MY ONE AND ONLY

US, 2009, 106 minutes, Colour.
Renee Zellweger, Logan Luhrmann, Mark Rendle, Kevin Bacon, Nick Stahl, David Kirschner, Eric Mc Cormack, Chris Noth, Stephen Weber, Troy Gerrity, Robin Weigert.
Directed by Richard Loncrane.

An entertaining comedy-drama about actor George Hamilton (pictured) when he was 15? Not likely. But, in fact, here it is. A memoir which, when he recounts it to his class about what he did over the summer vacation, his teacher remarks, 'Surely, exaggerated'. He replies, 'if only...'.

According to this tale, Hamilton's father was band leader, Danny Devereaux, who was a one hit wonder with his song, 'My One and Only' (composed for this film). His mother, Ann, was a 'princess' type who did not know what work was, who glided through life and two marriages constantly repeating 'it will all work out for the best'. Tired of her husband's infidelities, she decides to fend for herself and teenage sons – by looking for a wealthy husband to support them! As they say, she certainly knows how to pick them! There is a broke businessman who wants to borrow from her, a bullying anti -Communist military man, an old flame who is a playboy, a rich man who assumes she is available for sex, a gentle salesman who is certifiable!

The family moves from New York to Boston to Pittsburgh (where she is wrongly arrested in a hotel bar for soliciting), to St Louis and her plain and exasperated sister's house, to LA and the movies.

Renee Zellwegger turns on her charm and glamour for this flibbertygibbet wife and hopeless mother. Kevin Bacon has a cameo as her husband.

The film also depends on Logan Lerman as the serious young George who sees through his mother, realises he must also see through his father and who, by accident, helping his would-be, crocheting brother (Mark Rendall) for his screen test, begins his own film career.

A strong cast of men pass through Ann's life: Steven Weber, Chris Noth, Eric Mc Cormack, David Koecher, Troy Garrity (as a hitchhiker) and Nick Stahl as a sympathetic shy mechanic in Pittsburgh.

The now over-tanned George Hamilton did not turn out quite as serious as the young George in this film - though he executive produced this film. A commendation from the Ecumenical Jury in Berlin, 2009.

1.An entertaining piece of Americana? A 1950s American road movie? In retrospect?

2.George Hamilton, his career, his memoir, enhanced? Executive producer? A pre-Hollywood story?

3.The credits, the advertisements, the fashions, the attitudes and visuals of the 1950s? Television and commercials? The movies? Nuclear fears, anticommunism, the threats? The visuals of the Nevada nuclear tests?

4.The music, the band, My One and Only? The score?

5.George and his voice-over, his description of his mother, of his attitudes, of his father? His relationship with Robbie? His behaviour? Himself and his self-image, strong, his writing, hopes? New York as his home? Yet wanting the bond of family, St Louis, going to California, accidentally getting a film career?

6.Buying the car, telling the story for the salesman, the money, their suspicions, driving, his mother and the rear-view mirror, later to be used for herself and not looking back? His erratic driving?

7.Ann, at home, her arriving early, her husband not expecting her, calling the woman a tramp? The argument, her decision to leave? The background of her two marriages? Robbie and his father? George and his father?

8.Driving to Boston, the aim, the friend and his being a wealthy businessman, the meal, his asking her for money, her tears, being robbed? Harlan and his stepping in for her, paying the bill, the military courtesy? Their going out, his attitude towards the two boys, the military style? The plan for marriage? The five hundred dollars, their persuading their mother to give it to the orphans? His demanding the money back? The necklace? George and hitting? Their leaving, going to Pittsburgh?

9.The outing, the hopes for the man escorting her, his expectations for sex from her, her leaving?

10.Charlie, the old times, wealth, the party, her going on the date, waiting in the hotel, the young women with Charlie, her talking to the man at the bar, his being a detective, her going to prison, the other prisoners? Her phoning Dan? His not answering his phone, the girl at the other end? Her reliance on Bud and his taking her home? His admiration for her?

11.The house in Pittsburgh, George and his talking to the girl, Bud as her brother? Going to the drive-in, seeing The Big Heat, the girl’s question about her breasts, George and his advice to her? Successful? Bud, not talking much, helping with the car? His helping them to leave? Dan talking to Bud and finding out where the family went?

12.St Louis, Hope and Tom, Ann and her not getting on well with Hope? The tension, arriving, wanting the meal? Her plan? Hope’s sardonic remarks? Tom as more friendly? Ann getting the job, working at the diner, the flirting, pouring the hot coffee on the customer? In the shop, the woman and the inquiries about the paint, her advice, the arrival of Bill Massey, their conversations about paint and colours? His charm, the plan to marry? The boys liking him? The picnic, the arrival of his wife, his words of advice to George about the temperature of women? The fiasco of his mental state? The sympathy of the wife, Ann’s dismay? The large cheque?

13.George at school, the teacher encouraging him, deciding to stay, confronting his mother, her slapping him? Robbie and the phone calls from the trip? The need for money, Tom urging Hope to give the money from the cheque? George’s decision to join the family?

14.Robbie in himself, his prissy manner, crocheting? Camp style? The crocheting of the the towns in the doyley? His leading roles in school – and never getting to perform them? His gauche comments about Othello and the negro? Coming on stage to perform Oedipus – Bill and Ann watching, the tornado and everybody having to leave the hall?

15.Ann and Robbie on the road, the various lifts? The cash? The soldier and his girlfriend, the lift, the robbery? Robbie and his father’s gun? The girl leaving – but joining up with the soldier later?

16.Arriving in Los Angeles, settling down, Dan and his visit, his trying to talk to Ann, his relationship with his children, seeing himself as a poor father? The news of his death? George and his decision to go to New York? Telling his story of the summer vacation in class – to disbelief?

17.Robbie, the screen test, Ann and Robbie as extras? George arriving, Robbie hopeless at acting, George giving him advice, performing, the sympathetic producer, giving him the job? Robbie and his costume designing?

18.An eccentric comedy, but joyful?