Rating: PG
Genre:
Musical
Release Date: 02/05/2002
SubTitles: English/French/Espanol/Por/KO/TH
Dubbed: English/French
Sound: DD3.0
Run Time: 135 Minutes
Flags: Adult Situations, Suitable for Children, Adult Language
Distributor/Studio: Columbia TriStar
Funny Lady, the follow-up to the 1968
Funny Girl which made a movie star of
Barbra Streisand, picks up the character of
Fanny Brice in the 1930s. Although she is a tremendously famous Broadway star, she has suffered from the stock market crash and needs to boost her finances. Even
Ziegfeld, who soon will pass away, is having a hard time raising money for a show. Into this scene bursts brash young
Billy Rose (
James Caan), an egotistical lyricist with unrestrained ambition. He cajoles and charms
Fanny into linking up with him, convincing him that he can produce a revue that will showcase her to their mutual advantage. Out of town, the show is an unmitigated disaster, and
Fanny uses her professional know-how to whip the show into shape. It arrives in New York a hit -- and
Fanny and
Billy arrive an item. Both of their careers blossom, but even though they marry, their relationship suffers.
Fanny still carries a torch for first husband
Nick (
Omar Sharif), and
Billy, partially because of insecurities caused by
Fanny's feelings for
Nick, has a roving eye. In California working on a lucrative radio show,
Fanny and
Nick connect again -- and
Fanny realizes that she is finally over him. Thrilled, she flies to Cleveland, where
Billy is working on a new show, ready to commit herself totally to him -- only to find him in bed with another woman. The two part, but years later they meet again to discuss a new show, and it's clear that the chemistry between them is still there.
~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide