A comedy about the Hollywood system and the vapid, pretentious participants who all have dreams to “make it”. In other words, its about three typical LA residents. The film centers around struggling actor, Joe (Matthew Modine), his girlfriend, Mary (Catherine Keener) and fellow struggling actor, Bob (Maxwell Caulfield). For those who belong to the “I would be happier never seeing another Matthew Modine film” club “The Real Blonde” is not going to cause anybody to withdraw their membership. Once again he is overshadowed by his fellow actors, especially Catherine Keener.
Keener plays a successful make-up artist. Combine her deep anger towards men along with Modine’s lack of acting talent and you have most of the conflict that propells the film. While the impass which their relationship meets is never
examined with any depth, a one-sided chemistry develops between the two. It is quite fathomable to believe that a character such as Modine’s would attach himself to Keener’s, but the reverse is ridiculous.
The tired side story involving Modine’s friend, Bob, and his search for “a real blonde” detracts from the film’s progression. This sidetracks the actual story and makes the central characters less important.
If you really must see a film that caputures the true lifestyle of filmmakers, then you must rent DiCillo’s earlier film, “Living in Oblivion.” This film encompasses every detail of Hollywood’s empty lifestyle. “The Real Blonde” is an adequate attempt, but sorry, it’s just not groundbreaking.
