Funny Face

Name: Funny Face
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Musical
Released: March 28, 1957
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 75
Cast: Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire

1957

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Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Ratings

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7.1

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Ratings

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Funny Face

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: March 28, 1957 | Approved

Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire

Summary: Bookish salesgirl, Jo Stockton (Audrey Hepburn), becomes an accidental model when fashion photographer, Dick Avery (Fred Astaire), captures her unique visage in the background of one of his fashion shoots. Captivated by her look, he and his editor persuade her to accept a modeling contract by promising her a trip to Paris. Soon, JoBookish salesgirl, Jo Stockton (Audrey Hepburn), becomes an accidental model when fashion photographer, Dick Avery (Fred Astaire), captures her unique visage in the background of one of his fashion shoots. Captivated by her look, he and his editor persuade her to accept a modeling contract by promising her a trip to Paris. Soon, Jo discovers that a barely tolerated job turns into the chance to find a little romance with her handsome photographer in the City of Lights.
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Director: Stanley Donen

Genre(s): Comedy, Romance, Musical

Rating: Approved

Runtime: 103 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Jun 7, 2022

This film exists only for its glamorous visuals, gorgeous Gershwin music, and the dancing choreographed by Astaire and Eugene Loring. Read full review

100

The Independent Geoffrey Macnab

Jun 7, 2022

Stanley Donen's 1957 musical represents a triumph of form over content. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

Jun 7, 2022

A blithe classic with Gershwin songs, Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn. [03 Oct 1997, p.10]

Keith Uhlich

Jun 26, 2012

Sensation trumps cogitation-unsurprising in a Hollywood production-which doesn't negate the enduring allure of this beautiful bauble. Read full review

Eric Henderson

Jun 7, 2022

The clothing may be couture, but Funny Face’s plot is strictly wash, rinse, repeat. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Jun 7, 2022

The film’s sophistication is compromised by the rather dumb plot, but some of the numbers—especially “Think Pink” and “Bonjour Paris”—are standouts. Read full review

Tara Brady

Jun 7, 2022

Astaire’s dancing and Audrey’s charm sweeten a bitter pill. But unearthing this vicious artefact is not unlike exhibiting a medieval chastity belt. Read full review

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User Reviews

Spangle

Apr 14, 2017

A light, cute, and funny musical romantic comedy, director Stanley Donen's Funny Face is a charmer, even if it is never excellent. With good music, strong performances, and smart comedy along the way, Funny Face may be skinnier than Audrey Hepburn when it comes to plot, but as is always theA light, cute, and funny musical romantic comedy, director Stanley Donen's Funny Face is a charmer, even if it is never excellent. With good music, strong performances, and smart comedy along the way, Funny Face may be skinnier than Audrey Hepburn when it comes to plot, but as is always the case with musicals, it makes up for it with only-in-the-movies moments as the characters dance, sing, and fall in love in the most romantic of fashions. Though perhaps criminally underwritten with the perplexing casting of Audrey Hepburn as an unconventionally attractive girl who loves philosophy and is chosen as the face of a new catalog (who the hell thinks she has a "funny face"?), the film is still a nice and breezy mix of love and song with Paris in the backdrop, as well as audacious dresses and styles.

Audrey Hepburn, even if not meeting the spirit of the role due to not having a funny face, is a perfect match for a musical. Capturing the buoyancy and frenetic energy, as well as the innocence and perfection necessary for such a romanticized genre, Hepburn was born to be in musicals. The only shortcoming is that she simply cannot sing, though she tries her hardest and makes up for it with her natural charm and comedic delivery when the moment calls for either. Additionally, her frantic dancing is both choreographed well and performed well by her, showcasing that incomparable essence that she has in all of her films. Of course, this state of being is only bolstered by the endless stream of high-end dresses she wears in this film that merely hints at the fashion icon should would become a few years later in Breakfast at Tiffany's. With how many of her films I have seen recently, it may get tedious to keep reading me gush about her, but she is impossible to look away from. No matter the film, she is always the highlight of it by simply being herself. It is astounding to watch. Her charms, wit, and acting ability elevate every film she touches and, along with it, brings an indescribable presence that makes even the most mundane material seem entirely fresh and unique.

Her magnetism is matched by that of the film itself with it defining why I do love musicals. Though Funny Face may be too thinly written and too sugary sweet to really work entirely, its terrific staging and use of the set is always exemplary. Scenes of Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn dancing with Hepburn's Jo Stockton wearing a wedding dress, only for them to step on a raft that seamlessly carries them to the other side of the creek are rapturously gorgeous. This sort of fantastical inclusion shows the beauty of the romance, but also the romanticism of the genre itself. It never strives to be real, instead opting to create an other worldly and fantastical appeal as we see an endless stream of moments that can only be defined as movie magic. This is a film unashamed to be made on a set that constantly reminds you it is not real and more akin to a dream than reality. Musicals constantly remind me of hyperreality and postmodernism for this reason as they exist in a world that exists, but the approach and use of that world is always beyond real world definitions. This embracing of the dream world and hyping up of the love between Jo and Dick Avery (Astaire) creates an undeniable magic and swell of emotion that can only truly be felt in a musical. It may be entirely cheesy and too sweet, while also having no basis in what is real, but is undeniably entertaining and wholly moving.

Yet, none of that beauty or acceptable detours into the set and the world of the film would be possible without excellent music. With lyrics by Ira Gerswhin and music by George Gerswhin, Funny Face features a rendition of the excellent "'S Wonderful" with Astaire and Hepburn on the vocals that may not be as good as Gene Kelly's take in An American in Paris, but is certainly charming nonetheless. Alongside that terrific song are songs such as "Funny Face" that really speak to the romantic side of the film. Sung by Dick to Jo on two occasions, the song speaks to how he loves her no matter how funny her face may seem to others. To him, she is beautiful because she has a funny face. A touching song that elegantly sung by Astaire on both occasions, the song is also met by excellent choreography that captures the elegance and simple beauty of the film by never becoming too over-the-top and instead favoring more intimate and down to Earth dance sequences. Songs such as "Bonjour, Paris!" may be a little too sweet and romantic about Paris for some, but plays quite well in how it captures the excitement and joy of arriving in a city of dreams such as Paris with all three characters - Dick, Jo, and fashion magazine president Maggie Prescott (Kay Thompson) - all exuberantly singing about their sheer joy at being in Paris.… Expand

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Mathrouzaud

Dec 27, 2014

Relaxing album, perhaps repetitive because jazz's jazz, always same sounds and rhythm but forced to agree with its distressing power. Fred Astaire is and'll be for long a legend

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