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Something's Gotta Give | Year: 2004 Classification: Comedy Country: USA Language: English Actors/Actresses: - Keanu Reeves - Jack Nicholson as Harry Sanborn - Amanda Peet as Marin - Diane Keaton as Erica - Frances McDormand - Nancy Meyers Jack and Diane At Their Best This movie is pure artistry, and simply fun from the first credits to the very end. Neither Jack Nicholson nor Diane Keaton, aging gracefully as actors, have seen fit to have "something done" to improve their graciously handsome looks, and the pleasure of seeing two fine actors obviously enjoying themselves to the hilt without needing to pretend they are 30 years old is a rare and wonderful pleasure. Jack plays a 63-year-old "player," a wealthy record producer who makes it a rule never to date a woman over 30. Diane is the mother of his current sweetie, and she is nobody to tangle with, being successful and wealthy herself, a divorcee who has written hit plays for years. Jack comes to spend a frisky weekend with the daughter, but mama just happens to waltz in the door at the wrong time... done to death, but perfect, perfect, perfect!! Keanu Reeves provides a real surprise as the 30-something doctor who rescues Jack from his heart attack and gets a roaring crush on Diane. It's so nice to see a women of a certain age portrayed as desirable enough to attract an intelligent younger man!! Reeves is sweet and charming as the doctor. I often get bored or impatient with the extras on DVDs--the commentary that takes away from the fantasy of the film itself, so I skipped around a bit. Loved Jack, loved Diane, but would have loved the movie without either of their "extras." That's just me, though--this DVD is a keeper, and I plan to do just that. Jack doing his best Jack SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE brings to recollection the short novel by Jeanne Ray of a couple of years back, JULIE AND ROMEO, which reminded us that women (and men) of "that certain age", and not just the insufferably young and impossibly beautiful, enjoy and cherish sex. Jack Nicholson, in perhaps his best role in awhile playing ... well, playing essentially Jack ... is Harry Sanborn, a 63-year old record company executive that dates and beds only women under 30. Harry's Lust of the Moment is for Marin Barry (Amanda Peet), who invites her Lothario out to her mother's (presumably unoccupied) beach house in the Hamptons for some hanky-panky. In the midst of the foreplay, however, Mom (Diane Keaton as Erica Barry) shows up with her sister Zoe (Frances McDormand). After an initial period of tension, which includes a threatened call to the police and the brandishing of a butcher knife, all decide, being adults after all, to spend the weekend under the same roof. Sanborn subsequently has a heart attack. On release from the hospital, Marin goes back to New York and Harry is left to recuperate alone at Erica's home with its 56-year old owner, a noted playwright who's trying desperately to concentrate on writing her next script. A love-hate relationship develops, and the fun begins. Some of the biggest laughs hinge on nudity. A couple of times, the audience sees Harry's bare butt through the back of a hospital gown, and it's not a pretty sight. On the other hand, Erica has a full-frontal nude shot so brief that, if you blink at the wrong instant, you may miss it. However, if you rent the film when it comes out on DVD and pause it at the right instant, I suggest you'll see that Diane Keaton is still Lookin' Mighty Good. I was impressed. Harry is stunned, but not like you'd think. SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE is an enormously engaging romantic comedy as two veteran pros go through their paces. It's biggest flaw is that, at over two hours run time, it's too long by 30-40 minutes and one cardiac episode. (There should be a law prohibiting examples of the genre more than 90 minutes in length.) Moreover, there's an amusing but completely superfluous sidebar involving Harry's 36-year old physician (Keanu Reeves), who falls for an older woman. Guess who? On the other hand, Frances McDormand hasn't enough screen time. (To be perfectly honest, I wish she'd been cast in Keaton's part. Frances is, I think, a much better actress and could have given Erica depth beyond Diane's ability.) SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE is effervescent entertainment for the 2003 holiday season. It's not likely to be nominated for any Oscars, but it's great fun and likely to boost Viagra sales. Go see it with Granny and Grandpa. Too Young for This? Perhaps at 34 I am too young to 'get' this movie. I was hoping for a great romantic comedy, but found this one fell flat. Not even in the same universe as As Good as It Gets. After Jack Nicholson's character is stranded at Diane Keaton's house, I just lost interest. I didn't think he was anyone's dream man, and their love scene was frankly more than a little embarrassing. And the ending! Let's just say I find it very hard to believe a 60-something leopard would change his spots. Buy Something's Gotta Give at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone! ![]() Search with Walhello on the Internet on Something's Gotta Give Search with the Priority Search Engine on Something's Gotta Give This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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