Something's Gotta Give

  Plot Summary

Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson) is a man with a smile on his face.  The 63 year old, millionaire, is about to spend the weekend with a gorgeous girl, half his age.  Harry and Marin (Amanda Peet) arrive at her family's Hamptons home but unexpectedly Marin's mother Erica Barry (Diane Keaton), a successful playwright, arrives at the house.  Erica is divorced and in her late 50's. She is horrified that her young beautiful daughter is seeing a man more that twice her age!  Harry, who has never been married and who only dates women under 30, lives a high mileage lifestyle.  Something's gotta give and it does when Harry collapses and is rushed to hospital...

Review

Directed by Nancy Meyers, (What Women Want), this is a witty romantic comedy which looks at love and relationships of the older age group.  On one side there is Harry who has never married and although he is over 60 years of age he wouldn't dream of dating anyone his own age.  Then there is Erica who is divorced and disillusioned with men of her own age.  She is an attractive woman but has given up on relationships as the men her age only go for younger women.  Needless to say the two characters clash with hilarious results.

There is a great dialogue that is sharp and witty and although this is very much a comedy it is touching in parts.  It doesn't become too emotional or sentimental and the comedy doesn't become too silly or trite.  Director Nancy Meyers gets the balance right.

On the down side there isn't an awful lot to the story and the ending is wrapped up too neatly and more than a little predictably.

Nicholson and Keaton work great together.  They have a natural ease together and on a number of occasions the conversations between the characters are uncannily real.  They delivered their lines expertly.  Nicholson comes across as an arrogant chauvinist but gets away with it with a wicked grin.  Diane Keaton portrays a genuine, credible character and I think a lot of people will empathise with the character.

Keanu Reeves plays Julian the young good looking doctor who looks after Harry and falls for Erica, the older attractive women.  The beautiful Amanda Peet plays Erica's daughter Marin.  While she has been in a number of movies like Identity and Changing Lanes she has yet to take "centre stage" in a leading role.

The Bottom Line: A witty comedy that will appeal to an older age group.  Good fun but a little predictable.

Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews 2004

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Certificate: 12's

Director: Nancy Meyers

~ Main Cast ~

Jack Nicholson

Diane Keaton

Keanu Reeves

Amanda Peet

Frances McDormand

Paul Michael Glaser

RATING

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