Writer: Nancy Meyers
Director: Nancy Meyers
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves
Rating: 12a
Trailer: Quicktime, Various Sizes
Tagline: Love is in the airÂ… I think thatÂ’s love anyway.

Written, directed and produced by Nancy Meyers (wrote Private Benjamin, Father of the Bride 1 and 2, directed What Women Want), SomethingÂ’s Gotta Give is extremely funny and very, very sweet. ItÂ’s a great combination that works like magic in this instance.

The premise of the film is this: Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson) is a 63 year old, rich executive who has had strings of young girlfriends. HeÂ’s famous for only dating women under 30. When he has a heart attack at the house of his latest girlfriendÂ’s Mother, a famous playwright Erica Barry (Diane Keaton), she ends up taking care of him. At first, she derides him as a chauvinistic pig, and he puts her down as a frumpy old woman. Eventually though, they fall for each other.

A fairly predictable story, itÂ’s true, but the excellence is in the execution. Nancy MeyerÂ’s dialogue is witty, sharp and very, very funny. I donÂ’t want to give anything away, so I wonÂ’t quote, but trust me when I say it will have you cracking up.

Jack Nicholson (One Flew Over the CuckooÂ’s Nest, Batman) is The Man. HeÂ’s a fairly predictable actor, but he revels in it, and heÂ’s truly sublime in this role. When itÂ’s required, he exudes confidence like he has a license to make it. When heÂ’s supposed to be down in the dumps, itÂ’s very convincing. Diane Keaton (The Godfather, Father of the Bride) is just as good. They have an amazing chemistry together; they both tread the line between over the top, and gracefully subtle as if theyÂ’ve been doing it all their lives. And they have been doing it most of their lives. It shows.

Rounding out the cast are Keanu Reeves(Speed, The Matrix), who plays a younger man interested in Diane KeatonÂ’s character, and Amanda Peet (Changing Lanes, Identity), who plays KeatonÂ’s daughter.

This film is a great mix of great comedy and touching emotion, that never falls into the soppy category. Highly recommended.


(Edited by Maffrew 08/02/2004 19:57)