Making Mr. Right

Making Mr. Right casts Ann Magnuson as Frankie Stone, a P.R. whiz who agrees to help a scientist (John Malkovich’s Jeff Peters) market his latest invention, a fully-functioning android (Malkovich’s Ulysses) – with complications ensuing as Frankie finds herself developing feelings for Ulysses. Filmmaker Susan Seidelman has infused Making Mr. Right with a funky, irreverent feel that ultimately does prove rather difficult to resist, as the movie benefits substantially from its proliferation of off-kilter elements and quirky characters – with, in terms of the latter, Magnuson’s tremendously appealing turn as the sardonic protagonist matched by a stacked supporting cast. (Laurie Metcalf’s go-for-broke performance as Jeff’s obsessive romantic interest surely remains an ongoing highlight.) The inclusion of predictably appealing fish-out-of-water elements enhances the movie’s midsection, and it’s clear, as well, that Making Mr. Right’s romcom-centric attributes fare a whole lot better than one might’ve reasonably expected – with this feeling certainly cemented by a tremendously satisfying conclusion. The end result is an above-average ‘80s romance that should probably be more highly regarded than it actually is, and it’s a shame, undoubtedly, that filmmaker Seidelman’s career fizzled out somewhat in the years and decades following the picture’s release.

***1/2 out of ****