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Something's Gotta Give

Something's Gotta Give

List Price: $28.95
Your Price: $21.71
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: As Bad as it Gets
Review: Every once in a while you come across a movie that hits you right where you live. A movie that so accurately reflects your life and your life experience that you almost feel gaseous with recognition. A movie that explodes in your guts like a rotten pineapple. A movie that twists and squirms in your brain like a live amphibian. This grand film assuredly belongs in that class.

Take the first scene. Amanda Peet is a beautiful young woman with an education, a fascinating job, and a wealthy, famous mother. So naturally--it just makes so much sense--she throws herself at the ancient, witless, overweight buffoon, Jack Nicholson. She can hardly wait to drag him back to her mother's fabulous beach resort for a weekend of physical frivolity.

This was the film's first brilliant point, and exactly mirrors the problem that many of us in middle have begun to encounter. So you know, I'm a 52 year-old balding insurance salesman--admittedly not as old as the Jack Nicholson character--and I can't stick my nose in a restaurant, bar, theatre or bookstore without some lithe 24 year-old, bikini'd bimbo trying to drag me to the back room for a couple of minutes of frisky frolic. What is with these girls? Why can't they find somebody their own age? The movie hammered this home: of COURSE I empathize with the Jack Nicholson character. It's about time a film addressed this very critical societal issue, a problem all men my age must face.

Now the potential flaw to this theme is that the Nicholson character is at least several decades older than me, but the film overcomes this possible stumbling block by inundating us with the famous Nicholson charm. No, not a charm based on wit and humor, as you might expect, but a far more effective one: by having him gasp and wheeze and weakly speak his every line in feeble befuddlement, the filmmakers cleverly show how pitiful he is. Clearly, no nubile, youthful, gorgeous female on earth could keep her hands off him.

But the brilliant points of this film have only just begun. For the Nicholson character is then attracted to the mother. Of course! Just like me, he prefers the company of women his own age. But the problem is this: like him, every time I find a skinny, hermetic, wrinkled-up old broad I'd like to hang around with, sure enough, a young, rich, handsome doctor-type comes along and sweeps her off her feet. It is an unbelievably frustrating and common problem to all of us 52 year-old, balding insurance salesmen, and it is to the film's great credit that it has the undaunted courage to finally address this major societal controversy.

There are so many other things to say about the artistic magnificence displayed in this film. Even I, wise and experienced as I am, can not pretend to know everything. For example, I've never been to a gangster-rap, hip-hop type party, and have always been fascinated to see what one might be like. The film portrays this brilliantly. How interesting to see that get-togethers like this are mostly populated by aging white people sipping cocktails, and that the background music resembles nothing like hip-hop or rap at all! This is daring, risky moviemaking, and succeeds in foiling our expectations brilliantly.

But it is the ending which almost defies description, and brings these divergent parts to an artistic whole. For Mr. Nicholson, after a searing, tragic, heart-breaking journey of self-discovery, decides to reclaim his aging, prune-faced amour in Paris. She has gone there, unbeknownst to him, with the young doctor, and for an idyllic week of wine, dining and romance. To the film's great, daring credit, the young doctor, with his loved one and his dreams in the City of Light, immediately abandons her, boldly conceding that he cannot hope to compete with the weight, the age, the experience, and the overall unshaved ineptitude of Nicholson's drooling stinkpot of a character.

It is a wonder to behold.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Predictable yet enjoyable
Review: I don't know if it's fair to call this movie a chick flick. It can be considered so every bit as much as Mel Gibson's "What Women Want": it is a chick flick with a twist, where the chauvinistic "highly coveted" bachelor is redempted from his world... well, sorta!

The movie is quite predictable: there are some sex scenes; romantic moments with french music, wine and the beach, and tales of heartbreak and reconciliation. For such a repeated plot, you probably wouldn't give the movie too much credit, but except for a few moments, the movie is actually saved by the performances of the two leads, mostly Diane Keaton, who played a brilliant part that will make you laugh real hard.

I don't think it's "the worse movie ever" or some other categorizations it's received like that, but there are far better movies (and stories) out there (if you want to dig into the theme, do pick up the Gibson flick I mentioned earlier -you're bound to like it even more). Overall, I give it 3.5 stars.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Well, I liked it!
Review: "Something's Gotta Give" was a movie I know I will watch over and over again -- okay, that's just the way I am when a movie appeals to me. I thought it was a wonderful satire of contemporary society, which consistently values youth over age. I have to admire Jack Nicholson for taking on a role that reminds the viewer of the actor's own very public relationships with much younger women. And Nicholson did an excellent turn as a man reluctant, at age 60+, to grow up and assume the adult role. Diane Keaton as 'Erica' was outstanding -- she did not indulge in most of her trademark mannerisms & because of that her character seemed very real and vivid, much more so than that of her daughter (played by the competent Amanda Peet). As to the May-September romance between 'Erica' and the much younger doctor (played by Keanu Reeves), which bothered many viewers: I did not feel comfortable with it either...it seemed perhaps to be too much of a wish-fullfillment..as a light flirtation or a fling I could see it, but I think it was unrealistic that 'Erica' would even consider marriage to the much younger doctor, let alone become engaged to him.

For me, the highlight of the movie was the speech that Frances McDormand made early in the movie, relating how women in their 50s were "the most %$#@%^ generation of America women ever." Since I didn't see it in the theatre, I can only imagine the cheers that went up when she was finished! And speaking of Ms McDormand, I would loved to have seen more of her character -- she just disappeared from the movie without any reason given, which was IMO a waste of her talent.

As to the DVD, I wish there were more bonus materials -- I rarely listen to audio commentary, and,other than that, there isn't much more than a deleted scene and a tour of the house where much of the movie took place. Ho hum!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I loved it
Review: Im 23, and i loved the movie. I found it funny and entertaining. I think it bored my husband, but most chick flicks do bore him and almost every other man. Still a good movie.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: My Aunts liked it....
Review: Well I finally went to the theaters one day to see what everyone in my family was raving about. The older generation that is. It didn't bother me at first. I kind of liked it. Then it became insulting.My aunt was raving on how impowering it was to older women. Yea I guess. But it insults the rest of us who have brains. I could have taken it if the younger women the older men were seeing were airheads. With no inteligance. But they were for the most part inteligent and articulate. Well educated. The worst part was when the mother and daughter went to meet the new fiance of the dad mid way through the movie. They get sloshed and insult the hell out of this new young woman (who happens to be a doctor)becouse of her age.They insulted the hell out of the dad to. I bet they didn't have a very friendly ex relationship after that. The movie just oozed hipcracy. After that incident Keatons charector shacks up with a younger man who anyone would love to have. And all of the suden it's O.K.!!! I guess theres a diffrence or somthing.Men can't date youth only women. Of course she picks Nicklson at the end. They are the highest paid actors in the movie. But by the end of it I wished I left earlyer. My sister was with me. She liked it. Don't see why. I didn't find it very "cute" as she did....and as for my aunt... she's 10 years younger than her husband...hmmm....

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: It was enjoyable
Review: I am not a big Diane Keaton fan, but I think she did a good job in this movie. Though I don't think she deserved the golden globe for best female performance. I disliked the plot of old guy dating young female. It is SO BORING!!! I also thought the scene where Diane Keaton is nude was uncalled for. I should not have been surprised that any opportunity possible to show some skin is what hollywood will do.

The movie was okay. There were some funny moments. The plot was fairly predictable though. Jack Nicholson was his usual self.

Well, I am sorry that this review is probably not helpful, but that is all that I have to say.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Zero stars: A Truly Terrible Film
Review: I never review movies but after watching this stinker, I just had to express my outrage. Where to begin? The dialogue is almost nonexistent: There is absolutely nothing intelligent being said or conveyed. In comparison, a film like "Finding Nemo" appears positively intellectual. I cannot recall a single line from this movie and I only watched it a few days ago.

This film would have us believe that a pretty, slim, youngish woman in her 50's would fall head-over-heels inlove with a fat, repulsive, overweight, viagra popping, committment-phobic old man with a serious heart condition...while being pursued by a young, healthy, gorgeous man (Keanu Reeves) who is doting, attentive, and respectful of her genius! Not believable. It defies logic and ultimately insults the sensibilities of the audience.
Anyone who deems this film to be "refreshing" is lacking critical faculties. A fresh take would be for her to choose the younger man. THAT would be the unexpected twist in the plot! But we cannot have that: women are too moral, too sensible, too undersexed, to behave like Donald Trump. Several times, we see Keaton behaving in a self-loathing fashion: I'm not pretty, don't compliment me, don't even look at me. As if HER attractiveness is the issue; not the attractiveness (or lackof) of her geriatric love-interest. Nicholson's character shows no self-consciousness at all! He's fat, pathetic, helpless, and practically half-dead. And yet...he still thinks himself the hot swinging bachelor: we even see him on dates with young beautiful women. In contrast, Keaton hasn't had a date (...) since the Nixon administration.

This is truly the worst film I have seen in years and it left me in a very bad mood. In the end, the old guy still gets the chick...just an older one. These films must make men feel so comforted: no matter what, some woman will want you. You'll never be rejected, you'll never be alone. As for women, this is what we have to look forward to: singlehood (a very underrated state of being)or a future with a man so broken-down that no young woman would want him anyway. No thanks.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: she goes off with the wrong guy!
Review: The movie is SO frustrating. Such a nice idea, such a good set up, something interesting and wonderful to explore -- giving us a peek at older characters -- but Keaton's character goes off with the wrong guy! Reeves is funny, sweet, smart, and a hell of a lot sexier than Nicholson. I mean, the scene where he brings her the flowers! Or where he chases her around the corner into the bedroom! But Keaton's character is just a little too neurotic to accept something so wonderful as a guy who has the maturity from the start ... still, there are some good lines, some good scenes. The daughter and the sister are fabulous.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I was skeptical but I actually loved this movie.
Review: I for one am very biased against romantic comedies. A vast majority of them are extremely predictable and go nowhere for me. While some of that does apply to "Something's Gotta Give", however the main characters however though give this film a more original twist.

Harry Sanborn is a 60 year old bachelor who never dates women over 30 years old and has fallen in love with another one...again except by this point he realizes he has been finding himself being attracted to someone who is in his age group (50+ years of ago) and this has started to make him think about his polygamous ways plus heart problems have plagued him.

He starts to realize that the older woman, a Playwright worker and he share a lot in common and Harry realizes that he has a choice to make.

This movie while stymied by some predictable elements, is a really smartly done movie in a lot of ways. No pun indended at all but many movies of this genre are focused on younger couples and this extremely formulaic pattern really ruins many movies in this category but SGG however steers clear of that by focusing on older characters.

In some ways this film was bothersome but it was because it reminded me of someone one of my relatives dated years ago before things went sour.

This is a great movie worth checking out.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This movie stinks
Review: Its a sad day when people start paying money to watch things like this. Sweet Lord, something has got to give!!!!


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