Hollywood ending . . .


… that still holds up very well.

Sentimental? Absolutely. But I love it as much now as much as I did 32 years ago.

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Sentimental? Absolutely.
They don't get much more Hollywood than this one. I don't mind the movie but I always tend to let out a bit of a sh-e-e-e-e-sh at this juncture.

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Of it's time and with a cringe factor increases with the years - but yeah, I still like it to.

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I normally hate Hollywood sappy endings if they seem as outlandish as this one, but for some reason this one works.
I like it even now.


"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

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I normally hate Hollywood sappy endings if they seem as outlandish as this one, but for some reason this one works.


To be honest, it was a surprise ending for me, and not really a happy one. While Zack could be a dick at times (particularly early in the film), Paula was unlikable at best and mostly annoying. I honestly thought that Zack grew up, would be far better off without her, and would eventually meet someone a bit more compatible.





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It does seem to hold up well. Personally, I think it works because Gere and Winger sell the love story successfully during the movie.

If you just look at the big picture then it's a dated cliché of a Cinderella story where she goes looking for a guy to get her out and he is that Prince Charming. And it reinforces old fashioned ideas on gender roles.

But on a personal character development level, they each have their own journey. They have each been hurt by the world and are seeking to avoid the mistakes their parents made. We get to see this and we see them struggle with trusting their feelings for each other.

So when he shows up and sweeps her off her feet literally, we have seen both journeys and so it doesn't seem like a a chivalrous cliché but rather the moment of triumph between two people who've found out they can trust the happiness they've found.

It's totally sentimental but it works because the characters seem real.

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Good post, loonieloona. I agree.


"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

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It does indeed hold up well, as does the rest of the film. This is a romantic drama and a military film for those who don't care for either genre. There's a lot on on in this film, and it has a lot going for it. 9/10 stars from me.

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i will break the combo here, it doesn't hold up








so many movies, so little time

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The film deserved that ending. As did Paula (Debra Winger), she was one of those characters who was tough but had a heart of gold. Plus Gere did a great job with Mayo, in the wrong hands he could have come off like a real dick. But Gere showed that Mayo was a good guy who wanted to be loved but was clearly damaged from his childhood. One of those chick flicks that even guys will love lol.

Amazing to think Gere and Winger hated the sight of each other, cause they had such great chemistry.

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Of course it's a lovely ending, even if they probably got divorced within five years.

But I don't think either would regret the marriage too much even if it didn't work out, he'd get someone to support him while he established his career, and she got out and began to build a new life for herself. Even if she was working in the Piggly Wiggly in Fort Bragg after they broke up, she'd still think she was better off than she had been, and set out to find herself a better husband.

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