Joan Wilder one of my favourite tongue-in-cheek heroines. She's also a writer--a romance writer who becomes embroiled in adventures straight out of romance novels. The films, Romancing the Stone (1984) and The Jewel of the Nile (1985), poke fun at the Fabio-era, bodice-ripper romances popular at the time.
Wilder's "Fabio" is Jack T. Colton, played by Michael Douglas, a scoundrel and unlikely hero. Each film concerns the hunt for treasure--or rather, Colton's hunt for treasure, and Wilder's nobler hunt for her sister (Romancing the Stone) and fulfillment as a writer (The Jewel of the Nile).
These films are very funny as well as being great adventure romances. While they parody romance novels it's in a very affectionate manner. Perhaps "homage" would be a better word than parody: while there's a lot of action, in the end these films embrace what they truly are--romances--and give the audience glorious happily-ever-afters.
The Jewel of the Nile has always been higher in my esteem for several reasons: I watched it before Romancing the Stone, Danny DeVito gets a funnier role, and Joan Wilder has a lot more spunk. It's also got a kick-arse sound track. Billy Ocean's "When the Going Gets Tough (The Tough Get Going)" was on high rotation on the record player when I was a kid and I just adore it.
Now, over to you: Who are your favourite fictional writers?
