Rules Don't Apply (2016)

I've never understood the fascination with Howard Hughes. They keep making movies about him, the latest being Warren Beatty's surprisingly funny story about a two young people who come to Hollywood to try to "make it." Yeah that's a cliche story too, one that I'm not usually interested in. But I think what surprised me most about Rules Don't Apply is how Beatty made me enjoy a story I had absolutely no interest in.

The story arc of Rules Don't Apply starts out as predictable as they come. Two young people with big dreams meet, are forbidden from being together but feel the need to anyway. The first half of the film is something we've all seen before. What makes it work is how entertaining the whole thing is despite itself. Future Han Solo Alden Ehrenreich (who has been amazing in everything I've seen him do) and former Snow White Lily Collins have a great chemistry and both play it to the hilt with remarkable success. Even Beatty, finally appearing as Hughes (a rather safe, lovable Hughes, but an addicted recluse just the same) has an enjoyable presence. The whole thing plays like a classic, 50s rom com, the kind RKO used to make.

But the second half looses its way a bit. It starts taking itself too seriously, starts to meander and get too involved in making us care. When it was just an enjoyable romp it was entertaining. The film doesn't have the gravitas to be dramatic and falls a bit flat when it tries to. Fortunately Beatty saves it with a very classic feeling ending right out of an Audrey Hepburn film.

Beatty throws star after star at us throughout. Alec Baldwin, Steve Coogan, Candace Bergan, Oliver Platt, Martin Sheen, Ed Harris, Paul Sorvino, and even Beatty's wife Annette Bening all play small yet clever roles. It adds to the 50s studio film feel to see a stable of stars paraded before us. Beatty films his whole film in dimly lit, lush tones like we're watching Walt Disney speak to us from his pristine office. The whole feel of old time cinema is there, especially in the driving scenes.

So overall, Rules Don't Apply is far more enjoyable than it should have been all things considered. Not a great film, and it sags a bit near the end, but it remains mildly amusing, and a great showcase for Ehrenreich, despite being about nothing of real interest.

Rules Don't Apply
Starring Alden Ehrenreich, Lily Collins, Warren Beatty
Director: Warren Beatty
Writer: Warren Beatty