Is Barbra Streisand’s 1996 romantic comedy a charming fable or a vanity-fueled obsession?
In short: Barbra Streisand directed, produced, and starred in this 1996 romantic comedy-drama, a film that polarized critics. While some praised its wit and verbal dexterity, others dismissed it as an exercise in narcissism. Behind the scenes, the production was famously troubled, marked by firing cast members and a director seeking total control.
The plot centers on Rose Morgan, a middle-aged literature professor, and Gregory Larkin, a math professor who seeks a platonic marriage based on common goals rather than physical intimacy. Their unconventional arrangement eventually shifts toward emotional and physical attraction, leading to a crisis when Rose undergoes a dramatic makeover. The film explores themes of self-perception and the desire for validation, though critics like Todd McCarthy and Edward Guthmann argued that the narrative serves primarily as a vehicle for Streisand to explore her own career-long psychodrama regarding beauty and worthiness.
The production was notoriously difficult. Streisand took the helm after other directors declined, and the set saw significant turnover, including the firing of Dudley Moore, who was later diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy. Despite the chaos, the film grossed $82 million globally, though its domestic performance was $41 million. The soundtrack, featuring the duet "I Finally Found Someone" by Streisand and Bryan Adams, added to the film's commercial footprint, even as reviewers remained split on the final product.
Critical reception was sharply divided. Roger Ebert lauded the film for its intelligent dialogue and departure from standard romantic tropes, comparing it to a George Bernard Shaw play. Conversely, Janet Maslin and other critics felt the film suffered from "good will hubris," noting that the transition from "ugly duckling" to "gloating swan" felt forced. Lauren Bacall, however, received near-universal acclaim for her role as Rose's mother, earning a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance, providing a sharp, sardonic counterpoint to the film's more sentimental impulses.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Mirror Has Two Faces
- Also: Wikidata — The Mirror Has Two Faces · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — The Mirror Has Two Faces: Music From the Motion Picture · CC0
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