Something's Gotta Give


Movie Review for Something's Gotta Give

What a difference a week makes. The Saturday after Christmas and a week after suffering through the mass of humanity that had come out to see The Return of the King and our happy trio has wandered back to the cinema to see a Jack and Diane flick.

I went into this film with mixed expectation. We had seen the previews in the theatre and on TV and it looked like this was really going to be a good film, but we all know by now, that the 3 minute previews that show in the theatre or are put on the net for downloading are made up of choice bits, sometime taken from a sea of celluloid dreck so the studios can sell us their product, which they have usually paid way too much to produce, so you have a hard sell out of desperation. So, potential, but no quality assurance. Now, you have to go on the track record of the film's stars. I have to say that I have not really liked anything that Diane Keaton has done since Annie Hall and Looking for Mr. Goodbar from 1977 and 76 respectively. Uh-oh, cause for concern, even if this is only a matinée at $5.50 a pop (plus concessions). Now, I can honestly say about Jack Nicholson, that no matter how bad the movie he has been in during that same period, we can always count on a few "Jack moments" to carry us through and forgive the lapses in the film we are seeing or perhaps genuinely feel that the film has been lifted to a new level by his presence or performance. The notable exception to this rule in my opinion has been A Few Good Men. His Colonel Nathan R. Jessup character in the film I felt was just too derivative of Bogart's Captain (actually Lt. Commander) Queeg from the Caine Mutiny; the only things missing were a couple of ball bearings and strawberry ice cream. OK, now I don't know which way to bet on this film.

The film opens with Harry Sanborn (Jack), a 63-year-old owner of a hip-hop record label with a reputation for never dating a woman over 30, driving with his latest girlfriend Marin (Amanda Peet) to her mother's home in the Hamptons for the weekend. While looking for something in the fridge (pants-less, of course), Harry is surprised by the arrival of Marin's mother Erica Barry (Diane), a famous New York playwright and Erica's sister Zoe (Frances McDormand). the ensuing confusion and mistaken identity (burglar or daughter's house-guest/date, who knew?) is a bit funny and helps setup the situation. After much protestations from both sides, it is finally decided that they are all adults and there is no reason for anyone to drive back to NYC, so they will all stay and share the house for the weekend whatever the attendant discomfort.

After dinner (be sure to eat BEFORE seeing this movie, food in it looked very good), Harry and Marin retire to the bedroom to uh, er play, which leads to Harry having a heart attack. I suppose someone should have told Erica that one only performs mouth-to-mouth on a person who is unconscious and NOT breathing, but then, we would have missed another "Jack moment", so, just let it slide.

At the hospital, we meet Dr. Julian Mercer (Keanu Reeves) who will be helping Harry in his recovery and who is also a big fan of Erica's plays. The 36-year-old Dr. Mercer is also more than little taken with Erica herself, but more on this later. Just when you thought they had all been done, there is also a fresh Viagra gag here, but...

OK, we have the set up. The doctor won't let Harry travel back to New York, so he winds up recuperating at Erica's home, while Marin and Zoe return to the city. Over the course of the next few days, the inevitable bumping of heads and ego of two people who do not much for one another and are trapped in the same house together is fodder for several gags. Erica has the added complication of dealing with the attentions of a much younger suitor in Dr. Mercer; although intrigued by these attentions, she seems unsure of herself. Of course, you know what is happening back home with Harry and Erica by this time; yep, they are falling in love, or so we think. But at least she gets cured of her writer's block.

Harry of course has problems changing the way he is and Erica channels what has happened to her into her new play (the title of which would have made a better title for the film), complete with dancing Harrys.

I won't go into what happens from there. I wound up liking the film very much, there were plenty of laughs, lots of connection with the characters, and the suspense of really not knowing what was going to happen to these two in the end. My only complaints were that the setup in the beginning went on a few minutes too long and needed a little tightening up. Also, I think they could have done more with the Zoe character other than the couple of zinger lines she got.

Jack and Diane go together well. Good date movie that both will enjoy, get out and see it.

Final rating: 8 stars out of 10.

PG-13
1 hours 57 minutes

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Posted: Thu - January 1, 2004 at 12:31 PM      

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