She's Funny That Way (film)

Broadway director Arnold Albertson—under the alias "Derek"—hires "Glo Stick", a call girl whose real name is Izzy Finklestein, despite Arnold being married with two children. Izzy dreams of becoming an actress, and "Derek" offers her $30,000 to quit being a call girl and pursue her true goal. She is not the first escort he has done this for. Lead actor Seth Gilbert sees Arnold kissing Izzy as she leaves his hotel room.

Arnold's wife Delta Simmons is the star of his new play A Grecian Evening. Izzy, keeping her promise to "Derek", shows up to audition for a part in the play as a call girl, unaware that Derek/Arnold is the director. Impressed, playwright Joshua Fleet becomes attracted to Izzy and invites her out to dinner, despite the fact that he is dating Jane Claremont, who happens to be Izzy's therapist. Meanwhile, Judge Pendergast is another client of Izzy's, and also a patient of Jane. He is obsessed with Izzy, and hires private investigator Harold Fleet, who happens to be Joshua's father, to follow her.

After the auditions, everyone ends up at the same Italian restaurant. Harold sees Izzy with his son Joshua. Jane arrives with her client Judge Pendergast—who both see Joshua with Izzy. Jane punches Joshua in the face and storms out the restaurant, quickly pursued by Judge Pendergast. Izzy sees Arnold and tries to escape out of the bathroom window, but Delta catches her and brings her back into the restaurant. Izzy's cover is almost blown when Seth arrives with a co-worker of Izzy's.

Although Arnold is initially unsure, Izzy is eventually given the role. While shopping, Delta discovers that Arnold has been hiring escorts when Margie, another former escort Arnold helped, thanks him profusely and indiscreetly. Joshua learns about Izzy when Judge Pendergast confronts the two of them while they are on a date; she runs off before he can talk to her. Arnold invites Izzy back to his hotel room to talk. Delta turns to Seth, who has long professed his love for her, for comfort, but finds another call girl hiding in his bathroom. She then storms into Arnold's room, only to find Izzy hiding in his bathroom.

Everyone shows up to the first table read the next day, despite the tension. Delta makes a point of kissing Seth passionately while rehearsing. Izzy's father shows up looking for the men who paid his daughter for sex. Jane shows up to cause a scene and identifies Judge Pendergast, Arnold, and Joshua as Izzy's clients. During the commotion, Seth and Jane catch each other's eye.

The play opens to great acclaim. In an interview some time later, Izzy says that it closed in a week because wives from Long Island are not interested in seeing a play about call girls. Nevertheless, she caught the attention of a man from Hollywood, and has achieved success as a film actress since. She and Joshua broke up; she is now dating Quentin Tarantino. Seth and Jane are still dating. Judge Pendergast was arrested for solicitation. His wife is now dating Harold Fleet. Arnold now works for a charity giving large sums of money to women's causes.

{{Cast listing|

• Owen Wilson as Arnold Albertson
• Imogen Poots as Isabella "Izzy" Patterson
• Kathryn Hahn as Delta Simmons
• Will Forte as Joshua Fleet
• Rhys Ifans as Seth Gilbert
• Jennifer Aniston as Jane Claremont
• Austin Pendleton as Judge Pendergast
• George Morfogen as Harold Fleet
• Cybill Shepherd as Nettie Patterson
• Richard Lewis as Al Patterson
• Sydney Lucas as Josie Albertson
• Debi Mazar as Vickie, a madam and former prostitute Arnold helped.
• Illeana Douglas as Judy
• Jennifer Esposito as Margie, a former prostitute Arnold helped.
• Tovah Feldshuh as Mrs. Miriam Pendergast
• Joanna Lumley as Vivian Claremont
• John Robinson as Andre
• Ahna O'Reilly as Elizabeth, a former prostitute Arnold helped.
• Lucy Punch as Kandi
• Poppy Delevingne as Macy's Greeter
• John Tormey as Hot Dog Vendor

}}

• Tatum O'Neal{{cite web|url=http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/peter-bogdanovich-casts-paper-moon-star-tatum-oneal-showbiz-comedy-exclusive-105776 |title=Tatum O'Neal Reteams With 'Paper Moon' Director Peter Bogdanovich for Showbiz Comedy (Exclusive) |website=TheWrap |date=July 24, 2013 |access-date=2014-06-03}}
• Jake Hoffman
• Graydon Carter{{Cite magazine |department=Film |language=en-US |magazine=Slant Magazine |accessdate=2024-07-18 |date=2015-08-16 |first=Carson |last=Lund |title=Review: She's Funny That Way |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/shes-funny-that-way/}}
• Quentin Tarantino{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/comedy/article/shes-funny-that-way-bogdanovichs-screwball-dud-of-a-comeback-pdhchpfhrd2|title=She's Funny That Way: Bogdanovich's screwball dud of a comeback|work=The Times|last1=Muir|first1=Kate}}
• Michael Shannon{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/interview-afternoon-delight-star-kathryn-hahn-talks-motherhood-unhinged-silver-lake-book-clubs-peter-bogdanovichs-squirrel-to-the-nuts-20130827 |title=Interview: 'Afternoon Delight' Star Kathryn Hahn Talks Motherhood, Unhinged Silver Lake Book Clubs & Peter Bogdanovich's 'Squirrel To The Nuts' |website=IndieWire |date=August 27, 2013 |access-date=2014-06-03}}

She's Funny That Way originated in the mid-1990s when People reported the film would be going into pre-production, with the title Squirrels to the Nuts and featuring Tatum O'Neal in the leading role. Peter Bogdanovich, who had worked with O'Neal on Paper Moon (1973) and Nickelodeon (1976), was quoted as saying "This movie is my gift to her." The script was co-written with his ex-wife Louise Stratten around 1999 and 2000. Bogdanovich and Stratten, who were in financial distress at the time trying to buy back They All Laughed (1981), decided to write a comedy to uplift their spirits. While writing the script, Bogdanovich was inspired by an incident in Singapore during the time he was filming Saint Jack in 1978, where he was able to talk to many prostitutes after hiring them for his film. He would give them more money than their salary for them to leave the prostitution business. Due to many people misinterpreting it as a children's film, Bogdanovich changed the title from Squirrels to the Nuts to She's Funny That Way. ("Squirrels to the Nuts" is a line used frequently in the film, lifted from the 1946 film Cluny Brown.) Bogdanovich originally wrote the role of Arnold Albertson for John Ritter, but due to his death, he shelved the project. Bogdanovich later became friends with Owen Wilson, introduced to him by Wes Anderson, and he decided to change aspects of the character of Albertson: all of the physical gags intended for Ritter were changed to verbal jokes to suit Wilson. In 2010, Bogdanovich's protégés—Anderson and Noah Baumbach—offered their backing to get the film made, agreeing to serve as executive producers.{{cite news|last=Jagernauth|first=Kevin|title=Wes Anderson & Noah Baumbach To Produce New Film By Peter Bogdanovich 'Squirrel To The Nuts'|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/wes_anderson_noah_baumbach_to_produce_new_film_by_peter_bogdanovich_squirre|access-date=19 August 2015|website=IndieWire|date=29 October 2010}}

When the script was originally written, Bogdanovich envisioned John Ritter, Cybill Shepherd and co-writer Louise Stratten in the lead roles.{{cite web|url=http://creativescreenwriting.com/shes-funny-that-way-peter-bogdanovich/|title=She's Funny That Way: Peter Bogdanovich|last=Grigg-Spall|first=Holly|date=August 20, 2015|publisher=Creative Screenwriting|access-date=August 20, 2015}} In 2012, when the film was officially announced, Wilson, Brie Larson, and Olivia Wilde were signed on in lead roles. Larson was to play the call girl-turned-ingenue actress and Wilde would play the role of her therapist. Jason Schwartzman was also rumored to be in negotiations to play Wilde's playwright boyfriend. Due to production delays, Wilson is the only actor to remain with the project.{{cite news|last=Jagernauth|first=Kevin|title=Owen Wilson, Olivia Wilde & Brie Larson To Star In Peter Bogdanovich's 'Squirrel To The Nuts' Produced By Wes Anderson & Noah Baumbach|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/owen-wilson-olivia-wilde-brie-larson-to-star-in-peter-bogdanovichs-squirrel-to-the-nuts-produced-by-wes-anderson-noah-baumbach-20120524|access-date=19 August 2015|website=IndieWire|date=24 May 2012}} In February 2013, it was announced that Jennifer Aniston would replace Wilde in the role of the therapist, the same time Kathryn Hahn, Cybill Shepherd, and Eugene Levy were announced as cast members.{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Edward|title=Jennifer Aniston, Eugene Levy & Kathryn Hahn Join Peter Bogdanovich's 'She's Funny That Way' With Owen Wilson|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/jennifer-aniston-joins-peter-bogdanovichs-shes-funny-that-way-with-owen-wilson-20130210|access-date=19 August 2015|website=IndieWire|date=10 February 2013|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222230222/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/jennifer-aniston-joins-peter-bogdanovichs-shes-funny-that-way-with-owen-wilson-20130210|url-status=dead}} Aniston was initially offered the part of Delta Simmons, Arnold Albertson's wife, but she favored the role of the therapist, in which she was cast. Despite the commencement of filming on July 11, 2013, Imogen Poots{{cite news|last=Sneider|first=Jeff|title=Imogen Poots Replaces Brie Larson as Star of Wes Anderson-Produced Movie (Exclusive)|url=http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/imogen-poots-replaces-brie-larson-star-wes-anderson-production-105126/|access-date=19 August 2015|website=TheWrap|date=22 July 2013}} and Richard Lewis{{cite news|last=Ford|first=Rebecca|title=Richard Lewis Joins 'Squirrels to the Nuts'|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/richard-lewis-joins-squirrels-nuts-590237|access-date=19 August 2015|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=22 July 2013}} were announced for roles of the ingenue and her father on July 22, with Will Forte taking the role of a playwright two days later.{{cite news|last=Kit|first=Borys|title=Will Forte Joins Peter Bogdanovich's 'Squirrels to the Nuts' (Exclusive)|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/will-forte-joins-peter-bogdanovichs-592596|access-date=19 August 2015|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=24 July 2013}} The same week, the casting of Joanna Lumley, Debi Mazar, Rhys Ifans,{{cite news|last=Kit|first=Borys|title=Rhys Ifans, Lucy Punch Board Peter Bogdanovich's 'Squirrels to the Nuts' (Exclusive)|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rhys-ifans-lucy-punch-board-593349|access-date=19 August 2015|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=25 July 2013}} Lucy Punch, Ahna O'Reilly, and Jake Hoffman was set.

Principal photography lasted 29 days, commencing on July 11, 2013, in New York City.{{cite web|title='Squirrels to the Nuts', starring Jennifer Aniston, begins filming in NYC|url=https://www.onlocationvacations.com/2013/07/11/squirrels-to-the-nuts-starring-jennifer-aniston-begins-filming-in-nyc/|access-date=14 July 2013|website=On Location Vacations|date=11 July 2013}} Bogdanovich's original version, titled Squirrels to the Nuts lasted 113 minutes. However, he was compelled to change the film (along with its title) in order to get a release, which saw the eventual 94 minute version released to theaters that saw a modified opening and ending, deletions of music (such as the stylings of Frank Sinatra and Tom Petty), and a framing device of an interview that cuts in and out through the film.

On July 15, 2014, Edward Shearmur was hired to score the music for the film, replacing Stephen Endelman, who had already recorded music for the film by the time of the announcement.{{cite news|title=Edward Shearmur to Score Peter Bogdanovich's 'Squirrels to the Nuts'|url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2014/07/15/edward-shearmur-to-score-peter-bogdanovichs-squirrels-to-the-nuts/|access-date=19 July 2014|website=Film Music Reporter|date=15 July 2014}}{{cite news|title=Stephen Endelman Scoring Peter Bogdanovich's 'Squirrels to the Nuts'|url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2014/04/30/stephen-endelman-scoring-peter-bogdanovichs-squirrels-to-the-nuts/|access-date=19 August 2015|website=Film Music Reporter|date=30 April 2014}}

;Soundtrack{{Cite web |title=Soundtracks |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1767372/soundtrack/ |access-date= |website=www.imdb.com}}:

• "Cheek to Cheek", written by Irving Berlin, performed by Fred Astaire
• "Bill Bailey", arranged by Zoot Sims (as John H. Sims), performed by Zoot Sims
• "Yankee Doodle", written by Richard Shuckburgh (uncredited), arranged by Ben Ashford
• "Coco Beach", written and performed by David N. Wilson
• "Lovers and Friends", performed by Frank & Friends
• "Gabrielle", written by Charlotte Politte, performed by Charlotte Politte Trio
• "Pass the Sauce", written by Marty Wereski (as Martin Wereski), performed by The JL Pasta Band
• "Through the Years", written and performed by Anthony T. Hiebert
• "Steppin' Out With My Baby", written by Irving Berlin, performed by Fred Astaire

She's Funny That Way premiered at the 71st Venice International Film Festival on August 29, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/71st-festival/line-up/off-sel/out-of-competition/funny-that-way.html|title=71st Venice International Film Festival – She's Funny That Way|publisher=Venice Biennale|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827192642/http://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/71st-festival/line-up/off-sel/out-of-competition/funny-that-way.html|archive-date=August 27, 2014}} On September 12, it was bought by Clarius Entertainment at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/toronto-jennifer-anistons-shes-funny-that-way-nears-4-million-deal-with-clarius-entertainment-exclusive-1201305362/|title=Toronto: Jennifer Aniston's 'She's Funny That Way' Nears $4 Million Deal With Clarius Entertainment (Exclusive)|last=Setoodeh|first=Ramin|work=Variety|date=September 14, 2014}} A screening at the Tokyo International Film Festival was scheduled for late October.{{cite web|url=http://2014.tiff-jp.net/en/lineup/works.php?id=152|title=27th Tokyo International Film Festival – She's Funny That Way|publisher=Tokyo International Film Festival}} In January 2015, the film was screened to the Palm Springs International Film Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.thewrap.com/palm-springs-film-festival-to-showcase-new-james-franco-jennifer-aniston-films/|title=New James Franco, Jennifer Aniston Films to Be Showcased at Palm Springs Film Festival|website=TheWrap|date=December 18, 2014}}

The film was originally scheduled for a May 1, 2015, release in theaters nationwide, but Clarius Entertainment pulled the film from the schedule.{{cite web|url=http://www.thewrap.com/jennifer-aniston-owen-wilson-comedy-shes-funny-that-way-shifts-release-date/|title=Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson Comedy 'She's Funny That Way' Shifts Release Date|website=TheWrap|date=April 21, 2015}} However, on June 2, 2015, Lionsgate Premiere acquired the film after Clarius Entertainment dropped the film for unknown reasons.{{cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/owen-wilson-jennifer-aniston-comedy-799333|title=Owen Wilson-Jennifer Aniston Comedy 'She's Funny That Way' Nabbed by Lionsgate Premiere (Exclusive)|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 2, 2015|access-date=July 6, 2020}} The film was released in the United States on August 21, 2015, in select theaters and through video on demand.{{cite web|last=Steinberg|first=Don|url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/in-shes-funny-that-way-a-famous-filmmaker-harks-back-1439393062|title=In 'She's Funny That Way,' a Famous Filmmaker Harks Back|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=August 12, 2015|access-date=July 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813235427/http://www.wsj.com/articles/in-shes-funny-that-way-a-famous-filmmaker-harks-back-1439393062|archive-date=August 13, 2015}}

In 2020, a copy of Bogdanovich's original cut of the film, still titled Squirrels to the Nuts, was found on eBay by James Kenney, an English lecturer at City University of New York.{{Cite web|url=https://tremblesighwonder.com/2022/01/20/you-saved-one-of-my-best-pictures-my-adventures-with-peter-bogdanovichs-lost-last-picture-show/|title = "You Saved One of My Best Pictures": My Adventures with Peter Bogdanovich and his Lost, Last Picture Show|date = January 20, 2022|first=James|last=Kenney|accessdate=May 4, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Kenigsberg |first=Ben |date=2022-03-25 |title=Peter Bogdanovich Had a Vision for This Film. Now It's Finally Being Seen. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/25/movies/peter-bogdanovich-squirrels-to-the-nuts.html |access-date=2023-09-24 |issn=0362-4331}} In the wake of Bogdanovich's death in January 2022, the cut was shown at New York's Museum of Modern Art beginning on March 28, 2022.{{cite news|last=Kenigsberg|first=Ben|date=March 25, 2022|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/25/movies/peter-bogdanovich-squirrels-to-the-nuts.html|title=Peter Bogdanovich Had a Vision for This Film. Now It's Finally Being Seen.|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 28, 2022}} A 123-minute Director's Cut of Squirrels to the Nuts restored by Bogdanovich prior to his death was presented by American Cinematheque at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on February 8, 2025, prior to VOD release.{{cite news |last=Olsen |first=Mark |date=2025-02-07 |title=Peter Bodgdanovich's 'Squirrels to the Nuts,' restored |language=en-US |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/newsletter/2025-02-07/la-et-peter-bogdanovich-squirrels-to-the-nuts-dinner-in-america-altered-states-kansas-city-philadelphia-indie-focus |access-date=February 7, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.americancinematheque.com/now-showing/peter-bogdanovichs-squirrels-to-the-nuts-directors-cut-2-8-25/|title=Peter Bogdanovich's SQUIRRELS TO THE NUTS — Director's Cut - American Cinematheque|website=American Cinematheque|access-date=February 7, 2025}}

She's Funny That Way received mixed reviews from critics.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 45% based on 100 reviews, with an average rating of 5.3/10. The website’s critical consensus reads: "She's Funny That Way is an affectionate, talent-filled throwback to screwball comedies of old—which makes it even more frustrating that the laughs are disappointingly few and far between."{{cite web |title=She's Funny That Way (2014) |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shes_funny_that_way/ |access-date=May 6, 2020 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}} On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews."{{cite web |title=She's Funny That Way Reviews |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/shes-funny-that-way |access-date=6 May 2020 |website=Metacritic}}

Stephen Holden of The New York Times described the film as offering “tomfoolery amid the floodlights,” and praised its nods to classic stage farce and backstage comedy traditions. He acknowledged its humor and charm despite its old-fashioned premise.{{Cite news |last=Catsoulis |first=Jeannette |date=2015-08-20 |title=Review: ‘She’s Funny That Way’ Offers Tomfoolery Amid the Floodlights |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/21/movies/review-shes-funny-that-way-offers-tomfoolery-amid-the-floodlights.html |access-date=2025-04-17 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Cath Clarke of The Guardian called the film "fluffy fun" and appreciated its homage to screwball comedies, noting that while it lacked originality, it delivered lighthearted entertainment anchored by a strong ensemble cast.{{Cite news |last=Kermode |first=Mark |last2=critic |first2=Observer film |date=2015-06-28 |title=She’s Funny That Way review – rom but no com |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/28/shes-funny-that-way-review |access-date=2025-04-17 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}} NPR similarly highlighted the film’s “old-school premise” and credited it for capturing the spirit of classic romantic comedies, especially in tone and structure.{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Ella |date=2015-08-20 |title='She's Funny That Way': Old-School Comedy With An Old-School Premise |url=https://www.npr.org/2015/08/20/432874429/shes-funny-that-way-old-school-comedy-with-an-old-school-premise |access-date=2025-04-17 |work=NPR |language=en}}

Glenn Kenny of RogerEbert.com gave the film 2.5 out of 4 stars, noting that while the movie strives to channel the energy of vintage screwball comedies, it suffers from tonal inconsistencies and a lack of sustained momentum. He praised the performances but found the direction uneven.{{Cite web |title=She’s Funny That Way movie review (2015) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/shes-funny-that-way-2015 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.rogerebert.com |language=en-US}} The Hollywood Reporter acknowledged the film’s sincerity in reviving the screwball genre and highlighted Peter Bogdanovich’s intent. However, it concluded that the film fell short in execution, failing to deliver the rapid-fire wit and timing characteristic of its inspirations.{{Cite web |last=Rooney |first=David |date=2014-08-29 |title=‘She’s Funny That Way’: Venice Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/shes-funny-way-venice-review-729103/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

Common Sense Media noted that although the film includes an interesting premise, talented cast and polished visuals, it ultimately fails to resonate, describing the humor as flat and the characters as underdeveloped.{{Cite web |last=Movie & TV reviews for parents |title=She's Funny That Way Movie Review {{!}} Common Sense Media |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/shes-funny-that-way |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.commonsensemedia.org |language=en}}

For her performance in the film, Jennifer Aniston received a nomination for Best Actress – International at the 38th Jupiter Awards in 2016.{{cite web|url=https://etcanada.com/news/855391/jennifer-aniston-honours-peter-bogdanovich-with-tribute/|title=Jennifer Aniston Honours Peter Bogdanovich With Tribute|access-date=26 Aug 2023}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb title}}
• {{Mojo title}}
• {{Metacritic film}}
• {{Rotten Tomatoes}}

{{Peter Bogdanovich}}

Category:2014 films

Category:2014 comedy films

Category:2014 independent films

Category:2010s American films

Category:2010s English-language films

Category:2010s German films

Category:2010s screwball comedy films

Category:American independent films

Category:American screwball comedy films

Category:English-language German films

Category:Films about actors

Category:Films about adultery in the United States

Category:Films about playwrights

Category:Films about prostitution in the United States

Category:Films directed by Peter Bogdanovich

Category:Films with screenplays by Peter Bogdanovich

Category:Films scored by Edward Shearmur

Category:Films set in New York City

Category:Films shot in New York City

Category:German comedy films

Category:German independent films

Category:English-language independent films

Category:English-language comedy films