Rating: 
Summary: O'Toole Dazzling in Wonderful in 'Golden Age' Homage!
Review: Have you ever watched a film and wished it wouldn't end? Where you loved all the characters, adored each scene, and laughed at every joke, even after you'd seen the film so many times that you could quote the dialog? MY FAVORITE YEAR is that kind of movie!Directed with gusto by Richard Benjamin, the film is both a loving tribute to Sid Caesar's 'Your Show of Show', and the remarkable talents that brought it together each week, and a sincere homage to Errol Flynn, whose antics and larger-than-life persona, in the waning years of his life, still had the kind of magic that could enthrall a shy young fan, or make a woman swoon. Three dynamic performances dominate the film. Mark Linn-Baker, as Benjy Stone, based on the young Mel Brooks, is a shy kid who hides his insecurities behind a rapid-fire wit. The dazzling young star in a staff of comedy 'pros', Stone suffers from an unrequited love from fellow staffer K. C. Downing (Jessica Harper), and has an inspiration, inviting legendary swashbuckler Alan Swann (Peter O'Toole) to appear on the show. As King Kaiser, star of the hit series, Joseph Bologna captures much of Sid Caesar's legendary physical 'presence' and irreverence to authority. When threatened by gangsters over a 'too close to home' series of parodies about crime boss Karl Rojeck (portrayed with brute menace by veteran actor Cameron Mitchell), Kaiser 'thumbs his nose' at them, mimicking the gangster mercilessly. "I'll KEEP doing it!" he taunts. "Why? Because it's FUNNY!" Then there is Peter O'Toole's 'Alan Swann'. With his own career a roller coaster ride of alcoholism, resulting in the near destruction of his health, no actor could have 'channeled' Errol Flynn better. Just as Flynn, by the 1950s, was a nearly burned-out roue, his classic good looks long gone, O'Toole's matinee-idol appearance, after years of self-abuse, had aged into a gaunt mask, making Benji Stone's film montage of 'classic' clips more poignant. What Flynn still had, in abundance, was charm and a ready wit, and O'Toole's 'Swann' is so enchanting a personality that you can't help but love him, and root for him to succeed. From the opening nostalgic strains of Nat King Cole's rendition of 'Stardust', through Benjy's futile effort to attempt to keep Swann sober (Red Skelton loved to tell how he kept Flynn sober on his program...he emptied all of the actor's bottles of vodka, replacing it with water...and Flynn couldn't tell the difference!), to a riotous Swann dinner with Benjy's family, to the near-disastrous broadcast, with Swann developing stage fright, and Kaiser brawling with mob enforcers...MY FAVORITE YEAR has one glorious scene after another, each unforgettable! One of the AFI's '100 Greatest Film Comedies', MY FAVORITE YEAR will bring a tear to your eye, even as you laugh. It was a time of legends, and heroes who would live up to boyhood dreams. Film comedy doesn't get any better than this!
Rating:
Summary: "Double the lad's bet for me, you toad!"
Review: "My Favorite Year is one of my favorite movies. Set in 1954, it's about an aging movie idol, Alan Swann (Peter O'Toole), who is to make a guest appearance on a television variety show hosted by King Kaiser (Joseph Bologna). However, it turns out that Swann is a libidinous lush, and the freshman writer for the show, Benjie Stone (formerly Steinberg, played by Mark Linn-Baker), is assigned to stay with him--and keep him sober and out of trouble--until after the show. The rest of the movie concerns their adventures together. The film overflows with one-liners and physical comedy, all of which stays remarkably fresh and amusing, even after repeated viewings. The script produces some classic lines; for example, during a take-out feast in which Stone is trying to woo the object of his lust (K.C. Downing, played by Jessica Harper), she comments that he really knows his dim sum. He replies, "Katherine, Jews know two things: suffering and where to find great Chinese food." The DVD also has an informative voice-over commentary by Richard Benjamin, whose first directing job was this film.
Rating:
Summary: One Of My Favorite Films !
Review: I would have to place this into my top ten favorite films of all times. It's a rather unknown delightful comedy that should not be missed by any movie fan. Peter O'Toole, Mark Linn-Baker and the rest of the cast are perfect in their rolls. You will not be sorry renting or buying this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: "Double the lad's bet for me, you toad!"
Review: "My Favorite Year is one of my favorite movies. Set in 1954, it's about an aging movie idol, Alan Swann (Peter O'Toole), who is to make a guest appearance on a television variety show hosted by King Kaiser (Joseph Bologna). However, it turns out that Swann is a libidinous lush, and the freshman writer for the show, Benjie Stone (formerly Steinberg, played by Mark Linn-Baker), is assigned to stay with him--and keep him sober and out of trouble--until after the show. The rest of the movie concerns their adventures together. The film overflows with one-liners and physical comedy, all of which stays remarkably fresh and amusing, even after repeated viewings. The script produces some classic lines; for example, during a take-out feast in which Stone is trying to woo the object of his lust (K.C. Downing, played by Jessica Harper), she comments that he really knows his dim sum. He replies, "Katherine, Jews know two things: suffering and where to find great Chinese food." The DVD also has an informative voice-over commentary by Richard Benjamin, whose first directing job was this film.
Rating:
Summary: How great is this movie?
Review: I'll tell you. This movie is so great that I was able to rent it and entertain my GRANDPARENTS for an entire evening. I discovered it right after it was released because it was at the same time we got cable. (Man, were WE behind the times!) This movie has it all; a great cast, scads of great one-liners, and best of all, you can pull it out and show it knowing that most people have never heard of it.
Rating:
Summary: Sheer Greatness
Review: I was 12 years old when I first saw this movie+it was the first video I ever bought when I got my VCR. Not only is this a great homage to the Golden Age of TV it is also one of the best movies I have ever seen. Peter O'Toole gives the most brilliant comedic performance I have ever seen. The fact that he did not win an Oscar is criminal. His washed up movie star is a character for the ages. The supporting cast is uniformly excellent,especially Joseph Bolonga as the Sid Ceasaresque star of the show. His scene with Boss Rojack is priceless as is the Stork Club scene. To list all the great lines in this Classic is impossible. Do your self a favor and buy it today!!
Rating:
Summary: Don't rent it, just buy it!
Review: I won't go into the plot, nearly everyone reviewing this touching, hilarious comedy has done that. I will tell you that the relationship between Benjy Stone (Mark Linn-Baker) and Alan Swann (Peter O'Toole) is developed incredibly well and is what makes this movie funny and sweet. The best scene is on the rooftop, where a drunken Benjy cannot stop an even drunker Alan Swann from rapelling down the side of the building using a firehose for a rope to help Benjy impress KC (Benjy's love interest). BTW, I disagree with the reviewers who believe the relationship between KC and Benjy develops too quickly. The relationship is in progress (though ground to a halt) when the story begins. It's only when Benjy, through what he learns from and about Swann, lets Benjy Stein show through the facade of Benjy Stone that KC decides she really likes him. This movie will make you laugh aloud and will still touch you in the right ways. When this movie is over, we want to know what happens to Benjy and KC and Swann and Tess, because we care about the characters. It is a rare movie that can do this, but "My Favorite Year" succeeds brilliantly. Richard Benjamin at his best. Joseph Bologna, Cameron Mitchell, Lanie Kazan and Bill Macy are wonderful in their roles. Mark Linn-Baker does not devolve into "Cousin Larry" from Perfect Strangers, but remains the ernest, funny Benjy and the scenes with him and Peter O'toole are remarkable. But it is Peter O'toole who steals this movie the way Alan Swann steals the ladies' hearts.
Rating:
Summary: If I had to be stranded on an island...
Review: Everyone's played that game - "If you were stranded on a desert island, with a working DVD player, what 10 movies would you take?" My Favorite Year would be in My Top 5! This movie never fails to make me laugh out loud, and so many lines have come back to me in situations I find myself in. My husband and I have made this one of our best Friday night date movies. Anyone who has not seen this yet is missing out on a comedy that captures the spirit of television during its infancy, Peter O'Toole's in all his comedic glory, and one of the greatest mother-son relationships I've ever seen. Get this today - I promise you won't be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: Dr. Boobacelli, My Medicine!
Review: Just a brief word about this wonderful sweet comedy. I seem to remember that FOX broadcasted MFY a number of years ago in a director's cut version with additional scenes. The romance between Benjy and KC was better fleshed out and made a bit more sense. I would love to see this version again!!!
Rating:
Summary: You can't miss with this comedy
Review: If you are ever at a loss for which dvd to rent, do yourself a favor and head straight for the comedy section where hopefully you will find My Favorite Year. It's a brilliant sometimes slapstick, sometimes kitchy, sometimes heart warming movie. Peter O'Toole is hilarious as the swashbuckling movie star. The entire cast is also terrific including and above all Lainie Kazan who is a one woman wrecking crew with her portrayal of the jewish mother. If anyone deserved an oscar for her performance in a comedy it was Lainie. She was over the top fantastic.
Trust me on this one. Don't think, just rent.
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