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UntilBoogie Nights, this film had stood for almost two decades as the best performance Burt Reynolds had ever given. In a criminal oversight, he was denied an Oscar nomination, perhaps because it came in the middle of his action-movie winning streak. Directed by Alan Pakula from a script by James L. Brooks, the film cast Reynolds as a newly divorced man struggling to cope with single life in the city. But a blind date (initially misconstrued by the woman as a mugging) leads to renewed hope in romance when he and his new lady friend (Jill Clayburgh) actually seem right for each other. But before he can make a commitment, his flighty ex-wife (Candice Bergen) bounces back into his life to make him miserable all over again with her flirtatious indecisiveness. Wonderfully acted and observed; a highpoint is Bergen's attempt (as the world's least talented singer-songwriter) to seduce Reynolds with one of her off-key tunes.--Marshall Fine
Burt Gets Serious. Kinda. To call Burt Reynolds' performance in this offbeat romantic comedy "Oscar-worthy" is a bit of a stretch, but it was definitely a step out of the norm for him. In fact, it was a step out of the norm for most of the key talents involved; director Alan J. Pakula was better known for eerie mysteries like "Klute" and "Presumed Innocent," while the character that Candace Bergen plays bears no resemblance to Murphy Brown or any of the brassier roles we've gotten used to seeing her in. Here, she is Reynolds' ex-wife, while Jill Clayburgh is Reynolds' new love, and the central question to be answered is whether Burt will stick with Clayburgh or go back to Bergen.
The outcome is never particularly in doubt, and the film has an uneven pace and longeurs where the laughs dry up, but it is often quite on the mark about the reality of breakups and when it IS funny, it's very funny. And yes, Burt does shed his Bandit persona and turn in a respectable portrayal of the less-than-happily singled male, but if there's an overlooked performance in the film it's that of Clayburgh, who is delightfully kooky and neurotic and real as a single female wary of getting wrapped up with a divorcee. Her, and of course Charles Durning, who turns in another rock-solid performance as the plain-spoken, long-suffering friend of the hero, a part he's played wonderfully for what seems like a million years without sufficient kudos.
Not a perfect picture, but certainly different and worth a look.
Insanely funny romantic comedy I didn't realize how young Burt Reynolds is in this movie....but I love all of his romantic comedies, and was happy that amazon.com had this one. Jill Clayburgh is well cast as the love interest and Candace Bergen is hysterical as Reynolds' soon-to-be ex-wife. No wonder she was so great (later on) as "Murphy Brown." The story is hilarious and yet has its warm fuzzy moments. Great songs, too (when Bergen isn't trying to sing them herself)! Thoroughly enjoyable.Burt's best romantic comedy! This film is literally a perennial favourite with me. It's funny, warm and charming every time. Burt plays a man who is reluctantly splitting from his wife, played by Candice Bergen. His brother, played by Charles Durning and sister-in-law, played by Frances Sternhagen set him up on a blind date dinner with Jill Clayburgh who tells him to look her up after he is over his break-up. There are many funny scenes, thanks to the script, written by James L. Brooks. I liked the divorced men's workshop in the church basement, the dates Burt went on and the familiar feelings of being trapped or elated during a relationship. Burt played this convincingly as a lonely, vulnerable, loveable man who is unprepared for change. I highly recommend this film as a feel-good romantic comedy.
