For an adult love story for an older generation with one of the best jazz soundtracks ever set to a movie, The Fabulous Baker Boys remains a smooth delight, topped by the inspirational casting of Michelle Pfeiffer.Its laid back sophistication is peppered with brotherly rivalry, catty one-liners from Pfeiffer and a smattering of humour, that all just takes the edge off it all taking itself too seriously. I always wondered why Beau Bridges was so called, especially when contrasted here against his real-life (as well as in the story) brother. Beau is plain, balding (running joke about using a revolutionary new hair tonic, in a spray can) and married, while a smooth and fresh-skinned - with Fabulous hair! - Jeoff, we see waking up with his latest sexual encounter at the film's start and is dashing throughout.There's a wonderful predictability in the story that whilst obvious is essential as the piano-playing brothers, who've had the same act for the last 15 years, get the sack from their cosy cocktail lounge slot. Get a girl singer, to add glamour and class is what they decide and so the essential misfits and talentless line up to audition. Of course, Pfeiffer stumbles in late, swears, but, as only in the movies sways them and gets the job.This is, of course the most sublime part of the movie; Pfeiffer, in tight shapely dress, draped over a shiny grand piano, Jeoff and Beau tinkling the ivories and the excellent Dave Grusin score ever achingly evocative and playful. But, of course, the frictions start to seep in and of course, the magic can't last.As I said, the tried & trusted music/fame/film formula works well but is never obvious and we are left with an ending as open as the beginning, which is refreshing - and for the better. Any lesser film would have a sugary pigeon-holed finale that would raise the happy level but which would dissipate immediately after.Though there is some swearing, this film doesn't need, or resort to adult material and in this day and age, this is like a breath of fresh air. Actually, the whole experience could be summed up as such, yes, a breath of beautiful, fresh air.

The late Mr Tedesco was the doyen of West Coast session musicians for many years,spending much of his life playing fairly mundane if sometimes technically demanding music for TV shows,movies,jingles,pop records etc.then leading his own jazz group in small L.A.clubs when he was off the clock.In much the same way,Jack Baker(Mr J.Bridges) endures rather than enjoys his day job as one half of a piano duo with his brother Frank(Mr Beau Bridges)and is able to satisfy the more creative side of his nature by playing jazz in his spare time. After 15 years,the act is getting stale and the brothers hire a singer (Miss M.Pfeiffer) to give it some much needed pizazz. Cue a renewed surge of creative energy from Jack and Miss Pfeiffer's outspoken opinions causing friction between the brothers. "The Fabulous Baker Boys" is perhaps a little too incessantly downbeat to succeed in the mainstream but is an accurate picture of life at the less glamorous end of the music business. The brothers' rather mundane act is immediately transformed by the addition of Miss Pfeiffer who is going places,but will they be able to keep up? There are outstanding performances by all three headliners,some wonderful music that made me want to get out my old George Shearing albums. The whole film is made with painstaking care,perfectly cast and is clearly a labour of love. If you like grown - up music,movies that take time to develop characters,consummate acting and the whole package faultlessly produced look no further.

What I liked about 'The Fabulous Baker Boys' is the subtlety with which the story is presented. Writer and director Steve Kowes takes his time in telling the story but this allows the viewer to explore the layers. It gives a detailed 'profile' of the characters. The film very much is a character study as well as a story of two musician brothers. The dialogues are well written, full of wit, humour and depth. The atmosphere of music and struggling in showbiz is well created. It brings a nostalgic gloomy feel of the 70s and 80s but it ends on a positive note. The mise en scene is marvelous. The soundtrack is a classic. I loved the piano pieces and of course the famous 'Makin Whoopy' (which is beautifully shot) sung by a sensual Michelle Pfeiffer.The Bridges brothers and Ms. Pfeiffer are fantastic. The fragile relationship between the Baker brothers and the nuances and quirks are well depicted. Jeff portrays the angry quiet one who doesn't take crap from anyone and who is deeply passionate about the music while Beau is the more 'responsible' one, cleaning up the messes, booking the shows and having other priorities before music. Enters a fiery and brutally honest (but with a sense of humour) Pfeiffer who changes their lives.The story is fictional but the title gives the impression of being a biopic which it's not. On the surface 'The Fabulous Baker Boys' may look like a story about romance and a fragile relationship between two brothers but the underlying central theme is a lot darker. There was a time when the brothers shared their passion for music but along the way and throughout the years priorities changed and a resentment grew between them. It's Suzie Diamond who points that out to Jack.'The Fabulous Baker Boys' gave me more than I expected. After seeing it, I got the feeling that this was one movie I didn't know that I wanted to watch.

In a curious case of life imitating art, casting real brothers Beau and Jeff Bridges as the lounge pianists Frank and Jack Baker is a super idea for chemical reasons. The ease and tension in the two men's connection is utterly natural and really draws you into this low-level romcom.The double act realises that, professionally, it needs a shot in the arm - the men probably understand that they need some sort of novelty to reinvigorate them as well, as the act not only pales for the diminishing customer base but also hangs heavily on them. Pfeiffer's Susie Diamond is almost too brash to be true (it's clear the writer-director Kloves had Desperately Seeking-Madonna in mind) but the combined talents of Pfeiffer and Jeff Bridges pull it off.It's odd as the film is principally remembered for a set piece in which Susie gives a sexually electric performance of Makin' Whoopee on a piano in a red dress. This is by no means the highlight of the film, although it neatly demonstrates how a little bit of circus magic, such as the Baker Boys consciously import to their act, goes a long way. That's showbiz. 5/10