Peter Bogdanovich didn't just make movies; he lived inside the history of cinema. When he released She’s Funny That Way in 2014, the world wasn't exactly clamoring for a throwback to the 1930s. Most people were busy watching superheroes or gritty reboots. But Bogdanovich? He wanted to talk about escorts, Broadway, and the absolute chaos of coincidence. It’s a weird little film. Honestly, it’s a bit of a miracle it even got made, considering it sat on a shelf in various forms for years under the working title Squirrel to the Nuts.
If you haven't seen it, the plot is basically a Rube Goldberg machine of human errors. Imogen Poots plays Izzy, a Brooklyn prostitute with a heart of gold and a dream of acting. Owen Wilson is Arnold, a theater director who gives his dates $30,000 to quit the business and change their lives. It sounds sweet, right? Wrong. It’s a disaster. Every character is connected in the most inconvenient way possible, leading to hotel hallways full of slamming doors and mistaken identities.
The Bogdanovich DNA and the Ghost of Old Hollywood
Bogdanovich was a disciple of Howard Hawks and Ernst Lubitsch. You can feel that in every frame of She’s Funny That Way. He wasn't trying to be "meta" or ironic. He genuinely believed that a fast-talking comedy about infidelity and luck could still work in a cynical age.
The film's rhythm is its most striking feature. It moves. Fast. Most modern comedies rely on "the riff"—actors standing around improvising until someone says something funny. This movie relies on the script. It relies on the geography of a room. If a character enters through the left door, someone has to be diving out the right window. That kind of precision is a lost art. Bogdanovich, who directed The Last Picture Show and What's Up, Doc?, knew that comedy is math.
Think about the casting for a second. You’ve got Owen Wilson, who is the king of the "laid-back stammers," paired with Kathryn Hahn, who is a literal force of nature. Then you throw in Will Forte as a neurotic playwright and Jennifer Aniston as quite possibly the worst therapist in the history of New York City. Aniston is the standout here. She plays her character with a jagged, aggressive irritability that cuts right through the whimsical tone of the rest of the movie. It’s a reminder that she’s a much better character actress than she usually gets credit for.
Why Everyone Is Obsessed With the "Squirrels to the Nuts" Line
The movie’s title comes from a classic song, but the recurring motif is a line from Ernst Lubitsch’s 1943 film Cluny Brown. "Squirrels to the nuts" is a metaphor for people finding their natural place in the world, no matter how ridiculous that place might be.
It’s an oddly poetic sentiment for a movie that features a scene where a private investigator (played by Richard Lewis) gets caught in a revolving door. But that’s the point. Bogdanovich was obsessed with the idea of fate. Is it fate that brings a director and his former escort together in an audition room? Or is it just bad luck?
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The film suggests that the world is a small, interconnected web where everyone is trying to be someone they aren't. Izzy wants to be an actress. Arnold wants to be a philanthropist (but mostly just has a savior complex). The therapist is crazier than her patients. It’s a masquerade. In an era where "relatability" is the most overused word in entertainment, She’s Funny That Way dares to be stylized and theatrical. It doesn't want to be like your life. It wants to be like a movie.
The Problem With Modern Reviews and "Outdated" Humor
When the film hit theaters, critics were divided. Some called it charming; others called it dated. Honestly, both are true. It is dated. It’s a movie that feels like it was written in 1995 and filmed in 1940. There are no smartphones solving the misunderstandings. People actually have to run into each other at restaurants to move the plot forward.
But calling it dated misses the goal. Bogdanovich was making a "drawing-room comedy" in a world that no longer has drawing rooms. He was honoring a lineage. If you look at the cameos—everyone from Tatum O’Neal to Michael Shannon and even a legendary appearance by Quentin Tarantino—it’s clear that the industry viewed this as a "director’s movie." It was a final bow for a specific type of storytelling.
Critics often complained about the Brooklyn accent Imogen Poots uses. It’s thick. It’s borderline cartoonish. But if you watch Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday, you realize that’s exactly what she was channeling. Poots isn't trying to be a realistic girl from 2014 Brooklyn. She’s playing a "dame." Once you realize the movie is operating on a different frequency, the performances click.
Behind the Scenes: A Production History That Almost Wasn't
The script, co-written by Bogdanovich and his ex-wife Louise Stratten, actually existed for decades. They wrote it back in the late 90s. At one point, it was supposed to star John Ritter and Cybill Shepherd. After Ritter’s tragic death, the project went into a deep freeze.
It only got revived because Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach stepped in as executive producers. Think about that. Two of the most influential "indie" directors of our time basically paid for their mentor to have one last hurrah. They recognized that the industry was losing the ability to make sophisticated farce.
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The production wasn't easy. It was shot in just 29 days in New York. For a movie with this many moving parts and this much dialogue, that’s an insane schedule. You can see the kinetic energy on screen. It feels rushed, but in a way that suits a story about people whose lives are spiraling out of control.
Breaking Down the Ensemble: Who Stole the Show?
- Jennifer Aniston: Her portrayal of Jane, the judgmental therapist, provides the movie's sharpest edges. She’s not "the girl next door" here. She’s mean, she’s impatient, and she’s hilarious.
- Kathryn Hahn: Playing Delta Simmons, Arnold’s wife and a Broadway star, Hahn does more with a facial expression than most actors do with a monologue. Her slow-burn realization of her husband’s infidelity is the movie’s emotional (and comedic) anchor.
- Rhys Ifans: As Seth Gilbert, the leading man who knows everyone’s secrets, Ifans brings a greasy, charismatic charm that balances Owen Wilson’s stuttering innocence.
- Austin Pendleton: Reprising a sort of spiritual energy from his earlier work with Bogdanovich, he plays a judge obsessed with Izzy, adding a layer of creepy-yet-funny absurdity to the mix.
The Legacy of She’s Funny That Way in the 2020s
Looking back at the film now, it feels even more like a relic—but a precious one. We don't get mid-budget comedies anymore. Everything is either a $200 million blockbuster or a $2 million "elevated horror" flick. The middle has dropped out.
She’s Funny That Way represents the end of an era. It’s a reminder that movies can just be fun. They don't always have to "start a conversation" or "deconstruct a genre." Sometimes, they can just be about a guy who gives money to squirrels and a girl who wants to be on Broadway.
The film serves as a masterclass in blocking. Watch the scene in the Italian restaurant. It’s a logistical nightmare. Multiple parties who shouldn't see each other are all dining in the same room. The camera work is invisible but perfect, guiding the viewer’s eye so we know exactly who is seeing what and who is hiding under which table.
Actionable Ways to Appreciate Farce and Screwball Comedy
If you watched the movie and felt like you missed the "vibe," or if you're looking to dive deeper into this style of filmmaking, here’s how to actually engage with it:
Watch the "Textbook" Originals
To understand why Bogdanovich made the choices he did, you have to see the foundations. Start with The Lady Eve (1941) or Bringing Up Baby (1938). You’ll see the same DNA: the fast talking, the improbable coincidences, and the female lead who is significantly smarter than the male lead.
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Focus on the Background
In a movie like this, the funniest things often happen in the corners of the frame. Pay attention to the extras and the supporting characters. Bogdanovich loved "deep focus" comedy where a reaction shot from a waiter is just as important as the lead actor's lines.
Analyze the "Rule of Three"
The film uses repetitive gags perfectly. The "squirrels to the nuts" line is repeated until it becomes a philosophy. Observe how the movie introduces a joke, repeats it to build familiarity, and then twists it for the final payoff.
Compare the "Bogdanovich Style"
Watch What’s Up, Doc? (1972) immediately after this. You’ll see a director at the height of his powers in the 70s doing the exact same thing he did in 2014. It’s a rare look at a filmmaker who never changed his soul, even as the industry changed around him.
The reality is that She’s Funny That Way isn't for everyone. If you need grit and realism, you’re going to hate it. But if you want to spend 90 minutes in a version of New York where everyone is a little bit crazy and everything turns out okay in the end, it’s a gem. It’s a movie that loves movies. And in today’s world, that’s actually pretty refreshing.
Don't go into it expecting a groundbreaking dramatic shift in cinema. Go into it expecting a well-oiled machine. It’s a clockwork comedy, built by a man who knew exactly where every gear and spring belonged. It's funny that way.
To truly get the most out of this film, watch it without your phone in your hand. The jokes are in the timing, not just the words. If you blink, you might miss a door closing on someone’s thumb, and in a Peter Bogdanovich movie, that’s the most important part.
Next Steps for the Cinephile:
- Stream the movie on a platform like Prime Video or Apple TV to catch the visual gags.
- Read "Who the Devil Made It" by Peter Bogdanovich. It’s a collection of interviews with old-school directors that explains his entire philosophy on comedy.
- Cross-reference the "Cluny Brown" link. Watch the 1946 Lubitsch film to see where the "squirrels" quote actually originated. It adds a whole new layer of meaning to Izzy's journey.