Verrückt nach Steve (All About Steve) 
U.S.A.
2009
Opening 29 Apr 2010
Directed by:
Phil Traill
Writing credits:
Kim Barker
Principal actors:
Sandra Bullock, Thomas Haden Church, Bradley Cooper, Ken Jeong, D.J. Qualls
First time
filmmaker Phil Trail coins Kim Barkers’ script, All About Steve, that describes why some female/male relationships
simply aren’t meant to be in spite of avid pursuit. Trail captures Barker’s
inane tale using a tenacious naïve heroine to expound on the importance of
being true to oneself. The performance from actress Sandra Bullock is the perfection needed to tackle the importance of
the film’s goofy and twisted narrative.
Mary Horowitz (Bullock) is the local newspaper’s genius
crossword puzzle designer. Outside of holding down a great job that serves her
passion, she is single, beautiful, extremely naïve and attracts disaster.
Mary’s attempt to find her Jewish Mr. Right is forever sabotaged by her natural
eccentricity that most men abhor. Her parents arrange a blind date for her with
the son of friends from the Jewish Community. Mary is not amused by the attempt
nor is she interested in being set up for another foiled event, but agrees to
oblige them. She dreads the encounter until Steve (Bradley Cooper) arrives to pick her up. Mary is stunned that her
date is amazingly attractive, Jewish and has won her parents’ approval. She has
found her man! Steve is frightfully overwhelmed by Mary’s odd but passionate
enthusiasm toward him and is grateful to be called into work just ten minutes
into their date. Steve brushes Mary off, and she actually gets it until Steve’s
colleagues, Hartman (Thomas Haden Church) and Angus (Ken Jeong) maliciously encourage Mary to
engage in a hot pursuit for his affection. Mary has nothing to lose and delights to imagine that their
relationship could sparkle, if “Steve was someone as normal as her.” Mary’s
journey to find that special someone is what makes All About Steve endearing. To enter Mary’s
world and view life through her eyes is what puts the sparkle into normal. (Karen Pecota)
