I haven't read or seen Valley of the Dolls, the novel that made Jacqueline Susann famous for her trashiness. Going into this film, which is a loose adaptation of her biography, I had no intention of reading the sleazy novel or seeing the sleazy movie anytime soon. The film/book was rose to the top of the must-see/must-read list. That's the strange thing about Isn't She Great: the film, as bad as it is, makes you want to know more about its prized subject matter. Don't give the movie any credit. Susann deserves credit.
Bette Midler (Jacqueline Susann) is a New York Jew with a dream of being famous. Irving Mansfield (Nathan Lane) is a New York Jew whose character is poorly developed. Irving has a thing for Jacqueline and marries her on the condition that he make her famous.
Jacqueline is untalented in the performing arts, admitting, "What I know about are ageing astars, hopeful hookers, and people popping drugs and ending up in the gutter." As a result, she achieves fame by writing about her experience, as mentioned earlier, of a sleazy industry, as tradition dictates. Along the way to her height, she encounters the humourless publisher (David Hyde Pierce), who orders mayonnaise in a deli and a slew of other characters who are more cliches and caricatures than actual humans.
How can a real story be accused of being overly characterized and cliché-ridden? According to the press notes, the producers "decided to open up the plot a bit to make room for the film they all wanted to make," according to the press notes. So, how loose had things become? This isn't meant to be a sitcom, but the writers turned it into one.
Isn't She Great discovers the most severe flaw by morphing for the sitcom for which it has no right? Jacqueline was diagnosed with cancer. A joke directed at a dying woman's hospital suite is decidedly pathetic and unfunny, and it's just one of the many flaws in the 95-minute production. Even the genuinely amusing scenes, in which there are a couple of thanks to Nathan Lane, are too embarrassing to indulge amid a poorly disguised drama.
Nathan Lane is a sad case. As a perpetually schmoozing New York Jew, he's fantastic. David Hyde Pierce, in his traditional straight man role, is also commendable. In a supporting role, even John Cleese is entertaining. On the other hand, Bette Midler will never be able to convince you that she is the amazing actress that she is from seeing this film.
