Movie · 1987 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 47m · PG · English
Curator score: 6.8/10 (50.4K ratings)
Roxanne dreamed of a handsome, intelligent, romantic man. C.D. Bales is two out of three—but looks aren't everything.
Overview
In this modern take on Edmond Rostand's classic play "Cyrano de Bergerac," C. D. Bales is the witty, intelligent, and brave fire chief of a small Pacific Northwest town who, due to the size of his enormous nose, declines to pursue the girl of his dreams, lovely Roxanne Kowalski. Instead, when his shy underling Chris McConnell becomes smitten with Roxanne, C.D. feeds the handsome young man the words of love to win her heart.
Ratings
Curator score: 6.8/10
IMDb: 6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Metacritic: 73
TMDB: 6.4/10
Director
Fred Schepisi
Production
L.A. Films, Columbia Pictures, IndieProd Company Productions
Cast
Steve Martin, Daryl Hannah, Rick Rossovich, Shelley Duvall, John Kapelos, Fred Willard, Max Alexander, Michael J. Pollard, Steve Mittleman, Damon Wayans, Matt Lattanzi, Shandra Beri, Blanche Rubin, Jane Campbell, Jean Sincere, Claire Caplan, Thom Curley, Ritch Shydner, Kevin Nealon, Brian George
Curator Review
Verdict
A warm, clever romantic comedy that pairs Steve Martin’s physical comedy with a sincere Cyrano premise. It’s a little predictable and occasionally broad, but the charm, wordplay, and heartfelt lead performance make it easy to recommend.
Best for
fans of witty romantic comedies
viewers who like earnest 1980s studio comedies
people who enjoy modernized classic stories
audiences who appreciate physical comedy and wordplay
Skip if
you want a highly original plot
you dislike broad 80s comedy beats
you prefer romance without deception or misunderstandings
you need constant momentum and sharp modern pacing
Overview
Roxanne is the kind of studio comedy that feels disarmingly simple until you notice how carefully it’s built. The Cyrano setup gives it a sturdy romantic engine, and Steve Martin turns what could have been a gimmick into something genuinely tender, funny, and a little melancholy. The movie’s best stretches balance verbal wit with physical comedy in a way that still feels nimble.
Worth noting
It does lean on some familiar rom-com machinery, and a few early jokes land with more force than elegance. But once it settles into the emotional triangle, the film becomes warmer and more charming than its premise suggests. Fred Schepisi keeps the tone light without losing the sweetness at the center.
Bottom line
What lingers is the sense that the movie believes intelligence and vulnerability are sexy, and that comedy works best when it comes from character. It’s not a reinvention of the genre, but it is a very good version of one: funny, sincere, and easy to like.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Sean Fennessey (3.5★) · 315 likes
Just a really good movie. Sometimes you just want a good movie.
BenDavid Grabinski (5★) · 244 likes
Charlie: Ten more seconds and I'm leaving! Ten-
Roxanne: What did you say?
Charlie: I said ten more seconds and I'm leaving.
Roxanne: Oh.
Charlie: What did you think I said?
Roxanne: I thought you said earn more sessions by sleeving.
Charlie: What does that mean?
Roxanne: I don't know. That's why I came out.
russman (3.5★) · 195 likes
I counted 17 red lights during the film
Justin LaLiberty (3★) · 168 likes
there’s an extended sequence in this where Steve Martin rapid fires twenty “big nose” insults in a crowded bar and it’s among the best comedy work of the 80s - the rest of it is fine