I.Q.

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: thematic elements, innuendo

Rated:

I'd seen this film once a long time ago but thought it was time for a refresher course on the days when Meg Ryan actually combed her hair. I.Q. is one of those movies like the cherry on top of a bowl of whipped cream. You can't help but love it despite the fluff. Strip away all of the mechanical and mathematical equations written into the script and the story is simple but charming. Edward Walters (Tim Robbins) is an auto mechanic with a fascination for comets. One day, a beautiful blonde mathematical genius (Meg Ryan) walks into his life... or rather rolls. Her stuffy but brilliant British fiancée's automobile is hiccupping, and they're forced to make a crash landing at the body shop.

As the sparks fly literally between the two opposing forces of nature, Ed determines that he is going to marry this girl, Catherine Boyd, never realizing that she's the niece of the most brilliant mind of the twentieth century -- Albert Einstein (Walter Matthau). Catherine's interesting but unemotional husband-to-be isn't exactly what Albert had in mind for his only living relation. And when Ed unknowingly walks into their lives, instantly a plan to get the two together is formed. A daring, evasive, brilliant and utterly absurd plan that could only come from the most incredible minds that ever were. Woven throughout this little scheme is a questioning of grand design -- is there some order in the universe, or is everything by chance? Are "accidents" meant to happen, or do they get a little helping nudge from the powers above?

Ed is going to play a high-stakes game to win Catherine's heart -- being blow her I.Q., he wouldn't stand a chance unless Albert and his friends stepped in to lend a hand. Together, they come up with an entirely new Ed; this one is a brilliant mathematical genius rather than a clever auto mechanic. The only problem is Catherine herself... sooner or later, she's going to find the glitch in the MC squared equation. And when she does, the universal balance of love and trust between them is going to go haywire. Take a complicated plan like this, add numerous quips and a few unanswered questions of grandeur, and you have I.Q., which has a high brain count and plenty of sparks... if lacking in a few areas. The plot line is at times tedious to follow, interrupted by little glimpses into the genius of Einstein and his companions that do provide laughs but also at times confusion.

While most of the story is in fact fiction, the film does do a nice job of blending truth and storytelling to make a nice little package well-wrapped in pretty paper. Meg Ryan is perfect for her role as a somewhat eccentric, high-energy college student and Tim Robbins plays surprisingly well off her and the two look good on screen together. Walter Matthau is as at first a little hard to believe, but over time the viewer completely accepts him as Albert Einstein and consents to forget his crotchety roles. Stephen Fry also has a hilarious role as Meg's stuffy British fiancé. The camera angles, background music, and witty quips do well blended alongside the more serious aspect of this comedy about life, love, and everything in-between.

Pulling in with a PG rating, this film is actually much cleaner than most of its gender, even with a few scratches in the paint. There are a few innuendos that may or may not go over most viewers' heads, as well as a spattering of light profanity. (Nothing overly noticeable or offensive.) At one point Catherine becomes enraged with Ed and they engage in a humorous tug-of-war that is in reality a fight between them but from a distance to those watching from the car, it looks like a lovers' tumble in the grass. One brief mention is made of "making love." Altogether, I.Q. is a film that will appeal to a lot of people. It may not have an endearing spot on every video shelf, but is a fun and acceptable way to spend a few hours. There is a lot to like about the movie and its performances if you can suspend reality long enough to accept some of its subtle absurdities.