Jack Finney was author best known for The Body Snatchers, classic novel about aliens invading Earth via mass possession of humans. The more common motive in his work was time travel and people having to adapt to different eras. It was, in a way, used in his novel Marion’s Wall, adapted in 1985 as Maxie, fantasy comedy directed by Paul Aaron.
The plot is set in San Francisco and it begins after library worker Nick Chaney (played by Mandy Patinkin) moves into old house together with his wife Jan (played by Glenn Close). While renovating the apartment, they discover that in 1920s used to belong to Maxine “Maxie” Malone, hard-driking hard-partying showgirl who died in car accident just when she was to get big break in Hollywood. Intrigued, they rent a video of an old silent film where Maxie had brief cameo and after that Maxie actually manifests to Nick as an apparition. Soon afterwards she begins to possess Jan’s body. Jan, a reserved and responsible woman who works as secretary to Catholic bishop Campbell (played by Barnard Hughes), suddenly begins to drink and flirt with men, putting both Jan and Nick in all kinds of embarrassing situations. When confronted by Nick, Maxie admits that she likes having chance to live again, but agrees to leave Jan’s body if Nick and Jan help her achieve old dream and become star of high budget Hollywood production.
If there is a reason to watch this film, it is Glenn Close. By mid 1980s that actress was playing roles of angelic women and, apparently afraid of being typecast, embraced the role of Jan/Maxie as an opportunity to play something different. It is very good to see her transformation of a plain and ordinary woman into ultra-hedonistic force of nature associated with all the 1920s flapper girl cliches. Unfortunately, this great performance is limited by terrible script by Patricia Resnick that always takes path of least resistance, sacrificing many opportunities for humour. Subplots involving Maxie’s old friend (played by Classic Hollywood veteran Ruth Gordon in her last role) and Jan’s boss who contemplates exorcism are only hinted and never developed. Nick is presented as incredibly passive and actually unappealing husband and the subplot involving him becoming love interest for his lady boss (played by Valerie Curtin) also goes nowhere. Furthermore, the idea that 30-something secretary, even possessed by 1920s showgirl, would suddenly become great film star in 1980s Hollywood severs last connection of Maxie with real world. Even famed French composer Georges Delerue makes things worse with his irritating soundtrack. This film shouldn’t be recommended to anyone other than the most dedicated fans of Glenn Close.
RATING: 3/10 (+)
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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/89300-maxie Critic: A
