Tropic Sprocket / Rules Don’t Apply

Tropic Sprocket / Rules Don’t Apply

By Ian Brockway

The iconic Warren Beatty is in the director’s chair once again telling a tale of old Hollywood. The film is “Rules Don’t Apply,” mildly about the mogul Howard Hughes. The story has the flavor of a comical “Citizen Kane” if that is possible. Sumptuous, epic in scope and gorgeous to look at, the body of the film is fluffy and chatty with effervescent people going everywhere. All of the characters go nearly hysterical chasing after The Great Man, Howard Hughes (Warren Beatty).

A young conservative girl Marla Mabrey (Lily Collins) lands in Hollywood hoping to make it big. She is accompanied by her nervous and ultra-religious mother (Annette Bening). Marla was summoned for a screen test by Hughes staff but she has never met the legend himself, nor does she know when her “moment” will come.

On her studio walks Marla meets Hughes’s driver Frank (Alden Ehrenreich), a square jawed and blandly handsome young kid. Marla feigns lack of romantic interest and Frank is engaged but the two enjoy seeing each other. During a conversation, Frank flatters Marla and the two end up smootching which turns into a deep kiss. That causes Frank’s embarrassing comeuppance since co-workers they are forbidden to consort.

Thank God for hairdryers.

Frank wants to be subservient to Hughes and so does Marla. The action takes a while to build momentum. Beatty takes the comic route in handling the famous figure. He goes around saying “Where is my closeup!”

The most intriguing aspect to the film is the juxtaposition of religion against Hollywood hedonism. The strict mother and daughter come to town and are struck by the highly glossed and dazzling loose women in front of the voyeur Hughes, but the implications are only hinted at and never fully explored.

Matthew Broderick arrives early on, at first appearing to participate in a Mannequin Challenge, then later as one bemused and hysterical, right on key. Comedian and voice actor Steve Coogan gives a Monty Python-ish cameo as a stiff-lipped RAF pilot.

The last hour of the film fares better. Hughes gives a speech about the longing for his father combined with the science of DNA, which shows spirit and heart, along with a spark of who the real Howard Hughes may have been. For the most part though, the film feels in second gear, mimicking a light Woody Allen comedy (e.g., boy chases girl, girl doesn’t want boy, with the recluse Boss watching it all).

Though “Rules Don’t Apply” is not his best, fans of the veteran actor will find it an entertaining lark, and within the film’s last scenes there exists a twinkle of the  devilish Warren Beatty himself.

Write Ian at [email protected]

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