Shopgirl (DVD)

Another one of Touchstone's films that didn't exactly fare particularly well in theaters was Shopgirl based on Steve Martin's novella of the same name as it centers around Mirabelle (Claire Danes) and her mundane, day-to-day lifestyle consisting of working the rarely frequented glove counter at Saks Fifth Avenue and going home to no one.

Things change as she meets a couple of gentlemen who could not be anymore polar opposites if they tried. Jeremy (Jason Schwartzman) is a grubby little bachelor just looking for a girlfriend while Ray Porter (Steve Martin) is a rich fifty-something just looking for a girl on the side. Obviously for this story to continue Jeremy must be kicked to the curb and Mirabelle needs to fall in love with Ray. Equally obvious is what will happen as the film goes on, but I will say I never got all that bored.

First off, I thought the film was perfectly cast, Schwartzman is always entertaining and Claire Daines continues to get better and better since her early years as an actress. The movie isn't altogether a masterpiece, and that horrible narration from Steve Martin should have never made the final cut. It is far from necessary and it also sounds so out of place.

As for the special features you get some deleted scenes, a standard making-of featurette and a commentary by director Anand Tucker. The commentary is really the only special feature and it is far from special or entertaining, Shopgirl isn't exactly a movie needing a commentary.

Overall, this is yet another film to add to the rental cart when you find yourself searching the aisles for something you haven't seen. It is better than a lot of films you could grab, but it isn't exactly action packed or emotionally gripping, it is just... sort of... there.