MovieChat Forums > The Four Seasons (1981) Discussion > Bravo Alan Alda: you are always consiste...

Bravo Alan Alda: you are always consistent.

posted 15 years ago by zurichpoet
5 replies | jump to latest

Consistently mediocre, that is.

Like the four seasons.

I knew he was a mediocre actor going in, and I found out he’s an equally mediocre writer and director watching this.

The earnest insight into “people” and “us” and “the world” found in this flick one would find at a corporate retreat, once a year, when people are asked to “look at themselves” and “talk about how they feel” and how they "want to change" and become "better people" and "grow with each other".

Of course, it's all bs.

Thus, it’s a really funny movie.
Unintentionally, of course.
Or maybe... that's just "me"?

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mit800 12 years ago

"I never thought Alan Alda would get on my nerves" -- Bea Arthur as Dorothy on THE GOLDEN GIRLS!!

Dorothy stop that, Mr. Ha Ha`s lookin at you!!

[–] artistathome 9 years ago

Alda always acts the same. He seems mediocre but to me, that is his charm. He is very real.

[–] Zuider_Zee 9 years ago

He's as dull as dishwater. He's competent but each and every single one of his characters is exactly the same.

[–] cpoet 8 years ago

. . . every single one of his characters is exactly the same.

That's okay I guess, since his particular brand of snark was appropriate for his characters--there was no Hawkeye Does Hamlet. I enjoyed Robin Williams most in his serious roles, but lots of people were disappointed any time he didn't go trademark nutso.

[Addendum: wait, I've shortchanged Alda. I checked his profile and there have been several times when he incorporated his twinkly smile into a bemused malevolence.]

Anyway, to me, Alda's misstep in this movie was casting his daughters. Lawrence Kasdan likes to put his kids in his movies, but I don't think they've ever been featured in roles where they needed to step up and be sensitive or moody.