Product Description

JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT PLAYS THE LEGENDARY AUDREY HEPBURN IN THIS CAPTIVATING BIO-PIC CHRONICLING THE TRIUMPHS AND TRAGEDIES OF THE BELOVED HOLLYWOOD STARLET'S LIFE.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20739 in DVD
• Brand: SONY PICTURES HOME ENT
• Released on: 2000-07-11
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, German
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 133 minutes

Amazon.com
Jennifer Love Hewitt is a beautiful and talented actress with style and charm. She is not, however, Audrey Hepburn, and try as she might, she is unable to embody the gamine actress in the made-for-television biopic The Audrey Hepburn Story.

Making the Hepburn bio was a gusty move for Hewitt, and one has to admire her chutzpah. But the role, if it was to be dared, would have been better off in the hands of an unknown. As it is, it's difficult to shake the image of Hewitt in her television and teen roles, and while she mastered the wide-eyed look, her eyes are not doelike enough and her accent borders on ludicrous. If you can move past this, though, the story of Hepburn's life--even given her do-gooder qualities--is interesting fodder for exploration, although at times the script feels as if it's trying to create tension where there is little. Desertion by her father, a brief stint in the resistance in wartime Netherlands, and affairs with fellow actors create drama, but not enough to enliven the film. Part of the problem is the entire film is told from flashback from the set of Breakfast at Tiffany's, so much of Hepburn's great work is left untouched.

Yet, despite the flaws, fans will appreciate the paean to Hepburn, as we glimpse into the difficulties of her early career and her budding stardom. The two girls who play the childhood Hepburn excel in their roles, and the strong supporting cast--including Frances Fisher as her mother and Eric McCormack as Mel Ferrer--brighten the film, which ultimately brings a touch of Hepburn's elegance to our own humdrum lives. --Jenny Brown

Customer Reviews

Better Than Expected Portrayal
Frankly, I came to this film expecting to find fault and to be a detractor. After all, how could someone have the temerity to attempt to portray Audrey Hepburn, one of the ethereal luminaries of the screen. I fell in love with Audrey Hepburn when I was 12 years old and saw her in Sabrina in 1954; I remained in love with her for the rest of her life. Consequently, I doubted that any mere mortal could do justice to this role, especially Jennifer Love Hewitt, who had not be known for major dramatic performances. However, I must concede that I was pleasantly surprised.

The performance was quite convincing and believable. Hewitt had Audrey Hepburn's voice and a number of her mannerisms down quite well, and also conveyed some of the fragility of her personality. On balance, I found the film quite satisfying and enjoyable.

I wish it was better...
I was not a huge Jennifer Love Hewitt fan before I saw this film and my opinion stays the same after seeing it. I don't think Hewitt looks anything like Audrey, except for having brown hair and brown eyes. Plus her attempt at an accent was completely over-the-top.

But my fault with this film is not with Jennifer Love Hewitt; she should have never been cast in the role of Audrey Hepburn in the first place. Which brings me to the true problem with this film - the production. The story is not entirely historically accurate to Audrey's life: portions are missing, costuming is wrong, and the movie ends abruptly with Breakfast at Tiffany's which was debatedly the pinnacle of Audrey's film work but certainly not the end of her story. There are so many valuble resources on Audrey's life that there is no reason for it to not be correct; this is just the result of shoddy, underbudgeted, made-for-TV filmmaking. I believe you shouldn't do anything halfway and that is exactly what has been done here.

If she saw this film, I think Audrey would graciously thank the producers for considering to do a movie about her life, while secretly wondering why half of her life is absent. These are my feelings as well. I look towards the day when we can see a well-budgeted, major motion picture about Audrey Hepburn's life. Until then, The Audrey Hepburn Story will have to do - but I think I'll read a biography instead.

Love Ain't No Hepburn!
Jennifer Love Hewitt is clearly not Audrey Hepburn, she doesn't even come close, but, I will concede that she did a great job at producing and starring in this made-for-TV-movie. It takes us from Audrey's childhood all the way to one of her many defining moments - the filming of Breakfast At Tiffany's.
It really is a pleasant film to watch. Although the script can be slow at times, I feel that it honors Audrey's memory. Even her son approved of this biography.
Ultimately, I'd like to say to those who bash Ms. Hewitt for starring in this bio-pic, I'm glad that she used the fame she has to introduce Audrey to a younger audience that possibly would have never learned about her otherwise.
I give this movie four stars because of Emmy Rossum's incredible talents. I wish her and Ms. Hewitt many more successes.