HouseSitter

HouseSitter is a romantic comedy released in 1992 and directed by Frank Oz. The film boasts a star-studded cast with Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn, and Dana Delany leading it. Martin's penchant for understated comedy and Hawn's irresistible charm gives viewers a thrilling ride of laughter, surprise, and sweet romance.

The film opens with Newton Davis (Steve Martin), an architect who builds his dream house in his hometown to propose his childhood sweetheart, Becky (Dana Delany). However, Newton's plan ends abruptly when Becky rejects his proposal, leaving Newton heartbroken and the house empty. Within this bitter rejection and the stunning backdrop of an empty beautiful home, the basic plot of HouseSitter begins to take shape.

The story takes a surprising turn when Newton Davis, now in Boston, encounters a quirky and charismatic waitress named Gwen (Goldie Hawn). After a single casual night of acquaintance, Gwen, uninvited and unknown to Newton, moves into his vacant house and starts living there, as she is characteristically an opportunist and a little deceptive.

Enticingly, Gwen goes beyond just 'housesitting'. She forcibly gets herself involved in the community by spreading a completely fabricated story that she is Newton's wife. Her charm and vibrant persona quickly win over the town's folks, who, until her arrival, were quite indifferent to Newton. Beside creating a fantasy world, Gwen also makes aesthetic changes to Newton's house to make it more 'homey.'

Newton, completely ignorant of all these developments, suddenly finds himself in a web of amusingly complicated scenarios when he gets to know about Gwen's actions. Baffled yet intrigued, Newton decides to play along, thinking it might win him back his love, Becky. But as the saying goes, 'Man proposes, God disposes,' what follows is a series of comedic chaos, unexpected bonding, and playful deceptions that lead the story to a climax that is both surprising and tender.

As a romantic comedy, HouseSitter transcends the boundaries of a typical love story. The chemistry between Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn is unequivocally magical, which forms the film's heart. Martin's portrayal of Newton is laudable, as he perfectly depicts a persona caught up between his childhood love and an unexpected yet intriguing life situation. He plays Newton with a mix of subtlety and wit, brilliantly highlighting his character's internal conflict and confusion.

On the other hand, Goldie Hawn is an absolute delight to watch. Her on-screen agility and vivacity breathe life into her character, turning Gwen into an interestingly colorful yet affectionately relatable woman. Hawn's performance seamlessly brings out the layers of Gwen, an opportunist yet not entirely heartless, manipulative yet with a sense of vulnerability.

The supporting cast, including Dana Delany as Becky, also gives commendable performances. Delany’s Becky stands as the perfect illustration of the ‘girl next door’ with her sweet, sincere portrayal. Her performance deftly balances the triangle between Newton- Gwen- Becky, making the narrative all the more engaging.

The film's technical aspects complement the storytelling style, with the picturesque backdrop of a quaint town and a beautiful, empty house acting as symbols of the dreamy yet complicated love saga. The direction of Frank Oz, taut screenplay, engaging dialogues, and apt background score all work together to make HouseSitter a delightful viewing experience.

What makes HouseSitter stand out in the realm of romantic comedies is its unique storyline. Instead of the overused cliché of love at first sight or heroic attempts to win someone's heart, HouseSitter presents a convoluted yet heart-touching love scenario of unexpected circumstances, impulsive decisions, amusing entanglements, and the simple realization that love often lies in the most chaotic situations.

To sum up, HouseSitter is a must-watch for all rom-com lovers who wish to witness a unique love story unveiling amid comedy, chaos, and an array of endearing characters. The movie offers an entertaining mix of laughter, surprise, sweet romance, and a generous share of life lessons that might make someone look at their love life or their housesitter, a little differently.