy attends a hate-group rally, but apparently thinks he will draw no negative attention by sitting and pointedly not applauding while the rest of the audience members are on their feet, stomping and shouting and frothing with passion. Way to blend in, guy.
Most ridiculous of all is that we are expected to believe Laura Dern, who dresses like a hooker and apparently loves the night life, would give Macy's character so much as a second look--much less marry the guy and move into the house he shares with his mother. Oy!
Unintentionally hilarious, laughably earnest, and a complete crock.
Back Row Grade: F
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