Rating: 
Summary: "I'm not an actor, I'm a movie star!"
Review: That line is the one everyone remembers from this 1982 classic farce about the early days of television. What I remember is it was one of the first movies I took a date to, and for that reason I will always have good feelings about this movie.Besides that, "My Favorite Year" is further proof of my theory that the three great crimes of the 20th century were the Lindbergh kidnapping, the Great Train Robbery and the Academy not giving Peter O'Toole an Oscar for "Lawrence of Arabia." O'Toole IS this movie, from the moment his Alan Swann wakes up blurry-eyed in a stewardess' bed to the last wave of the sword. He delivers some of the funniest lines in screwball comedy history, and brings you to tears with his mournful gaze at the daughter he has not had the nerve to speak to in years. It is his story that drives the movie, how an irresponsible womanizing actor finds the hero within himself. Around O'Toole is an assorted cast of real characters, from Joseph Bologna's blustery King Kaiser (an obvious takeoff from Sid Caesar) to Selma Diamond's costumer (who sets up a classic O'Toole line by saying, "This is for ladies only!") to Bill Macy's cranky head writer. The movie is told through the eyes of young writer Benjy Stone (Mark Linn-Baker), who idolizes Stone and is assigned to keep him sober for the week. Linn-Baker (whose character was reportedly based on Mel Brooks) delivers his one-liners with zing, but ultimately is overshadowed by O'Toole. The only actor who stands a chance is Bologna, who turns his scenes into tour de forces, such as his face-off with a corrupt union leader who comes to complain about a sketch. The weakest part of the movie, sadly, is the romance between Benjy and K.C. (the woefully underused Jessica Harper). There's just no substance to it, and the scene when they first kiss is played as stares as they watch clips from Swann's movies. They go from acquaintances to lovers far too quickly. The only good thing about it is it sets up the rooftop sequence later in the film. That aside, this is a great coming-of-age story about movie fan Benjy and his idol Swann. Only it is not Benjy who really grows up as the movie unfolds ... it is Swann.
Rating:
Summary: Hey, this is for ladies!
Review: I have not seen this movie since it was released. Really need to buy the DVD now and see it again and again. But it's so remarkable, I still vividly remember three things that I've repeated over and over in my praise of the film through the years: 1) O'Toole gave an amazing and unexpected comedic performance, 2) Laney Kazaan played basically the same motherly role, though Jewish, in Favorite Year that she played 20 years later, as the Greek maternal counterpart, in My Big Fat Greek Wedding; 3) Greatest dialogue was between the late Selma Diamond and O'Toole in the ladies rest room. When a very intoxicated O'Toole was discovered by Selma in the ladies room, urinating in a commode, she said, "Hey, what are you doing in here? This is for ladies." Without skipping a beat, O'Toole answered, "And so, my dear, is this. But from time to time I must run some water through it." Buy it, you'll love it.
Rating:
Summary: Great Acting
Review: I agree with most of the other reviewers regarding--
--needs better transfer
--great acting
--great story
--needs more extras on DVD All that aside, this is one of the greatest comedies of the last 20 years. The acting is superb. Mark Linn-Baker does the best job of his career in this. Peter O'Toole is exceptional and really makes the film. Richard Benjamin has never come up to this one. This is a must for anyone's DVD collection.
Rating: 
Summary: The glory days of television
Review: This is one of those movies in which you can see the flaws in the plot, but becuase it is so delightful, you really don't care. This romantic comedy is set in New York in the 1950's during the golden age of television. Mark Linn-Baker plays a playwright on a variety comedy show who is in charge of keeping the guest star for the week sober and on time. Peter O' Toole is wonderful as this Errol Flynn double and plays the role with just the right amonut of over the top bravado. The whole cast is wonderful and it is a terrific 90 minutes of fun. The video transfer is not the best, and I was hoping for a little more in DVD extras than some trailers and a commentary from the director. Still a fun movie made even better with O' Toole's terrific performance. Jessica Harper is good as the love interest and Joseph Bologna is great as King Kaiser, the star of the TV show. This movie is worth seeing and leaves everyone who sees its with a smile. If you are looking for a gift for someone who enjoys romantic comedies, this is one to pick up.
Rating:
Summary: Sags in the middle
Review: The first 40 minutes of this movie are absolutely funny as [...] and will always be. The middle ... weighs you down like a cheap 80's paperweight (a pet rock, perhaps?) I wish Richard Benjamin would re-issue a director's cut, and try to fix it. The last 5 minutes are wonderful. It's a shame that a movie like this, which is so close to being perfect, misfires so continuously during the middle of the film. It's quite sad.
Rating:
Summary: Classic
Review: Peter O'Toole's finest performance. Ever.
In this sweetly, outrageously funny film, O'Toole plays an aging, alcoholic British movie star (Alan Swann) who is in desperate need of cash.
So he agrees to star on a Sid Caesar-type comedy show, back in '50s Manhattan. Can they keep him sober enough to show up at rehearsals? Can they keep him out of every single woman's bed in New York City?
Mark-Linn Baker plays the nebbishy young writer in charge of keeping his boyhood idol in line. Can he keep his matinee illusions while keeping Swann out of trouble? Joseph Bologna (Big Daddy) plays King Kaiser, the TV comedy star with mobster troubles.
Of course there's a girl's heart to be won. In this case, the smart and charming K.C., played by Minority Report's Jessica Harper. And a hysterical turn by Bill Macy (Analyze This), as the show's dictatorial (and dirty minded) producer.
Broad farce, snappy dialogue, and even a horse chase through Central Park. And a big finish that has both exciting action and hysterical slapstick. My Favorite Year is one of my favorite movies.
Rating: 
Summary: A Valentine to New York
Review: Alan Swann: Alfredo, telephone the Stork Club, we'll be two for dinner. Alfi: You sure you want the Stork Club, Mr. Swann? Alan Swann: It's been a year and a half. Surely they've repaired the wall of the bandstand by now. Former actor Richard Benjamin's near classic comedy "My Favorite Year" opens on 50th Street and Broadway in the Manhattan of 1954. Summer sunshine glistens off a new Oldsmobile. Fading, dissolute matinee idol Alan Swann is about to appear in his first live television program. Or will He? Peter O'Toole stars as movie swashbuckler Alan Swann( a thin impersonation of Errol Flynn). O'Toole verifies the comedic spark first seen in 1965's "What's New Pussycat?". A talented cast includes Mark Linn-Baker, Bill Macy, Lainie Kazan, and Cameron Mitchell. Film-within-a-film flashbacks reveal scenes from O'Toole's "Lord Jim". The director's penchant for long, theatrical episodes produces a slow but studied pace. Don't worry. The effect is marvelous. This brand new widescreen anamorphic 1.85:1 DVD of "My Favorite Year" is a stately Warners release. The digital transfer reveals some sloppy mattes around the actors' heads in the firehose balcony sequence. But by then, you'll be laughing so hard you won't even notice. The DVD includes generous chapter stops, a trailer, and splendid audio commentary by Benjamin, as he defines the dangers and head-aches of directing an MGM movie. In "My Favorite Year", veteran Gloria Stuart has a small non-speaking bit part. 20 years later, in a larger role, Stuart played Old Rose in a much more famous film tragedy set in 1912. It was the resonant epic about a ship that could not float.
Rating:
Summary: doesn't get much better than this!!!
Review: if you haven't seen this film? rent or buy it!! now!! it's one of my all-time favorite comedies. there are many films out there that have quotable lines. this is one of the best. every single person in this film has great dialogue with impeccable timing. it's the last great role of peter o'toole. (when is he going to get the oscar he so richly deserves?) enjoy.
ps - the only reason i'm not giving this dvd 5 stars is because it needs more behind the scences bells and whistles.
Rating:
Summary: IF YOU WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED...
Review: ...BUY this DVD immediately!
Peter O'Toole plays a better "drunk" than Dudley Moore's "Arthur," for starters. But there is Heart and SOUL to this film--a delightful homage to the days of live TV...and to ANYONE who has had a childhood idol...if YOU fall into this category, you'll be instantly warmed to the main characters, and their relatives..(!)--all played by veteran TV, stage, and film veterans. A wonderful way to spend an evening! Period.
Rating:
Summary: There's a reason everyone gives this 5 stars!
Review: A Hallmark card to the golden age of live television, MY FAVORITE YEAR is an absolute gem! O'Toole is a scream, and Linn-Baker gives the best and most earnest performance of his young career. Every scene is funny. You'll be quoting lines from it for years!
Rather than take up space with specifics (as so many others have already done anyway, so why be redundant), I'll just say that I have been looking forward to this DVD since the advent of the medium. I've owned the widescreen laserdisc version for years, but the DVD comes with a director's commentary. So I'm buying it mostly for that.
Actor/Director Richard Benjamin also made "The Money Pit" with Tom Hanks, which is also worth buying.
Sadly, Benjamin's other films would not even come close to the homerun he hit with "My Favorite Year".
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