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Something's Gotta Give

Something's Gotta Give

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Don't believe all the nay-sayers
Review: Yes, there is no doubt that this movie will appeal to a certain demographic, so if you are a twentysomething male I can assure you this is likely not the flic for you. If however you can appreciate a movie that is a pure romantic comedy with "mature" characters complete with wrinkles and sags intact, then this is the movie for you. Yes, some of the dialogue is less than realistic, but tell me, how many romantic comedies have dialogue that any of us have ever spoken in real life? So what, it's funny and romantic and has Jack doing some of his best comedic work. There are those that say they don't want to see a 60 year old actor doing love scenes with a woman half his age (but isn't this an actor who has dated virtually nothing but younger women his whole life?) Who better to play the part than a man who until recently was dating Lara Flynn Boyle? Diane Keaton plays to type, but she is sweet and lovely, and I for one appreciated seeing a mature actress in a lead romantic role who has not been nipped and tucked within an inch of her life. Diane looked glorious wrinkles and all, what a refreshing change from the usual Hollywood imagery of women. And yes, Keanu was wooden as always, but I think that was the whole idea. His role was to be the token eye candy, and while his skills as a thespian may be lacking, he is not hard on the eyes. 4.5 stars

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Delightful
Review: If you're under, say, 40, this is a nice comedy about a couple of old people. But if you're over 40... or better, over 50... this is a hilarious, joyful romantic comedy that captures the best of some of the classic romantic film duos, like Tracy and Hepburn.

In fact, this film will remind you of a dozen films, some classics, that you've seen before. It starts out like a French farce and quickly turns into All That Jazz, and then The Man Who Came To Dinner, and then You've Got Mail. And so on, yet it manages to continually do so with freshness and originality. There may be a few cliches- it's hard to do a love story without falling into a few- but it still manages to suprise you and keep you interested from beginning to end.

Nicholson does a nice turnabout and plays something other than the stock manic character he's taken to parodying in so many films. If anything, he's parodying his own life here. And Keaton's performance has just a touch of parody of her most famous role, that of Annie Hall, but with much more depth and humor and sophistication. And it's great to see mature people playing mature people relating to other mature people, lines and all. The charatcters ring true as middle aged, neither prettied up nor turned into doddering parodies of age.

A wonderfully warm movie that celebrates love that lives on beyond youth, not to mention a great date film that both men and owmen will love. Go see it.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Some women will hate this movie, too!
Review: "Something's Gotta Give" is a truly terrible movie, one of the few I've seen in the past few years that I couldn't wait to be over. I considered leaving a few times, but made it as far as the ridiculous finale. At that moment, I would have thrown popcorn at the screen, if I'd had any. For about the tenth time, I was hit over the head by how much this movie didn't work for me. I was actually rooting for the WRONG ending.

Contrary to the other negative reviews, which claim that this is a chick flick, I am a woman, and hated it. The dialog is ridiculous and sappy; are we really supposed to believe that an award winning playwright (Keaton) would talk in such tired cliches? In one scene, she actually tells her adult daughter (Amanda Peet) that she shouldn't be afraid to embrace the messiness of love. Thanks for that, Diane. If I hadn't seen at least 300 other movies that told me the same thing, I might be confined to a life without risks.

I got a real chuckle out of an earlier review that talked about how gross Jack Nicholson is in this movie. I completely agree! Why is this overweight, balding man allowed to have a love scene with Amanda Peet? Would Camryn Manheim be allowed to have a love scene with Brad Pitt? The movie ignores a crucial reality: the reason that attractive young women date men like Jack Nicholson in real life is because he is a huge star, and has money and power not easily available to others. It has nothing to do with the objective appeal of his looks.

The only thing I enjoyed about the movie, other than the Coastal Living-style sets, was Keanu Reeves. I have never been a fan, but I enjoyed his post-feminist character. The movie's only valid point seems to be that a younger generation is upon us that isn't threatened by talented, accomplished women. I would pick that guy over Jack in a heartbeat.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Slightly amusing at best...
Review: Let's start with the fact that I disagree with most of the reviewers. This was a fairly atrocious film, and I lay the vast majority of that blame on the director, Nancy Meyers.

To name just a few of the problems: she absolutely did not reign in any of the actors. I doubt very much if anything was rehearsed, even on the day. Seeing Keanu Reeves and Diane Keaton on the screen is like watching two different movies spliced together in the editing studio. The shot design was strange, to use one word. And the transitions were, while possibly well-intended, awkwardly executed.

The dialogue could not have been worse, except possibly if written by Ed Wood. Ms. Meyers has no rhythm of these particular characters. In fact, some of Erika Barry's (Keaton's) dialogue could have been said by Judy "Private" Benjamin (yes, Ms. Meyers penned that one, too).

Ms. Meyers continues to write the same neurotic woman over and over again, and frankly, while it was hilarious in Private Benjamin, and was cute in Baby Boom (weren't Diane Keaton's physical antics the same in that one? What, another middle-aged woman who wants to get laid character? AGAIN?), I, for one, got rather bored with it in Protocol, and by the time Father of the Bride, Part II (wasn't Part I punishment enough?), rolled around, that was plenty.

In any event, I have to concede the following: I did laugh a couple of times, particularly at Jack Nicholson's behind. And, having seen it in a movie theater filled with 50- or 60-something kinds of people, they seemed to enjoy it, if only for the concept that they can have sex, too. Whooptee-doo.

If you are past 40, and having doubts whether there is someone that will find you desirable, rent it some rainy afternoon when you have nothing to do. But please, do not waste your hard-earned money on a theater ticket or the DVD. Short of showing Keanu Reeves's behind, I doubt that there would be anything there I'd want to see again.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best "Boomer" Movie in 10 years!
Review: Jack Nicholson has won many awards but this is the best thing he has ever done. From Schmidtt to Somethings Gotta Give he is more vulnerable and emotional as an actor then he has ever been which for better or worse corresponds to those of us who have reached our 50's and 60's. Diane Keaton must have been cloned. Her body seems to look the same as in Annie Hall. Few movies anymore leave the audience clapping at the end, but this one did. And how many people almost wet their pants when Diane Keaton handed Jack Nicholson the sissors!! I'm going again this weekend.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Nicholson Does It Again
Review: Nicholson was consumate as usual. He is a real man's man who can still make you belly laugh when you don't expect to. Keaton was extremely good, eventhough she can't really act a lick! She seemed to get into her stride later in the movie. Reeves was as lackluster as ever. He was as lame in this as in most of his movies.

The plot was oriented toward the 40+ crowd and didn't dissappoint. Thought some indicated this a chick flick it was far from that if you went to see the Nicholson stick along with the young girls beaten off by the Keaton character.

A must see.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: REALLY DOES HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE: WHIMSICAL, RETRO FUN!
Review: Opening with a highly-concocted, awkward and implausible set of circumstances, it's almost amazing that "Something's Gotta Give" really does have something to give.

It just takes time, and once the preliminaries are outta the way, the picture becomes a minor treat: romantic, sweet, thoughtful. Diane Keaton shines as a celebrated playwright who's been writing romantic scenes for years but who hasn't kissed a man in a decade; Jack Nicholson is affable and flexible as unfaithful playboy music label exec who learns a little something about love in the later years.

It's all frightfully formulaic, and if the plot (nubile-bent, aging Lothario falls for woman his age) is a wee bit implausible, contrived and retro to the urbane comedies of the Hepburn-Tracy era where everyone had lots of money and watered in the best restaurants, we can forgive it. Frankly it's a great relief after years of flying kung-fu bodies and fruit-stand demolishing car chases.

Where our oars kick up and catch a few crabs is in the unconvincing love scenes between Keaton and Nicholson. They give it their all but fall a little short of target. Their performances are so strong, however, that once again we are compelled to forgive. We get to see two frames of Diane's (then) 58-year-old body au naturel, quite enough of Jack's butt, and get to hear the prognosis of his little friend, "Mr. Midnight."

Some of Diane's character's extreme and prolonged emotional tantrums caused me to spot check my wrist-watch. However, if you feel glum about something during this holiday season you could do worse than grabbing some popcorn and watching this one to lift your spirits.

It's fun to make-believe, and besides, it's got Jack! Recommended.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: EXCELLENT EXCELLENT EXCELLENT!!!
Review: Best movie in a loooong time! Just excellent! It'll leave you laughing all the way, and touches you also :) Such a great romantic comedy. Yes, probaly more of a girl movie, but an excellent one you'll wanna see again and again! Can't wait until it comes out on DVD! Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson are a terrfic pair in this movie!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not quite
Review: I like both actors (Keaton a little more), but they really boarded a sinking ship with this one. There were a few laughs and some cute moments, but those were eclipsed by a whole lot of little problems and basically three big ones:

1. Totally unrealistic dialogue: About 5 lines in the film would actually be uttered by a human being, the rest are completely vacant and make a habit of "telling" rather than "showing."

2. Problems with structure: The film drags its feet for the first hour and then rushes to cram in action in the second half. The chemistry never really gets to happen.

3. Ridiculous use of close-ups, and the cinematography in general was just awful. Sorry to be snotty but this felt like the work of a real amateur (I cannot believe it was done by the same Michael Ballhaus who photographed "Goodfellas" and "Gangs of New York"). Close-ups are all over the place where there isn't really any particular drama going on (we're up the actors' noses for every single conversation).

I'm tempted to complain about Keanu Reeves too, but there'd be little point.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Geriatric Chick Flick
Review: Guys, stay completely away from this one -- if you don't, you will kick yourself for spending the money and time, yes the endless time, you wasted. That realization pretty much crystalizes during the series (the LONG series) of scenes wherein we see Diane Keaton (portraying the same character she has played in every movie) breaking out into howly weeping... again and again, again, again, again and again, as dudes in the movie theater fight to stay in their seats and not run screaming from the room. And the film's ending (a typical chick-flick ending, if you had not already guessed) rivals some of the longest movies in history for presenting one final scene following another, and another, and another, and another, until you really begin to wonder if this thing will EVER end.

Encourage your wife or girl friend to go see this movie, but not with YOU. That way, everyone will emerge happy from the experience. My wife bubbled with approval for days after seeing this film -- it obviously connects better with women than with men.


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