Shopgirl (2005)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

Mirabelle (Claire Danes) lives a stagnant life as a Shopgirl, selling gloves and other odds and ends at a department store in Los Angeles. When she meets two drastically different men, Ray (Steve Martin), the rich divorcee, and Jeremy (Jason Schwartzman), the immature goof–she begins to see a change in her life. Now enticed by the promise of a brighter future, Mirabelle is given the opportunity to make her own choices, forge her own path, and dictate what life has in store for her. 

The theme of Shopgirl is loneliness. However, the theme that manages to be more prominently presented to viewers is “everyone sucks.” There are flaws, significant flaws present in nearly every character in Shopgirl–including Mirabelle, who is often the victim. It would be unfair to say that this is an inaccurate representation of the real world, to state that real people are void of flaws–but I found myself questioning characters such as Ray and Jeremy in a way that almost stole me away from the film. To some degree these two men are bad people; however, on the other hand, they are simply human. I found myself grappling with whether or not either of these men deserved Mirabelle, or if either of them deserved happiness at all. 

As the film progresses, that aforementioned sentiment becomes even more intriguing, as I began to question myself–at least in terms of Jeremy. Jeremy ultimately becomes the most intriguing character in Shopgirl. What is initially a self-centered, hypersexual character eventually shifts into something more relatable and genuine. What this ultimately means for the film, and for Martin’s screenplay, is that it’s far more dynamic than it initially appears. Almost as if Martin had the ability to reflect on the characters that he’d created throughout the writing process and questioned what needed to be changed in order to make this narrative more appealing. It feels like Martin does an effective job of inserting something akin to accessibility into the final act of his film as a way to right the veritable ship that is Shopgirl. Jeremy becomes the most intriguing character as a result–even if part of me is struggling to let go of the earlier iterations of that character. 

Shopgirl opens to an extended shot traversing the bustling walkways of Saks Fifth Avenue–the store at which Mirabelle works. Viewers are met with a charming and elegant score, primarily supported by the powerful and resonant notes of the piano. What this does is prepare viewers for the elegance that is Mirabelle, and, yet, she’s nearly a foil to the introductory piece of music that resonated so well with me. As the opening scene comes to a close Mirabelle is the primary focus, effectively enveloped in those aforementioned sounds–and it’s clear that there’s a lack of sophistication present in her character. The score continues to express this sentiment to viewers, allowing them to understand the flaws possessed by Mirabelle, and, just as much, the courage, charisma, and grace that she’s missing. Interestingly enough, however, Shopgirl also employs a score meant to mirror what frumpiness exists in Mirabelle. Composer Barrington Pheloung manages to develop a score that allows viewers to peer into Mirabelle’s soul, framing her throughout and presenting viewers with both a mirror image and a glaring juxtaposition of Shopgirl’s protagonist. 

The way in which Martin and Director Anand Tucker frame Shopgirl allows viewers to act as something of an omniscient party. We are aware of how Mirabelle should address every situation, and yet we are forced to sit idly by and watch her make mistakes that will alter her trajectory through life. The term “audience” almost takes on new meaning here, as I often felt helpless as I watched the love lorn Mirabelle make a fool of herself time and time again. 

Shopgirl is a romantic comedy that isn’t really funny, but tragic. It’s a character study that presents viewers with some characters that remain one note, with very little to dissect. It’s a film focused on the idea of loneliness, but presents viewers with more prominently featured themes throughout. Shopgirl simply is what it is–a film that dabbles in a bit of everything and struggles to figure out exactly what it wants to be. 

With all of that said, Shopgirl does manage to work. It’s flawed, and there are moments when I was plucked from the film and forced to question bits of its narrative. Then there were moments that felt introspective, where Martin was able to rectify some earlier issues that seemed like they might be the cancer that ultimately kills the film. However, there’s a depth present in Shopgirl that is eventually realized by its conclusion, and the astounding score by Pheloung appears to be the most effective tool in helping it to develop. 

Directed by Anand Tucker. 

Written by Steve Martin. 

Starring Steve Martin, Claire Danes, Jason Schwartzmann, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Sam Bottoms, etc. 

7/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE