Charles Herold (cherold)
When this movie was released they had a promotion for the premiere where you could see it for a nickel. So I went to the theater, stood in a very long line, and watched a very funny, entertaining movie that the audience seemed to quite enjoy. The next day I read a review that slammed it, and then another. And I have never understood it.Over 30 years later I took a second look, and while sometimes you can't for the life of you figure out why you liked a movie from the past, I still really liked this one. It's a very funny movie that mixes in Keystone Kops-style slapstick with Howard Hawks-style screwball comedy. There are good performances by Burt Reynolds and Ryan O'Neal, and even better ones from Tatum O'Neal and, best of all, Brian Keith. The strong negative reactions particular surprise me because the film is similar in feel to What's Up Doc (Ryan even plays basically the same character) and yet that movie was much better received.I found this movie funny and likable. Everyone's good in it, including the lead actress, who apparently found film work so dispiriting that she gave up on them altogether and stuck with modeling. The first half is probably stronger than the second half, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
richard-g289
Maybe children under the age of ten would enjoy this movie, which is supposed to be a comedy, but I, a 56 year-old man, was very disappointed when I saw it. Sure, it does have a good cast, but for me it fell flat on it's cinematic face. I kept waiting for it to make me laugh, but it was so lame and childish that after an hour of boredom I debated whether to keep watching it. How many pratfalls and silly unlikely quips can you sit though? Aside from some occasionally nice scenery and the period costumes, this movie doesn't have much to offer. I haven't yawned so much since I saw Jerry Lewis'old stink bomb "Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River". Oh well!
ub
In 1975, I was a Teamster Driver for the studios, and one of the first locations was a location caterer for the movie Nickelodeon. With all of the behind the camera activities, I happened to notice a "drop-dead" beautiful woman, who was always near Ryan. Feeling more confident with myself during the second week, we started a conversation about everything, but really about nothing. We stayed in touch; she went her way and I went my way. Before a short period of time, we went out (she insisted on driving). Why? Because she owned a 1925 Silver Cloud, black and silver in color. That was 1979, and during the summer of '80, I landed a prime job as the caterer for a total of 9 weeks; at sea; off Catalina Island; 3 meals per day; 7 days a week. It was just me and the ship's crew of 7. I had to always be there to service cast, crew and the ship's crew. O.K. not bad, but it got a lot happier on the 4th week end. I phoned Sheree and asked her to visit. She did. We stayed close friends, and in 1994, we got married. I never did see the movie!
BeautifulDisaster
Clearly Peter Bogdanovich was running out of ideas and commercial luck by the time this movie hit the theaters. Ryan O'Neal repeating the role ( with much less success ) from What's Up Doc? is hardly watchable and very predictable. Burt Reynolds totally miscast and trying to be funny at all costs (as is the movie from time to time, the scenes don't work because they are too calculated to make us laugh ). The best comes from the three female leads, Stella Stevens is always a pleasure to watch even in a nothing role as hers in this movie, Tatum O'Neal steals all the scenes she is in ( not a very difficult endeavor )and the stunningly beautiful Jane Hitchcock ( a Cybill Shepherd look-alike ) makes the movie worth-watching again and again and again . For Jane ( whatever happened...), for the great movie that could have been ( and never was )and comparing from the crap we're getting today ( SNL comedians, Farrelly Bros, Stiller & Friends ... ). Nickelodeon is a must see.
