myspecialparadise This is the oddest movie ever. It takes you soaring to unimaginable heights, then, abruptly, sends you into a tail spin worthy of several four letter words. Bette Midler gives a performance that is right up there with The Rose, perhaps even surpassing it, and anything else she has ever done. She proves, throughout the movie, that she is an enormous talent worthy of an even higher acclaim than that of some of our classic legendary actors / actresses of the forties and fifties. And that says a lot coming from someone that doesn't much care for her off stage.I like James Caan as an actor ... however, he was totally miscast in For The Boys. I believe this movie would have done better with George Segal playing the role of Eddie Sparks ... and that mistake cost the movie big-time! I enjoyed Caan in Funny Lady, but in this role he was a total flop! Caan just doesn't have the charisma needed in the movie to charm Bette Midler from a state of seething to almost acceptability ... not like Segal has. Segal has the ability to conjure up those puppy dog eyes ... Caan doesn't.I will say that the make-up artist that worked on Bette was nothing short of genius. Most makeup artists fall short when it comes to making a young star look like a old has been! This makeup artist was right up there with whomever did the makeup for Albert Finney in that wonderful musical "Scrooge!" Which happens to be a real Christmas favorite of mine that is totally ignored by those that choose the movies to be televised each Christmas ... shame, shame! All in all ... I gave this movie a 5 star rating, not because of the miscasting problem ... but because I don't like being dropped out of an airplane without a parachute ... and that is exactly how I felt at this movie's highest points! However, if you are a fan of Bette's wonderful talents ... this one is "To Live For!"

patricianolan999 I've enjoyed many of Bette's films, including "Big Business" and "The First Wives Club," but this movie is downright repulsive and distasteful! I'm glad they tried to expose the blacklisting of the 1950's for the heartbreaking nonsense that it was, and I sort of appreciated the basic anti-war theme. But the film itself is horrendous and the ending made me want to vomit! There is absolutely no warmth in these cardboard characters played by Midler and Caan. You can't help but hate them both! Every dumb and embarrassing stereotype is used to excess. Poorly written---it bounces between sitcom stupidity and soap opera histrionics--and definitely doesn't leave you with a "warm and fuzzy" feeling when it's finally over. If you watch this movie, you're wasting nearly two hours of your life! What more can I say.....it's awful. If Caan's character was supposed to be Bob Hope....well, he was definitely miscast in the role. This film ranks in stupidity with "Funny Lady," which also starred Caan.

ptb-8 FOR THE BOYS might just be a "Better Midler" film today, in a period of another middle east war and albeit a more tragic and unpopular one with a far more critical and on going media focus than the first 1991 war.....This exceptionally well made musical drama, made for about $70 million in 1991 and really a protest musical parable, did not reach the intended at the time and the first Iraq war was over before this film had a chance to make an impact. Seen in 2006, now is actually the right time for this film. We are also quite a while from other Bette Midler films of the 80s and as a result FTB has a stronger solo spotlight. Having appreciated this film in that light, I believe it is possibly one of the last great semi musicals of the 20th century and is helped immeasurably by a very pungent script. At times it is not unlike NEW YORK NEW YORK both in look and romantic combat. Cann and Midler work so well against and with each other, underlined by George Segal in a role that is actually substantial for him. Apparently this is loosely based on the life of Martha Raye, who complained bitterly upon release that "this fact" was not recognized. FOR THE BOYS is a major musical film but tapers off tune wise in the last 40 minutes while the starling and harrowing (but slightly illogical) Vietnam War scenes are played out. Midler is front and center star at all times and the production values show the huge budget well spent on screen. If reissued today might get a better reception given the Iraq war to play against and therefore have more impact. It's a good film, serious and with excellent music and comedy in the first hour especially.

diana-45 This is a very emotional movie with a great cast. I'm not a James Caan fan, but he was perfect for this. Slippery as an eel though the McCarthy era up until the end. In response to the comments by other reviewers regarding the politics including sexism I have to say that I found these things the best part of the movie even if they were not very deeply explored. False, facile patriotism exposed and 2 older people who actually learned something from their lives - that's pretty good. I am a big Bette Midler fan so that didn't hurt. She sang a lot of good songs. I especially loved, "For All We Know." I liked the contrasting points of view between a woman who lost her husband and son and the man who really really did not seem to have any principals. The Mc Carthy era was depicted as a "scoundrel time" to use Lillian Hellman's phrase. George Segals speech at the Christmas Party after he was fired could have been stronger, but it was good.