This segment aired on the January 13 Salon Saturday show.
Obviously a dramedy is a concatenation of drama and comedy, but in what combination? If you find yourself whipping out a hanky for much of a movie’s run time, it’s not a comedy. However, when the comedic moments add depth to the characterization and provide an uplifting element it can make for a great movie. Generally slapstick comedy doesn’t work well as it changes tone and possibly pacing. The comedy should evolve from the characters and the situations they find themselves in.
I was reminded of this again while watching This is Where I Leave You (2014), which I thoroughly enjoyed, with good ensemble acting and a script that provided layers of depth to some of the characters, but also included many laugh-out-loud moments along the way.
Some of the movies in this list came out before the term was invented, but in retrospect could be labeled a dramedy.
The Apartment (1960): Dir Billy Wilder, Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray
A Manhattan insurance clerk tries to rise in his company by letting its executives use his apartment for trysts, but complications and a romance of his own ensue. Imagine standing outside in the rain while your boss screws his secretary in your apartment? A sad sack does get some romance with Shirley to make up for all those cold nights. Still this was nothing like Irma la Douce (1963) where Lemmon as a naïve gendarme meets Irma the sweet (MacLaine), a prostitute in green.
This calls for a Gin Martini, even though vodka is now the default. This works best with French dry vermouth like Noilly Prat, which is the only way I’ll have it, and with Bombay Sapphire, of course.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961): Dir Blake Edwards, Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patrica Neal
A young New York socialite becomes interested in a young man who has moved into her apartment building, but her past threatens to get in the way. As spellbinding as Hepburn is, there is a back story that adds drama in what might otherwise be called a lighthearted comedy because she did those, too.
I’m going with a Cosmopolitan of 1-1/2 oz. vodka, ¾ oz. Cointreau, ½ oz. of lime juice and ¾ oz. Ocean Spray cranberry juice cocktail. Don’t substitute lemon juice as I once did, the resulting color was NOT a Cosmo.
The Graduate (1967): Dir Mike Nichols, Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katherine Ross
A disillusioned college graduate finds himself torn between his older lover and her daughter. With a perfect Simon & Garfield soundtrack and an amazing role for Hoffman we wonder if he’ll get the girl or the boot from Bancroft who easily slips into her role while balancing on a bar stool. Mrs. Robinson was surely seductive and we can’t blame Ben Braddock for falling under her spell.
In Ebert’s 30 years later review, he said he was wrong about the instantly forgettable music, and that Mrs. Robinson was the only real character in the film.
A vodka martini is once again the perfect drink. I use Luksosawa potato vodka and just a lemon twist when I watch Jane Fonda sipping hers in Grace and Frankie or as a salute to Bancroft: here’s to you Mrs. Robinson.
Manhattan (1979): Dir Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Muriel Hemingway
The life of a divorced television writer dating a teenage girl is further complicated when he falls in love with his best friend’s mistress. It’s impossible to not include at least one Woody Allen movie since they are laced with angst and drama wrapped in comedy. Like much of Allen’s work this one was true to life in more ways than one.
This one is obvious; a Manhattan cocktail, with Metzer’s Blend of 3 different Kentucky bourbons. He also made the base for Angel’s Envy. Rye whiskey was in the original drink for Lady Randolph Churchill in the Manhattan Club. I’d go with bourbon, but change the Angostura for orange bitters and dry vermouth (white), because this bourbon has a bit of sweetness going for it with molasses, chocolate and caramel flavors. On second thought, just do it neat. Now called Metzer’s Select Bourbon at $80.
Forrest Gump (1994): Dir Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise
This is the most lovely box of chocolates you’ll ever open. The history of the United States from the 1950s to the ’70s unfolds from the perspective of an Alabama man with an IQ of 75, who yearns to be reunited with his childhood sweetheart. Is there any role Hanks cannot put his personal stamp to? If so, I haven’t found it. Ebert could not imagine anyone else in the role and summed up the movie with; “It’s a comedy, I guess. Or maybe a drama. Or a dream.”
If you’ve got a box of chocolates pair it with Lustau East India Solera Sherry, 20% ABV, $27 at Total Wine, a blend of 80% Oloroso and 20% PX, specially aged to simulate a long ocean voyage.
Ed Wood (1994): Dir Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker
Ambitious but troubled movie director Edward D. Wood Jr. tries his best to fulfill his dreams despite his lack of talent. Burton was obviously the director to wring the most out of this retelling of one of the oddest movie directors of all time, and Depp plays him perfectly. Who knew Depp would look so good in Angora.
I’m going with a Wooden Valley 2022 Dry Riesling, 12% ABV, $22, Fairfield, Ca. Wooden is how most of Ed Wood’s actors behaved. Say, maybe that’s where the term came from!
Jerry Maguire (1996): Dir Cameron Crowe, Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr. Renee Zellweger
When a sports agent has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it, he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent agent with the only athlete who stays with him and his former colleague. “You had me at hello” has morphed into so many variations, but I’ll still go with Zellweger’s original take on it.
This one needs a sparkling wine; Gruet Sauvage Rose NV (Zero dosage) 12% ABV, $22
With zero dosage, Sauvage Rosé’s vibrant fruit flavors of wild strawberry and a hint of cherry really shine on the nose and palate, complemented by bright acidity. 90 Points, Tasting Panel and GOLD Medal, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Don’t let Rod (Gooding) shake up this bottle. Athletes are so unpredictable when it comes to sparkling wine.
As Good as It Gets (1997): Dir James L. Brooks, Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear
A single mother and waitress, a misanthropic author, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship after the artist is assaulted in a robbery. I don’t think anyone knew where this was going when it started, but I loved this movie with all the actors doing a great job. Another great role for Nicholson who continues to astonish. Nicholson bonding with Kinnear’s dog was priceless.
I think a Rob Roy would fit in here nice. Make sure it’s a dry Rob Roy with French dry vermouth, not the sweet version, which makes the Scotch cloying and then you’d have to have a cherry rather than a stuffed olive. Oh the horror!
Almost Famous (2000): Dir Cameron Crowe, Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand
A high-school boy in the early 1970s is given the chance to write a story for Rolling Stone magazine about an up-and-coming rock band and he accompanies them on their concert tour. In Ebert review he said; “Oh, what a lovely film. I was almost hugging myself while I watched it. “Almost Famous” is funny and touching in so many different way.” That’s kind of a definition of a good dramedy. McDormand as the Mom is always a joy to watch.
If you’re into early Rock and Roll a case of beer with your buddies would work well here. I’d go with Modelo Especial.
Erin Brockovich (2000): Dir Steven Soderbergh, Julia Roberts, Albert Finney
An unemployed single mother becomes a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brings down a California power company accused of polluting a city’s water supply. Robert’s wardrobe playing Brockovich was a problem for Ebert, but not for James Berardinelli, who thought she hit all the right notes. And the real life Brockovich loved Robert’s portrayal. I also have a CD of the film score by Thomas Newman, which worked so well in the movie.
Uncle Henry in A Good Year (2006): “Tempier Bandol, 1969, the kind of wine that’ll pickle even the toughest of men.” I keep seeing Finney in this role, although now you’ll need a more recent vintage of this excellent red wine from Bandol, Provence.
Sideways (2004): Dir Alexander Payne, Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen
Two men reaching middle age with not much to show but disappointment embark on a week-long road trip through California’s wine country, just as one is about to take a trip down the aisle. Infamous for its “No F-ing Merlot” line, these are two guys you don’t want to accompany on a wine tour. But they are fun to watch, even though you’ll roll your eyes a lot. Particularly when Miles (Giamatti) goes on and on about what he is picking up in a glass of Rose. A “whiff of a smoky Edam cheese?” What? There is no cheese in wine!
I’m going with a 2020 Castoro Cellars Merlot and I’m giving the finger to Giamatti’s Miles. Castoro Cellars is one of Paso Robles best wineries.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006): Dir Dayton & Faris, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear
A family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus. This award-winning movie has a strong cast and the family dynamics are brilliantly explored. They travel from Albuquerque to Redondo Beach, California; obviously in style in a classic VW bus. Adding Alan Arkin to any movie spices it up.
Come on, we’re on a road trip! We need Martinelli’s sparkling cider and not just for our designated driver. We opened a lot of this over the holidays to keep from opening too many sparkling wines.
In Bruges (2008): Dir Martin McDonagh, Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ciarán Hinds
After a job gone wrong, hit man Ray (Farrell) and his partner await orders from their ruthless boss in Bruges, Belgium, the last place in the world Ray wants to be. But Ken (Gleeson) thinks they should tour the city while they’re there. Their interactions are part of the charm of this movie. The duo were also great in the awarded Banshees of Inisherin (2022); two great Irish actors.
Even In Bruges you’d have to ask for a Guinness, or maybe a Belgian pale ale if they give you dirty looks.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012): Dir David Russell, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro
After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own. Bradley Cooper who has astonished us in Maestro (2023), works well here, somehow carrying off a balance his character clearly doesn’t have. The interactions between Cooper and DeNiro as his father, particularly the Eagles-Cowboy game are priceless. And Lawrence I’d watch in anything she did.
Playing against type I’m going with a Big Jim’s Diamond Martini, using potato vodka with premium sake rather than dry Vermouth in a 4 to 1 ratio. It’s up to you how big the resulting drink becomes.
This is Where I Leave You (2014): Dir Shawn Levy, Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda
After their father passes away, four grown siblings are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes, and might-have-beens.
The comedy is generated from the conflicts and interactions of the four siblings dealing with rejoining their mother for a seven day shiva, “which means everyone is grounded,” Fonda announces.
As you can imagine, beer, wine and cocktails were everywhere; I watched it with a glass of 2019 Russian River Pinot Noir. Did not cry into my wine once, but I did laugh.
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