“Desperately Seeking Susan” gets immediate and unintended brownie points for its 80s nostalgia alone. The romcom was released in early 1985, is set in New York City, and includes the obvious eccentric wardrobes and soothing sounds of the era. The plot itself is driven by a personal ad in the newspaper. If that isn’t enough, iconic pop star Madonna co-stars as a character seemingly derived off of her own demeanor.
The two female leads are the driving force of the story, and the opposite nature of the characters they are portraying seems to fit with the opposite careers of the women themselves. Rosanna Arquette, who comes from a powerhouse Hollywood family dazzled “After Hours” – one of my Top 50 Movies, and became an actress I enjoy watching. Madonna was the biggest name around the globe in 1985, though more for her music and boorish behavior. Cinematically speaking, most of us know her for the great “A League of Their Own” but here, in her big screen debut, she shows us she’s excellent in front of a camera know matter what the performance.
Roberta (Arquette) is a bored housewife who lives a quiet life with her husband, confined to a safe suburban home. We know right away that Roberta wants more out of herself, and her loveless marriage. An early scene depicts her longingly gaze across the river at the twinkling Manhattan skyline and its apparent she wishes for something exciting to happen, though she may not be the type to go out and make it happen. A series of comical mishaps leave her stuck with the identity of Susan (Madonna) – a party girl thief who’s filled with the kind of passion she desperately desires.
“Desperately Seeking Susan” has a crazy and intricate plot that feels far ahead of its time. The identity swapping of the two women, a love triangle (or more appropriately a love trapezoid) a mob heist and murder. All are included amidst the interwoven plot. Supporting roles are filled by Aidan Quinn as potential love interest, and Will Patton as a mysterious brute stalking Roberta.
“Desperately Seeking Susan” is a character driven movie at its core. We love Roberta, with Rosanna Arquette putting forth her shy demeanor to take the role to its highest level. We’re invested in her plight of boredom as she tries to tote the fine line of danger. A great early scene depicts Roberta following Susan through a hipster SoHo neighborhood, interacting with characters and a lifestyle she is completely unfamiliar with. Madonna does a great job as the titular Susan, offering great support to Arquette, and perfect comedy where needed. “Susan! My God, we all thought you were dead.” A friend exclaims after seeing her for the first time in a while. “No.” She calmly replies. “I was just in New Jersey.”
While modest at 104 minutes, the thirds act is quite sluggish, and a trimming of 10 minutes or so would have been sublime. “Desperately Seeking Susan” is a great trip down memory lane for those of us who adore all things 80s. It’s a fun movie that offers some uniqueness with its scope, telling a simple but fulfilling story.
