Something's Gotta Give Movie Review:


“Something’s Gotta Give” is a pleasant romantic comedy told through the battle of the sexes. Though winded by the closing credits, it is absolute joy to watch Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton work together in this film.

Nicholson plays Harry Sanborn, a sixty-three year old slick bachelor who owns a record label among other things. Harry is a ladies man that knows exactly what to say to women and when to say it, he also never dates any ladies under the age of 30. His latest choice is the young Marin (Amanda Peet), whom he goes to spend the weekend with at her famous playwright mother’s home in The Hamptons of Long Island. However, their peace is interrupted with the mother Erica (Diane Keaton) arrives for a quiet atmosphere to write out a new play. Though both repulsed by the other, Erica and Harry maintain their sincerity to one other. Unexpectedly, Harry suffers a heart attack, and has stay for a few weeks to recover with Erica while Marin heads back to work. As the two begin to push each other’s buttons about the opposite sex, both learn that they are more like one another than first perceived. As soon as the two start to rediscover themselves through the other, Harry leaves after recovering, and Erica begins to be pursued by Harry’s young charming doctor, Julian (Keanu Reeves). Harry and Erica are left with decisions to make as whether to return to their everyday lives or to follow their reenergized feelings.

“Something’s Gotta Give” is written and directed by Nancy Meyers. Meyers previous credits included the impecunious “What Women Want,” and co-writer of other hit films such as “Father of the Bride” and “Baby Boom.” Meyers goes into full force with her issues surrounding masculinity and femininity. The work in this film is very similar to something that would be conceived by Nora Ephron, in which there are many triggers of comedy, drama, love, and of course the sexes that Meyers unleashes. The story itself is too drawn out, which is understood, but the film still could have been trim and delivered the same effect. However, there are many continuous laughs throughout, especially in the first half of the film. Meyers holds the notion that any two people can fall in love at any time in their lives, even if they are a little older. The scenes of rediscovery and ambitional intimacy between Erica and Harry are not only hilarious, but also tender and kind. Other minor flaws have supporting characters such as Harry’s assistant Leo (Jon Favreau) and Erica’s sister (Frances McDormand) practically fall out of the first act and the closure of the film being very Hollywood. Nonetheless, “Something’s Gotta Give” is just funny and likeable.

Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton raise the film to another level, and have so much fun with their characters. Their on-screen chemistry as actors is the best seen in any film so far this year. Nicholson is smooth and sophisticated, but also brilliant with his comedic deliveries and those devilish eyebrows are in full effect. Keaton, who has not been in a film in awhile, is step for step next to Nicholson with her grace and wit. Nicholson and Keaton are a splendid duo in this film. Keanu Reeves steps into a supporting role as Harry’s doctor and Erica’s secret admirer. Though not the best actor in the world, Reeves does what he is called to do in this film as Julian. The great Frances McDormand also arises in a small role as Erica’s sister Zoe and as usual she steals many scenes.

Though a little longer than it needed to be, “Something’s Gotta Give” is favorable movie for adult audiences. Nancy Meyers is a writer/director that likes to throw darts back and forth from males to females, and she once again does this extensively in this film. The aspect of older people finding themselves in love after being lost is fresh, and Nicholson and Keaton are absolutely wonderful.

Grade: B

Joseph Tucker

 

It has been a long time since a romantic comedy has ventured past the "Gen-X" barrier. The genre was littered with the "gross-out" formula or
flat careless melodrama. Then once in a while the genre does see a film where smart writing and dynamite performances help the romantic comedy
emerge past its obvious clichés. "Something's Gotta Give" is one of those films.

Jack Nicholson plays Harry Langer, an aging 63-year old "player" who dates women 30 years his junior to feel young. The lack of connection and fear of intimacy are two of Harry's closest companions which why it makes his young affairs all the more perfect.

Harry has journeyed to the Hamptons with his twenty-something girlfriend Marin (Amanda Peet) to spend a wild weekend at Marin's mother's vacant
house. Upon their arrival and much to Harry and Marin's horror, Marin's mother, Erica (Diane Keaton) has also decided to stay the weekend in the
Hamptons with Marin's aunt, Zoe (Frances McDormand). It looks to be a long, long weekend for Harry.

As the evening's meal winds down, Marin and Harry retire for the evening as Erica and Zoe clean up. Erica hears her daughter scream and dashes to her
rescue as she finds Harry sprawled out across the floor suffering from a heart attack. Harry is then whisked off to the hospital.

Harry's doctor (Keanu Reeves) urges Harry to take it easy and spend sometime in bed. The accommodation closest to hospital is Erica's place. Marin urges her mother to care for the sickly Harry until he is well enough to get back to the city. It is a weekend that will change both philandering Harry and steadfast Erica forever.

"Something's Gotta Give" is a mature, delightfully written comedy that shows that even as we grow older love can still find a way. The "tour de force"
performances of both Keaton and Nicholson are hysterical and utterly delightful. There is so much brilliance and talent between these comedic
acting giants. Each builds on the magic that they have been delivering for more than 30 years. It truly is remarkable.

The film is written by director Nancy Meyers who wrote and directed the 1998 version of the classic Disney film "The Parent Trap" with Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson. Meyers also directed the 2000 Mel Gibson comedy, "What Women Want". You can see a lot of influences in her latest film from both of these ventures. The mature romantic relationships and how they were handled in both films find their way into the chemistry between Keaton and Nicholson. But what makes "Something's" so much more intimate and delicate
is that you can see how Meyers is able to bring us a lot closer to her leading lady than ever before. There must be a lot of Meyers in Keaton's
Erica. I also saw some of Gibson from "What Women Want" in Jack's performance.

I loved that the characters were so accessible and that each had such natural and raw humor and that came from the whole cast in this film even
Keanu Reeves. It was so nice to see a comedy without pushing the audience so much to like the characters. How can you not love the Keaton and Nicholson characters?

I did have some issues with the film's ending. It seemed to take forever for the film to find its eventual conclusion. The writing and performances were spectacular but the script really seemed to have a hard time finishing. When you have to pick-up so many months later at the end of a comedy then you know the ending feels a little out of place. That definitely rings true here. It really didn't feel as natural as so many of the other elements displayed in the film.

Still "Something's Gotta Give" is one of the best comedies of 2003, hands down.

(4 out of 5)

So Says the Soothsayer

Dean Kish

After the better-than-expected What Women Want, Meyers proves her filmmaking chops with this thoroughly engaging romantic comedy. Yes, it's a predictable story filmed in that slickly overproduced Hollywood way. But as both writer and director, she draws out subtle insight and remarkable moments of humour and emotion. Often both at the same time.

Notorious Manhattan womaniser Harry Sanborn (Nicholson) is looking forward to a weekend with new girlfriend Marin (Peet) in her palatial Hamptons beach house. What he's not prepared for is the arrival of Marin's mother Erica (Keaton). Especially since Erica is much closer to Harry's age than Marin is! The weekend is further interrupted when Harry has a heart attack and is forced to remain in Erica's care. And before they realise what's happening, both discover a surprising mutual attraction. But Harry has competition; his handsome young doctor (Reeves) is deeply attracted to Erica as well.

With a script this astute and witty, almost any cast could have made it work, but this is certainly not just any cast. Keaton is absolutely fantastic as a sexy middle-aged woman who's much more than a jittery bundle of nerves (although she's that too). She catches every emotion in her eyes, then echoes it throughout her entire body. This is such a perfect performance that you feel she was born to give it! Nicholson is at the peak of his powers too, maintaining that old-Jack grin while balancing it with a more interesting voyage of self-discovery that involves both broad physical humour and emotional resonance. Their scenes together spark with such raw authenticity that they take us aback--funny, moving, sharp and seemingly effortless. The supporting cast gets a bit of a short shrift, but they're wonderful in their brief scenes, especially Reeves, who's never been this sexy, charming and utterly truthful.

Meyers and her cast so thoroughly skewer notions of age and romance that hopefully movies will never be the same again. There's more chemistry between Nicholson and Keaton than in every 20-something rom-com made of the past five years put together! And even a contrived series of events can't undermine dialog this knowing and hilarious. Each scene peels back another layer to reveal the people underneath--people who've spent their lives carefully protecting their hearts from pain ... and joy as well. It's a remarkable film full of telling moments that make us laugh and think. Yes, Meyers chickens out in a few areas (most notably in dealing with sex and the whole mother-daughter thing), but when she starts examining two people who open up something in each other that they never expected to find, she strikes gold.

Rich Cline

Harry Sanborn (Nicholson) is the biggest lothario in New York City. Even though he is sixty-three, he is known by his reputation of never sleeping with a girl over the age of thirty. When his current twenty something girlfriend Marin (Peet) invites him to her beach house in the Hampton’s things are going very well until her mother Erica (Keaton) turns up with her sister Zoe (McDormand). After deciding to share the beach house for the weekend, Harry and Marin head to the bedroom only for Marin to cry out that there is something wrong with Harry. In hospital and numerous tests later Dr Mercer (Reeves) tells Harry that he has had a heart attack and should not travel, so he had no choice but to say with Erica at the beach house to recuperate.

A romantic comedy that stars two actors over the age of fifty-five talking about love and having sex?

Your first reaction might be pass the sick bag, if you are not of a similar age, as the idea of “frumpy love” might sound like the most nauseating thing imaginable but “Something’s Gotta Give” is one of the most entertaining Rom-coms to come along in a very long time.

This is all down to the magnificent performances of the two leads, the incomparable Jack Nicholson and the delightful Diane Keaton. Both are on top form and again show their prowess for almost farcical comedy. The combination of great one-liners and moments of pure physical comedy is a delight throughout and a smile hardly ever leaves your face.
Nicholson returns to comedy with ease with his best comedic performance since “As Good as it gets”. In a role than parodies his own off-screen reputation, Nicholson excels with his trademark grin and voice drawing you into the character’s sheer confidence but then exposes his hidden insecurities.
We all know that Diane Keaton can play this type of character in her sleep but Erica is slightly different to the romantic-comedy roles she is so famous for. This is a woman that has given up on any chance of love, who has created her own safe, uncomplicated world so she will never be hurt again but then Harry smashes down all of the walls she has created. Keaton plays the role in a daringly open manner, as she isn’t afraid to reveal the entirety of her character’s emotions and body, in an extremely funny scene. It is also a very strong role for an older actor proving that an actress’s romantic comedy career doesn’t have to end as soon as she passes thirty-five.

The support is also good. Amanda Peet, besides from being extremely beautiful, is also a good actress that deserves more plaudits than she actually gets. Her performance as Marin, a person terrified of commitment in any shape or form, is very memorable and should get her noticed for more dramatic roles. Keanu Reeves leaves his action persona behind as Dr Julian Mercer. People might find it hard to believe that his character would be attracted to a women twenty years older but Reeves pulls it off quite well as he is intrigued by her mind and personality. Harder to believe is that he could be a heart specialist but that is just his past work dogging your judgement. Francis McDormand and Jon Favreau’s roles are little more than cameos however and a bit of a waste of their comedic talents.

A lot of the credit for the movie has to go to writer/director Nancy Meyers. She lets her two leads really get into their flow and into their characters to produce two first rate performances. While the movie is slightly over long as the inevitable finale takes along time to get to, the whole thing feels more like a play than a movie as most of the action takes place at Erica’s beach house with actually adds to the enjoyment.

Something’s Gotta Give is a very funny romantic comedy and worth seeing just for the performances of Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. The two have such a good screen chemistry that is transcends age to show anyone what love can really be like, making it a must for all the hopeless romantics out there.

Star Rating = * * * *

Jamie Kelwick

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