"Oooh, it's a lady."
Leon Phelps, the Ladies Man, the self-proclaimed "Mother Teresa of boning," has hit the silver screen, with 'fro and bottle of Courvoisier intact. If you're even a casual fan of the recurring sketches on Saturday Night Live, then you're sure to crack up during Tim Meadows' first starring feature, The Ladies Man.
The film follows Leon, host to a late-night, call-in radio show as he doles out valuable, experienced advice on loving ("have you considered the butt?") to his listeners. Leon is the archetypical player, bedding so many women that his lovers' husbands have formed a support group.
Of course, everyone has it in for Leon, from irate listeners to the station manager. When he loses his job, he runs himself ragged in search of a new locale - while only one unknowing step ahead of an army of irate husbands.
Don't expect an all-star cast or a groundbreaking script. SNL movies are known for their rehashed gags and cameos by cast members. At the same time, The Ladies Man is far better than you might expect - good enough that it even overcomes the stereotype of bad TV-to-movie adaptations.
Tim Meadows never loses a beat. His impeccable voice and smile (and taste in clothes) as Leon Phelps is only more effective in theaters. Don't expect a fish-out-of-water player like in Austin Powers. This Ladies Man has lost none of his mojo, despite his outmoded style. He proves himself time and again as the story unfolds.
Of course, even the Ladies Man needs a love (true love, that is) in his life, and his producer Julie (Karyn Parsons) is right there beside him. Leon may not realize it, but the audience certainly does - and spends the entire movie waiting for him to figure it out. You may not be here for the romance or the drama, but there's still the satisfaction to seeing everything turn out happily by the end.
Easy way to get a cheap laugh: throw Billy Dee Williams into a movie, even if he's only a bartender. He's got such a distinct voice that the viewers wrinkle their brows immediately... and admit it, for many, he'll always be Lando Calrissian. Besides, Williams is a big enough name to lend the script a little credibility, even in so minor a role.
SNL regular Will Ferrell makes his obligatory appearance, here as the head of the group out to catch the Ladies Man. Taking on an original character - rather than the head-bopping Steve Butabi from Roxbury - seems to have done something good for his screen presence. He's as funny as he usually is on the show, and more than a little creepy in character.
Some people may wonder why Lorne Michaels keeps churning out Saturday Night Live spin-off flicks. After the poor critical buzz for A Night at the Roxbury and Superstar (not to mention the outdated Coneheads), it might seem like these are unprofitable ventures. Look at the big picture, though. Remember Wayne's World (and its sequel)? While hoping for another great success, the SNL producer can keep releasing duds until one pays off. Keep in mind that using TV actors and pre-existing characters (and eschewing nearly all special effects) gives these films an easy profit margin.
This is not to put down the quality of The Ladies Man, however. Special effects would do nothing to enhance the movie, and the whole point of the venture is seeing Tim Meadows (one of SNL's best remnants), not some other actor who's never played Leon Phelps before. You're here hoping that he'll seduce everyone in sight or say something about doggie style.
Assuming that is what you want, The Ladies Man delivers big time. Without repeating the same scripts and jokes from the sketches on SNL, the movie follows the right themes while taking Leon on an adventure of sorts.
There are great comedic highlights, like Leon trying to keep a straight face as a nun describes her upcoming position in a mission - that is, her missionary position - and the "spontaneous" choreographed dances that erupt out of Will Ferrell's militia of jilted spouses. It would have been easy to just reuse popular lines from the show, but the trio of writers (which included star Tim Meadows) made an effort to keep the material fresh.
Don't expect cinematic brilliance, of course. This is not meant to be a great film. You're going into a Saturday Night Live movie - and if you have trouble remembering that, the cast, script, and humor should help remind you. This is a flat-out comedy, and The Ladies Man pulls out every comedic trick you could think of to make it work.
Whether it's the golden light and "Hallelujah" chorus when Leon opens his pants or a gross-out competition with pickled bar food, none of the writers or actors seem to have brought much shame with them here. It's certainly a sight tamer than There's Something About Mary, but to excellent effect: The Ladies Man rarely misses a punch. Despite the cheapness or outlandishness of its gags, few of them fall flat.
