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Something's Gotta Give Customer Reviews (76 - 78 of 121 Reviews)

Nicholson and Keaton should have worked together before
It's funny to see some actors don't feel the passing of time. Besides, even if they hadn't worked before, they seem to have a great complicity even in their 60's. Excuse for talking about age of people.

They make laugh and they show tenderness, too. Of course Diane Keaton has a really suitable role but Nicholson is still a bad-tempered, irresistible, old man as in many of his late films.

Nevertheless, the story is really fine and amusable. It's not another romantic comedy but a soap box opera!

The only thing is: was it necessary to show both actors almost nude? It's a marvellous scene, but sure they asked for a great amount of money for doing that.

No More Jack, Please
That's it. No more. After this, I refuse to watch another movie based on the absolutely ludicrous proposition that Jack Nicholson is sexy or even charming. In this one, he is, at best, a leering repulsive old roue and no amount of cute dialogue can obscure it.

At one point, the actress playing Keaton's twenty-something daughter gushes about how attracted she was by Nicholson's personality. That scene underlines the utter dishonesty of this movie because it is obvious to any discerning female that all he has to offer is money and clout. I wondered how the mother in this movie would have reacted to the notion that her daughter was doing a little quid pro quo with a powerful old guy in order to upgrade her wardrobe or whatever. It might have made things more interesting and believable. But, unfortunately, we are supposed to like the characters in this movie.

Without Nicholson it might have worked. As it was, the intimate scenes between him and both actresses playing mother and daughter were redolent with all sorts of unpleasant and yucky speculations.

I've read that some women used to find Nicholson attractive. I believe it. I don't understand it, but I believe it. I just don't believe that any self respecting woman of any age would still do so. (As for any woman choosing him over Keneau Reeves, I think others here have already expressed the appropriate amount of incredulity.)

Hollywood honchos must identify with the Nicholson brand of crass powerful-old-guy horniness. (He is their fantasy of themselves still suavely pulling the chicks despite the fact that he and they retain not a shred of personal attractiveness.) That must be why he still gets these leading man parts. Well, it must stop.

There are mature actors out there who can play believable leading men if the script calls for autumnal romance; that elegant collection of still beautiful bones, Paul Newman, for one, Warren Beatty for another (just imagine Beatty and Keaton together). And then there is James Garner, no longer beautiful but still sexy as hell with his laid back charm.

So, Hollywood, hear my plea, no more shots of Jack Nicholson's aging dimpled butt. Please. I would like to think that there is a limit to how low western civilization can sink.

One more thing, why do protagonists in movies like this have to be world famous? When did that start? Keaton's a world famous playwright. Nicholson's a world famous producer. Jeeze Marie!

Tell you what, skip this movie and watch one with the same theme where the protagonists are a skirt-chasing middle-aged dentist and his dowdy receptionist. I am speaking of the wonderful "Cactus Flower" with Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman, and...sigh...Goldie Hawn in her first magical incarnation.

Take my advice. It will make you so happy.

A Great Movie and an even better dvd
I first saw this movie in the theaters in the late fall. I loved it then and I love it even more now.

The plot focuses on Harry (Jack Nicholson), a very cool sixty-something New York bachelor, who serially dates women between the ages of 25 and 30. He does not apologize for his behavior; he simply is this type of person. Or so he thinks.

The movie opens with Harry traveling to the Hamptons with yet another piece of eye candy, Marin (Amanda Peet), for a fun, no-strings-attached weekend at her mother's house. The assumption was her mother was staying in the city. But no, before Harry and Marin can consummate their relationship, they stumble upon her mother, the famed playwright Erica Barry (Diane Keaton), and her sister (Frances McDormand). Awkwardness ensues...and even more awkwardness when Harry has a heart attack and Erica is left taking care of him after everyone departs for the city. To complicate matters further, Harry's young stud of a doctor (Keanu Reeves), has fallen for Erica. And so Erica ends up in a romantic triangle with Harry and the doctor.

Many wonderful small moments occur in this movie. The supporting characters--Amanda Peet, Frances McDormand, and surprisingly Keanu Reeves--are outstanding. Nancy Meyers, the screenwriter and director, makes sure that everyone realizes that despite their glossy coats, these characters have depth. Harry was at one time engaged to Diane Swayer; Amanda Peet's character is an auctioneer at Christie's; Keanu Reeves is not just a boy toy but a doctor.

The lead performance by Keaton and Nicholson are memorable. Diane Keaton shows you humor, intelligence and pain all at the same time. Nicholson allows this character to have depth and to grow beyond his shallow beginnings.

The DVD extras are well worth the price. Usually I understand after a viewing, why a deleted scene was cut. However this dvd includes a deleted scene with Nicholson singing "La Vie Rose" at a karaoke bar. He would have been nominated for an Oscar if it had been kept on. Likewise, the two tracks are treasures. On the first track, the director Nancy Meyers (with a little help from Keaton) explores the premise of the movie and the various difficulties during shooting. On the second track, Meyers and Nicholson examine his various acting choices throughout the film. You realize how hard he works and that he's not just being Jack.

I would recommend this movie to fans of romantic comedy and of Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson. I would recommend the dvd in particular to individuals who want to learn more about the choices in filmmaking--and of course to lovers of romantic comedy everywhere.

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