An excellent cast is hamstrung by a less than mediocre script.
share[deleted]
Sorry, but there is no logical equivalence between the two statements. The first statement judged aspects of this one film; your reply was a generalization about a genre (drama books).
You'd have to give examples of mediocrity. I thought it was a good movie. Glenn Ford was twitchy and emotional, not a all like his quiet, confident cowboy characters, but that's because he was recently widowed and had not yet worked through his grief.
Ronny Howard was great, but then he always was.
The only thing I found unbelievable was that Tom could fall so in love with Rita that he was ready to propose. She was beautiful but not funny, warm nor sexually appealing.
I was shocked that he didn't turn to the warm, intelligent, competent, beautiful and sexy Shirley Jones right off the bat.
Absurdity: A Statement or belief inconsistent with my opinion.
I think it's a good film for what it is: a drama-romantic comedy with a typical unsurprising plot, which the film companies regularly put out starring the stars of the day.
I thought it was entertaining, delightful, funny in parts, and the acting was good. It wasn't a great movie, but it was a good movie.
It wasn't Guys and Dolls or anything, but for what it was, it was pretty good. I watch it whenever it comes on TV, which isn't often.
That's just it. Tom wasn't in love with her. He wanted to be married again (Paul McCartney/Heather Mills ;-) and she came along. She was beautiful, she was well connected, and in his mind, the answer to his lonliness. How many people, men and women both, marry for those reasons? Millions.
shareWhat many viewers don't get is that Tom (Ford) is TERRIFIED of his
feelings, having not fully recovered from his wife's death. This
makes Jones' character extremely threatening to him, as subconsciously,
he knows "right off the bat" that she's the perfect choice. Her
character, too, is terrified of another "failure." This internal
conflict is why they bicker so much and, in particular, date safe - but
wrong - people (Merrill's character isn't frightening to Tom, as he
knows he could never have any feelings for her).
omg -- did you just summarized that perfectly. Their true feelings surface for that delicious moment at New Years when she comes home from Dr. Dreadful and they run into each other in the hallway... then share a drink at his place.
But yes, I agree w/ you, bennett, 100%.
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The world doesnt owe you a damn thing.
The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions.
shareThis movie is way better than mediocre. It is an unusual mix of comedy and light drama and succeeds mostly because of the chemistry between Glenn Ford and Ron Howard. Ford was an adult actor with about 25 years of film experience and he did a good job. Ron Howard was a little boy actor with some experience and he did a GREAT job. He brought so much talent and sincerity to his part that he really is responsible for putting the movie across. Compare his work in this film to other child actors of the day and he is so much better than anybody else.
I think the best evidence of the quality of this film is the fact that it was the source material for a TV show of the same name which ran for three seasons from 1969 to 1972. This would not have been the destiny of an inferior product.