Sabrina Synopsis: An ugly duckling having undergone a remarkable change, still harbors feelings for her crush: a carefree playboy, but not before his business-focused brother has something to say about it.
Shy, mousy Sabrina is the daughter of the chauffeur to the wealthy Larrabee family. She’s grown up around the family, harboring unrequited love for the youngest Larrabee son, David, who is an irresponsible playboy. After moving to Paris for two years for a Vogue internship, Sabrina returns home wholly transformed and finally catches David’s eye. The problem? David is engaged, and his older brother Linus has no intention of letting Sabrina ruin the impending wedding, especially as a profitable merger depends on the marriage.
This is a remake of Billy Wilder’s 1954 film of the same name. That film starred Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, and I had intended to watch it first before watching and reviewing this version. Alas, the 1954’s Sabrina was not on any of my streaming sites (for free), so I opted to watch this first. I certainly don’t regret it because I really enjoyed this Sabrina. I went into it not knowing the story at all because of what I very vaguely remembered of the trailer when it came out in 1995.
I do enjoy love triangles when they’re done right. So often, it’s very obvious who is the wrong suitor, and the trick to making an intriguing love triangle is making both men/women right for the lead in some way or another. And yes, maybe it’s quite apparent who Sabrina should end up with here, but I felt the writers did a good job giving David some depth and personality rather than making him the bland option. It’s essential to see why Sabrina has pined after him for so long, especially given how down-to-earth and intelligent she is. Making her fall in love with a cad would have felt somewhat disingenuous.
I don’t recall seeing Julia Ormond in much, though I remember her role in Legends of the Fall. Obviously, I cannot compare her performance to Hepburn’s, but I thought she was very lovely in this movie. Soft-spoken and likable, easily going toe to toe with a powerhouse like Harrison Ford. Ford and Greg Kinnear are also delightful as the stoic, emotionally withdrawn older brother, Linus, and the playboy, David. They had great chemistry, making it entirely believable that they could be brothers.
Sabrina’s journey in Paris was one of my favorite parts of the movie. It’s odd because whenever someone asks where I would go if I could go anywhere, my first choice is generally Ireland or Italy. But I have such a soft spot for Paris, especially when it comes to romantic movies. It’s called the City of Love for a reason. There are a lot of beautiful shots of the city, but the Larrabee mansion is also a character all of its own.
The opening credits take you on a tour of the entire house, which I learned is called Salutations House, located on a private island just off of Long Island. It was built in 1920 and is 27,000 square feet… it was up for sale in 2017 (a cool $125 million price tag), but I didn’t check to see who might have purchased it. The house provides a truly romantic landscape to the story, almost as romantic, if not more so, than Paris.
The movie was very charming. While it’s a modern remake, it still pays homage to Old Hollywood romances with a sweeping score and overly dramatic, passionate embrace. I think Sabrina is an enjoyable watch and recommend it for a rainy, lazy day. It’s pure romance with just enough drama and angst to make it interesting. Plus, Harrison Ford’s dry wit elevates the comedy, and I find myself really becoming a bigger fan of his work beyond Han Solo and Indy.
Watched: 03/15/2021
Notable Song: Moonlight by Sting
