Fashion photographer Dick Avery, played by Fred Astaire, is looking for the next big face in fashion. He, along with his team, invade a Greenwich Village bookstore and finds it, in the form of Audrey Hepburn.
As usual, Hepburn simply shines here. Not usually known for singing and dancing, she's just charming enough to pull it off effortlessly. Fred Astaire could be her father, but who cares? What with the gorgeous cinematography, the sparkling score of George Gershwin, sensational art and costume direction, the divine fashions of the fabulous 50's, and the fantastic scenery of New York City and Paris, it's impossible not to be completely won over by this movie.
"Funny Face" is a rare film indeed- a musical that manages to succeed as parody of the fashion industry as well as quality musical entertainment. The songs and choreography are simply top notch. Many notable scenes stand out- especially Audrey's wild and abandoned beatnik dance scene in a smoky Paris cafe and her Parisian photo sequence. "Funny Face" is beautifully photographed and is oozing with style- the Hubert de Givenchy Paris fashions alone are worth watching. Who can ever forget that classicly iconic image of our Audrey, descending that vast staircase in a breathtakingly red Givenchy gown?
"Funny Face" threatens at times to be a bit too sugary, but Audrey Hepburn completely and effortlessly wins us over anyway. Fred Astaire is his usual suave self, and Kay Thompson is deliciously bitchy as Maggie Presscott, head of "Quality" magazine. A rollicking good time and one of the best musicals to come out of Paramount Studios in the 50's.
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