★★★★★

Smart, sweet, and surprisingly poeticRoxanne is a romantic comedy that speaks to the heart and the mind.

Liza T.

Texas

Released in the summer of 1987, Roxanne is a modern romantic comedy retelling of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, set in a quaint American town. Written by and starring Steve Martin, the film updates the classic tale of unrequited love and eloquence with a warm, humorous tone and a surprisingly tender heart. Balancing physical comedy with poetic longing, Roxanne remains one of the most thoughtful and witty romantic comedies of its decade.

Quick Verdict

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 out of 5)
Roxanne is a smart and sensitive romantic comedy that blends literary charm with small-town sweetness. Steve Martin’s heartfelt script and charismatic performance elevate a familiar premise into something delightfully original. Though it occasionally leans into sitcom-style moments, its intelligence and emotional sincerity still shine.

Spoiler-Light Plot Summary

C.D. Bales (Steve Martin) is the fire chief in the picturesque town of Nelson, Washington. He’s quick-witted, well-liked, and hopelessly romantic but also self-conscious about his unusually large nose. When the beautiful and brainy Roxanne Kowalski (Daryl Hannah), an astronomer, arrives in town for the summer, C.D. falls head over heels. However, believing his appearance disqualifies him from her affections, he instead helps Chris (Rick Rossovich), a handsome but dim-witted firefighter, win Roxanne’s heart by feeding him eloquent, poetic lines. As the love triangle unfolds, C.D. must decide whether to keep hiding behind someone else’s face or finally speak from the heart — nose and all.

Cast & Performance Analysis

Steve Martin delivers one of the best performances of his career. As C.D. Bales, he expertly balances physical comedy with romantic vulnerability. His character is intelligent, tender, and emotionally guarded, and Martin gives him surprising depth. He’s as compelling in a rapid-fire monologue as he is in moments of quiet insecurity.

Daryl Hannah brings grace and quiet strength to Roxanne. Rather than being reduced to a love interest, she plays Roxanne as a thoughtful, curious, and independent person drawn to intellect and character over surface-level attraction. Her chemistry with Martin feels authentic and endearing.

Rick Rossovich, as Chris, is both charming and hilariously awkward. His comic timing and blank stares offer a nice contrast to Martin’s verbal acrobatics. Supporting cast members like Shelley Duvall (as Dixie) and Fred Willard (as the Mayor) round out the ensemble with quirky charm, adding to the film’s friendly, small-town atmosphere.

Direction, Cinematography, and Tone

Director Fred Schepisi takes a gentle, character-driven approach. The film never rushes or overplays its romantic beats. Instead, Schepisi lets the humor emerge from interactions rather than setups, giving Roxanne a natural rhythm.

The cinematography, led by Ian Baker, captures the picturesque charm of Nelson, a fictional stand-in for small-town America. Sun-dappled streets, cozy diners, and open-air views give the movie a warm, lived-in quality. The town feels like a place where everyone knows each other, adding to the stakes and intimacy of the central romance.

Tonally, Roxanne strikes a beautiful balance. While there are plenty of comedic set pieces (including a now-famous “20 insults” scene about C.D.’s nose), the movie never lets its humor undercut its sincerity. The film’s tone is romantic, gentle, and consistently uplifting without ever feeling saccharine.

Themes: What the Movie Is Really About

At its core, Roxanne is about self-acceptance, identity, and the tension between appearance and substance. C.D. believes that his nose makes him unlovable, even though everything else about him, intelligence, kindness, and humor, makes him ideal. The film asks a timeless question: Do we judge others, or ourselves, based too much on looks?

There’s also a strong thread of emotional vulnerability and courage. While C.D. is brave in every aspect of his public life, he’s terrified of being emotionally exposed. His journey toward romantic honesty mirrors that of Cyrano but with a more hopeful tone.

Additionally, the film explores authenticity in communication. C.D.’s eloquence is used to help someone else pretend to be something he’s not, which raises questions about honesty in relationships and how language and charm alone aren’t enough when they're disconnected from character.

Weaknesses

While Roxanne is widely beloved, it has a few notable flaws:

1. Pacing Lags Slightly Midway – The film loses momentum during its second act, particularly when focusing on Chris’s misadventures.

2. Over-Reliance on Quirky Town Humor – Some comedic scenes (like bar fights and town council meetings) feel more like TV sitcom diversions than essential plot elements.

3. Limited Exploration of Supporting Characters – Outside of C.D. and Roxanne, other characters are largely there for comic relief without much personal development.

Strengths

The film’s greatest strength is Steve Martin’s script and performance, which combine intellectual humor with emotional depth. His portrayal of C.D. is a layered character who uses wit to mask vulnerability, but never loses warmth. The updated Cyrano de Bergerac framework feels fresh thanks to the film’s charming setting and genuinely romantic tone. The dialogue is sharp, thoughtful, and often beautiful, especially in the scenes where C.D. helps Chris express feelings he can’t put into words. Moreover, the film’s balance of comedy and sentiment allows it to tackle deeper themes without ever feeling heavy-handed. Ultimately, Roxanne celebrates the idea that love grows from truth, not appearance.

Recommended If You Liked...

• Cyrano (2021) – A more traditional but emotionally rich retelling of the same story

• The Princess Bride (1987) – Romantic comedy with clever dialogue and fairy-tale charm

• While You Were Sleeping (1995) – A sweet romantic story with quirky characters and heart

• The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996) – A gender-swapped modern Cyrano story with similar themes

• As Good As It Gets (1997) – Unconventional romance led by a complex, flawed protagonist

Final Thoughts

Roxanne (1987) remains a standout in the romantic comedy genre, thoughtful, funny, and full of heart. It’s a film about the walls we build around ourselves, and how love helps break them down. Steve Martin’s witty script and touching performance make C.D. Bales a romantic hero for the brainy and the brave. Even decades later, the film’s message feels just as relevant: the things we fear make us unlovable may be the very things that make us human and lovable after all.

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