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Things Are Getting A Little Too Predictable. Review: Smash – “The Movie Star”

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  • April 17, 2012

  • 8 mins to read

Review, Smash, S1 E11 – “The Movie Star”

Air Date: Monday, April 16, 2012, 10/9c on NBC

Rating: ★★★★★

“The Movie Star” is appropriately titled as this week, we finally meet Rebecca Duvall (Uma Thurman). And guess what? She can’t sing! The disbelieving looks on everyone’s faces as they listen to her sing “Let Me Be Your Star” are comical, to say the least. Is having a huge movie star more important than having your leading lady carry a tune? This is a musical, after all.

Rebecca tries to swing Tom and Julia into seeing things her way

Personally, I find it ludicrous that Eileen (Angelica Huston) defends Rebecca, saying she’s “utterly charismatic.”  Doesn’t this woman have an ear? Rebecca appears to be tone deaf and sounds more like she’s talking than singing. I know Thurman is a wonderful actress (I loved the Kill Bill films), and can actually sing, but outside of being blonde, she’s as far from being Marilyn as I am. Besides which, she towers over everyone in the cast. The difference in height between her and the others is not pleasing to the eye! I am hopeful, however, that Thurman will somehow succeed in morphing into Marilyn before her story arc is over.

Wow! Eileen sure has found her big girl panties when it comes to dictating policy to Tom (Christian Borle) and Julia (Debra Messing): “She’s still Rebecca Duvall and if she wants you to write an extra long scene before ‘Dig Deep,’ you will write that extra long scene and you will have it on my desk by five, understood?” Finally, Huston gives us a performance worthy of the Oscar® and Golden Globe-winning star she is where previously, she’s been turning in run-of-the-mill performances.  I don’t agree with the way she’s coddling Rebecca, but who knows? Maybe it will pay off in the long run.

Karen really turns on the sex!

I’m not sure whether Derek’s (Jack Davenport) hallucinations are due to him taking too many drugs, or if his subconscious is trying to tell him Karen (Katharine McPhee) is perfect for the part. All I know is Karen’s rendition of the 1960s hit song, “Our Day Will Come” by Ruby and the Romantics, is so seductive, I don’t know how Derek doesn’t jump her bones right then and there, or at least award her the part. McPhee has a wonderful voice; add to that her beautiful deep brown eyes, and those sexy moves, and you find yourself falling in deep like with her. To me, she makes the best Marilyn.

Frank (Brian d’Arcy James) finally meets Julia but it’s to discuss Leo’s (Emory Cohen) problems at school, not their failed marriage. But he’s so blinded by his anger, he leaves. I get the guy is pissed—I would be too if I found out my spouse had cheated on me not once, but twice. But Julia doesn’t ask for forgiveness (she knows she did wrong); all she wants is to discuss Leo. Frank shouldn’t allow his anger to cloud his judgment when it comes to their son. He needs to learn how to co-parent in this unfortunate situation. What I don’t understand is why Frank doesn’t tell the school counselor the truth. Is he that embarrassed? Thankfully, Julia does; I love how she wraps up their situation in one long sentence, followed by “Did I leave anything out?” with a cute little laugh directed at Frank.

Tom quickly moves in for a big old smooch!

After overhearing Rebecca tell Derek the music is “boring,” Tom is too upset to eat so he and Sam (Sam Strickland) head to Tom’s apartment. While I think they make a nice pair, I agree with Sam that Tom is moving a little too quickly. Sam wants to take it slow and “hang out outside of rehearsal.” I like Sam; he’s a smart man. I’ve always said the best relationship is between two friends, not two lovers.

RJ and Dev seem to be enjoying each other's company

On the other hand, I am so over the Karen and Dev’s (Raza Jaffrey) relationship! Predictably, Dev doesn’t show up at the screening of Rebecca’s movie. I get it. Dev’s feelings are hurt because Karen doesn’t pay enough attention to him, so he does what every man does in the same situation—he withdraws rather than telling Karen there’s a problem. Imagine what a fool she feels like when she goes to Dev’s office and finds out he didn’t get the job promotion. If you ask me, I think Dev’s problem isn’t so much Karen’s self-absorbed persona. I think it’s because the guy has eyes for R.J. (Tala Ashe). I wish the writers would finish this story line and get on with a more interesting story line for Karen.

Thoughts and Observations:

I don’t know how I feel about Eileen succumbing to Nick’s (Thorsten Kaye) charms after she tells him she doesn’t have time for a relationship. (She lets her curiosity get the better of her when she searches Ellis’ (Jaime Cepero) desk for the dirt he uncovered on Nick.) She’s acting like a young schoolgirl with a crush on a bad boy. I hope she doesn’t get burned by Nick’s illegal activities and mob friends.

Ellis follows Eileen’s advice to keep his enemies close, so to speak, and asks Rebecca’s assistant Randall (Sean Dugan) to watch the screening of Rebecca’s new movie with him. Too bad he doesn’t know how to operate his phone because Randall hears Ellis say, “Hey, Sims. Sorry about tonight. I gotta suck up to that loser again” when he tries to switch between calls. I guess Ellis can cross off that connection! Good, I’m glad! It’s about time he learned you can’t continue to use people without getting found out.

So, is Rebecca bi-polar or what? One minute she’s demanding script and song changes, and the next she’s coming up with solutions to solve her voice problems. She even suggests hiring a vocal coach! It’s a good thing, too, because by the end of “The Movie Star,” she turns in a great performance of “Dig Deep.”

Memorable lines:

Tom, about Rebecca: “So her singing is a train wreck and so is her personal life. We’re doubly blessed.”

***

Ivy: “That is the sound of a thousand ticket holders demanding their money back.”

***

Ivy to Karen: “She stole our part. We hate her.”

***

Ivy to Karen: “Honey, when Rebecca Duvall goes down, everything’s up for grabs. You’re going to have to pry that part out of my cold, dead hands.”

***

“The Movie Star” is an OK episode. We have some character development with Ivy who has become a much nicer person and friend to Karen. Rebecca began as a spoiled movie star who wanted everything her way—“less singing and dancing”—and ended up becoming a team player. Tom has moved on from his relationship with John (Neal Bledsoe), and is now being painted as a player and commitment phobe. What I don’t like about Smash is the predictability of the story lines. We knew Eileen would find the financial backing for “Bombshell,” and we knew Julia’s affair would end badly (don’t they always?). And Ivy sleeping with Derek to get the part was just too cliché. Please Smash, give me something I can sink my teeth into! I really want to like you!

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!

Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!