“Blimey, girl! You ain’t as ugly as I thought.” —Alfie
Today’s quick review: Alfie. Alfie Elkins (Michael Caine), a serial womanizer, flirts with the idea of commitment when Gilda (Julia Foster), one of his girlfriends, becomes pregnant with their son. But as the months go by with no offer of marriage from Alfie, Gilda considers a proposal from Humphrey (Graham Stark), a much more faithful man. In retaliation, Alfie dives back into his old lifestyle, kicking off a series of unfulfilling flings.
Alfie is a romantic drama with comedic elements. Michael Caine stars as Alfie Elkins, a man whose charming exterior hides a selfish heart. Alfie uses and abandons the women he’s with, chasing short-term pleasure at the cost of stability and meaning. His wry, cynical narration helps keep the tone of the movie light while the story explores deeper themes of love and attachment, hedonism and fulfillment, and whether a cad has hope of redemption.
Alfie makes for a fascinating character study. Alfie Elkins has a knack for manipulating the women around him, preying on their vulnerabilities and turning their affections to his own ends. In his narration, he tries to make light of his relationships, painting himself as a man who cannot be tied down. But over the course of the film, it becomes clear that Alfie does have a conscience, even if he is too vain to admit it.
The result is a story that offers a mature and nuance take on love and commitment. Over the course of his romantic escapades, Alfie comes dangerously close to changing his ways, but his ego and hedonism keep him from taking the final step. The struggle between Alfie and his better nature makes for an interesting range of situations. The path he walks is a winding one, full of false starts that keep the story dynamic and his fate in question.
Still, Alfie will not match what some viewers have in mind. Those hoping for a classic romance with a light tone will find that the movie touches on some serious topics. Meanwhile, the main character’s abusive behavior will turn off viewers who are unwilling to embrace his flaws as a part of the story. But for the right viewer, Alfie is an insightful movie whose veneer of levity helps it deliver some truly effective drama.
For a lighter, more absurd comedy about a womanizer who’s trying to change his ways, try What’s New Pussycat. For a tongue-in-cheek comedy about a married man trying and failing at adultery, try A Guide for the Married Man.
[7.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060086/). I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for a thought-provoking character study.