The Deal (William H. Macy)

REVIEW
An adaptation of the Peter Lefcourt novel of the same title, The Deal is a whimsical delight that pokes fun at Hollywood politics with wit and effervescent allure. Its Tinseltown can be a cold, callous place (appropriate, given the recent writers' strike) filled with backstabbing producers, money-hungry studios and unethical tricks. It takes a certain kind of person to navigate the rough terrain, and disheveled Charlie Burns (William H. Macy, Wild Hogs, Boogie Nights) is fed up with the entire system. He hasn't produced a hit movie in over a decade, and today is the day he decides to take matters into his own hands by offing himself. In an ironic twist of fate, his novice nephew Lionel (Jason Ritter, Happy Endings) breezes into town that same day with a screenplay for a dramatic period piece about former British Prime Minster Benjamin Disraeli. Annoyed by the interruption, Charlie nonetheless obliges and lets his nephew in. He takes one look at the title and realizes that this film could actually be made — with some rewrites. With the hop back in his step, Charlie acts fast and snatches up new writers, a box office superstar (LL Cool J as a black action hero recently converted to Judaism) and the blessing of his rabbi (Elliott Gould). With fervent charisma he pitches the whole endeavor brilliantly and convinces the beautiful, polished studio executive Deidre Hearn (Meg Ryan) to drop $100 million on the project. But as with every film, various complications arise, including comic mishaps and a romantic affair between producer and executive. Macy and Ryan effortlessly rope us in with their irresistible charms and infectious chemistry. With this immensely gifted and entertaining cast, director Steven Schachter (The Wool Cap, Door to Door) skillfully portrays the ins and outs of the movie business, proving that it is possible to craft a meaningful movie with light-hearted flair along the way.