Check out that cast! The awesome walter matthau, carol burnett. After mom dies, the (fully grown, adult) kids don't approve of dad's new girlfriend. She's only been nice to them, but they still give her attitude. Dad and new the girlfriend make wedding plans. When (oldest son) Rob's girlfriend sees how he reacts, she realizes she needs a break from him. It's cute, but takes a while to get going. And that non-stop hallmark movie music! A little goes a long way. It's a pretty solid story about communication, but I probably wouldn't have been as interested if matthau and burnett weren't in it. It's okay. Directed by charlie matthau, walt's son. Based on the play by richard vetere. This was walter's second to last film. He and burnett must have enjoyed working together... they made three films !
15 Reviews
It would be foolish to avoid this film, it is a nice romance for two different generations
inkblot117 February 2007
Frank (Walter Matthau) has just lost his beloved wife of 40 years. His son Robert (John Stamos), always closer to his father than the other two sons, is there to help him through the hard moments. However, Robert is very distrustful of marriage and has remained a bachelor, despite having a way with the ladies. This changes when a beautiful woman is transferred to work in the same NY accounting firm as Robert. Susan (Teri Polo) has just been separated from her husband in Wisconsin but, nevertheless, responds to Robert's advances. At the same time, Frank goes to a Hawaiian-themed party for the over 60 crowd and meets a wonderful woman named Florence (Carol Burnett). Florence is such an attractive and nice lady that Frank, despite his initial hesitation, decides to get close to her. Robert is thrown for a loop, not only because of his own need for Susan, but because he thinks his father is rushing things. Can Robert allow Frank to live his own life? This is a lovely film, very honest and true to life. Matthau, in one of his last roles, is great as the widower trying to navigate in very strange waters. Burnett, too, gives a nice performance as a woman with a very big heart. As for Stamos and Polo, they are two very attractive people who give their characters the needed depth suitable for two souls who have been unlucky in love and are uncertain which way to turn. If you have lost a parent and are struggling with the idea of your mother or dad finding a new partner, this is definitely the film for you. It has some great messages about the brevity of life and the importance of living every day to the fullest. But, even if you are not dealing with the loss of a loved one, this movie is an entertaining couple of hours. Don't be foolish and pass this film by.
Learning to move on impacts more than one person.
mark.waltz28 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Outside of "Pete n' Tillie" and her cameo in "The Front Page", Carol Burnett and Walter Matthau (who seemed made to order as a screen couple) only worked together again in this sweet TV movie about a recent widower who tries to find happiness with a widow of four tears, struggling to gain acceptance from his family when they decide to get married. Their love story is seen through the eyes of his handsome and charming son John Stamos who is against his father getting remarried. Not only that, he has another son with a wife Matthau (and most likely the audience) automatically dislikes, an obnoxious and demanding female who does nothing but complain and cause trouble. Stamos has troubles in his own personal life, so there's plenty of conflict to go around.
A sweet and mostly likeable ensemble (outside of Johanna Beck's character), this was one of Matthau's last films, and he's far from his typical grumpy old man. Son Charlie is the poor fictional son stuck with Beck, and beautiful Teri Polo is very good as the latest one in Stamos's string of women who could just be the one. When Matthau tells demos that he's obviously just a confirmed bachelor, it's obviously more than because he's a playboy. He obviously was more affected by the fact that his parents were extremely happy and afraid that he could never be that happy. It's nice to see his character come around, especially since Burnett turns out to be such a great catch for his dad. Most people only find this kind of happiness once in their life, and so this ends up being a sweet drama with moments of light comedy and showing two of the masters of humor at their very best without the broadness.
A sweet and mostly likeable ensemble (outside of Johanna Beck's character), this was one of Matthau's last films, and he's far from his typical grumpy old man. Son Charlie is the poor fictional son stuck with Beck, and beautiful Teri Polo is very good as the latest one in Stamos's string of women who could just be the one. When Matthau tells demos that he's obviously just a confirmed bachelor, it's obviously more than because he's a playboy. He obviously was more affected by the fact that his parents were extremely happy and afraid that he could never be that happy. It's nice to see his character come around, especially since Burnett turns out to be such a great catch for his dad. Most people only find this kind of happiness once in their life, and so this ends up being a sweet drama with moments of light comedy and showing two of the masters of humor at their very best without the broadness.
Very Enjoyable
Seosamh28 January 2005
I watched this in the wee small hours of Saturday morning on Irish Television, RTE, and found it totally enjoyable. Never mind the obvious talent of Walter Matthau and John Stamos, for me the beauty in this film are the women. Carol Burnett and Teri Polo and the wives of the sons bring great humanity (if that's the right word) to this film. It was wonderful to see a film of this quality at 2 O'clock in the morning.
Well done RTE for showing it.
I have been asked to write more on this subject but I have run out of any more comments. This seems silly. It's like being back in school when you were asked to write an essay about collecting blackberries during the Summer and to ensure that the report had 3000 words or more, otherwise you won't get a prize. Surely you can make a comment for whatever length.!!! This just doesn't make sense!!!
Well done RTE for showing it.
I have been asked to write more on this subject but I have run out of any more comments. This seems silly. It's like being back in school when you were asked to write an essay about collecting blackberries during the Summer and to ensure that the report had 3000 words or more, otherwise you won't get a prize. Surely you can make a comment for whatever length.!!! This just doesn't make sense!!!
Another tender movie starring Stamos.
insomniac_rod15 December 2006
Another tender and moving direct for t.v. movie starring John Stamos. In the likes of "A Match Made In Heaven"; this movie displays the perfect, funny, tender relationship between Walter Matthau and John Stamos. I really dug how well they got along. Their were a very charismatic on-screen duo.
The relationship between Stamos and Polo is also very good. Polo is incredibly beautiful and has a unique charm. Also, when they have the "big" difficulty you can't help but feel touched.
Matthau steals the show once again with a moving performance. The man can say a lot of things with his eyes... In memoriam. A truly great, great actor.
The relationship between Stamos and Polo is also very good. Polo is incredibly beautiful and has a unique charm. Also, when they have the "big" difficulty you can't help but feel touched.
Matthau steals the show once again with a moving performance. The man can say a lot of things with his eyes... In memoriam. A truly great, great actor.
Typical 1990s housewifery stuff
gb-5818728 April 2022
Pretty good, as you might expect...
g-hbe11 May 2021
We watched this the other night with a few glasses of wine and came away entertained and happy. Although the film may be typical of the type actors make when in their latter years, with Walter Matthau heading the cast it was always going to be above average. Great support from Carol Burnett as the new lady in his life and John Stamos as the hesitant son, both playing it with just enough without going over the top. I would never have known this was made as a TV movie if I hadn't read about it, it seems to have production values and talent way above the usual TV fare. One point - a number of rather crass paintings of clowns appear in the film and one of them looks just like Matthau's old partner Jack Lemmon, I wonder if this was deliberate? Recommended without hesitation.
Decent TV Movie
boblipton18 November 2023
Walter Matthau buries his wife, sits around for a bit, then goes out and meets Carol Burnett. They fall in love. This upsets Matthau's son, commitment-terrified John Stamos, whose abortive romance with Teri Polo offers the flip side to this TV movie about relationships.
Charles Matthau directs, which is probably how they got one of these stars, and it's a pleasant enough TV movie, which attempts to make some serious points about the awful truth of relationships: they require work, they require faith, and sometimes they don't work out. I can't say that any of this is startling, nor do I think that anyone brings something to this movie that raises it out of the ordinary. That is probably why I feel slightly disappointed. I expect if you start watching this with a hope of killing an hour pleasantly, you'll be pleased.
Charles Matthau directs, which is probably how they got one of these stars, and it's a pleasant enough TV movie, which attempts to make some serious points about the awful truth of relationships: they require work, they require faith, and sometimes they don't work out. I can't say that any of this is startling, nor do I think that anyone brings something to this movie that raises it out of the ordinary. That is probably why I feel slightly disappointed. I expect if you start watching this with a hope of killing an hour pleasantly, you'll be pleased.
Gentle and Touching
uriahkeeper1 July 2000
It must be said that i cannot resist anything by Walter Matthau in it and thank God i was not proven wrong.This is so easy watching and tender and believe me when i say that former wooden teen hrob John Stamos has just about carried the flick here. You can identify with him and that's just all the premise he needed to perform. Carol Burnett was neatly cast and subdued but it's so good to see her and Walter in a role that allows them to be so relaxed.By the way, Teri G as the Stamos love interest...she can wear those gold tops anyday on a cold morning. All in all ..a gentle,touching and honest film.
Addressing an amazingly common problem.
planktonrules12 March 2022
"The Marriage Fool" (also known as "Love After Death") is an excellent made for TV movie. Much of this is because it addresses an important topic that is seldom talked about...widowers remarrying. Often, their children react very badly to 'new mom' and do a lot to undermine these second marriages...and so it's nice to see this addressed here.
The story begins when Frank (Walter Matthau) is attending his wife's funeral. Soon after, his son, Robert (John Stamos) convinces him to get out and have fun...and Frank does that. In fact, he soon meets Florence (Carol Burnett) and after whirlwind courtship, they decide to get married...and Frank's kids are, at best, ambivalent towards this.
At the same time, Robert begins realizing that despite his looks and success on the job, he's lonely....and he has a phobia about commitment. So, the story is not about Frank's journey but Robert's.
This is a very sweet film and it's nice to see Matthau in his penultimate movie. The cast is quite good and while the story has no huge surprises, it's sweet and well worth seeing. And, I also noticed that Stamos is quite nice here...one of his better performances. Overall, a very enjoyable film which will likely leave you feeling happy.
The story begins when Frank (Walter Matthau) is attending his wife's funeral. Soon after, his son, Robert (John Stamos) convinces him to get out and have fun...and Frank does that. In fact, he soon meets Florence (Carol Burnett) and after whirlwind courtship, they decide to get married...and Frank's kids are, at best, ambivalent towards this.
At the same time, Robert begins realizing that despite his looks and success on the job, he's lonely....and he has a phobia about commitment. So, the story is not about Frank's journey but Robert's.
This is a very sweet film and it's nice to see Matthau in his penultimate movie. The cast is quite good and while the story has no huge surprises, it's sweet and well worth seeing. And, I also noticed that Stamos is quite nice here...one of his better performances. Overall, a very enjoyable film which will likely leave you feeling happy.
Matthau & Burnett - extraordinary icons of American film!
ShowBuff22 October 2006
Walter Matthau and Carol Burnett are beloved icons of American film, each of whom has given us countless hours of wonderful entertainment over an expanse of numerous decades. Their extraordinary performances in 1998's "Love After Death" lift this story to a higher plane. Watch them achieve the same in 1972's bitter-sweet comedy "Pete 'n Tillie." They have such great chemistry that it's really too bad they didn't work together more often over the years. Watching their portrayals as widowed senior citizens who find love is a moving experience. Burnett deserved the American Comedy Award she won for this film, but Matthau should have been honored as well.
Fine.
Jonathan-1816 July 1999
Walter Matthau and John Stamos are good together. John really holds the movie, quite successfully I should add and excuse me for being surprised. Though some of his and others' lines are older than Matthau. The plot also isn't most original but manages to avoid the obvious pot holes. Small, nice, comfortable tv movie. Based on a play and directed by Matthau's son. Burnett is fine as Matthau's younger love interest. Teri Polo is bearable in a terrible blond. So- John and Matthau beat Teri and some used up lame lines.
Carol Burnett truly shines, and Walter Matthau is so touching in this tinder, uplifting senior citizen romance!
MyMovieTVRomance27 January 2024
Haven't finished this yet, but already know I'm going to love it! A little over 15 minutes in, and I'm loving it more every minute.
And another note, Walter Matthau has one of those faces that makes me want to cry - not in a bad way, but he just looks so lovable, yet so sad. I just want to hug him! I just want him to have someone to hug.
Already, I can tell you that this has me up in my feelings about the melancholy of age, losing people due to old age, and living alone due to losing everyone because of all age. It's just sad. But never fear, because I know that soon, Carol Burnett will enter the picture, and all will be well! Anything starring Carol Burnett and Walter Matthau I know we'll have a pot of gold at the rainbow's end.
Will update once I've seen the whole thing.
On another note, this site needs to start adding a timestamp to the movie logs, so that the exact moment a movie is logged is preserved. Because sometimes, there is great significance to the timing. And sometimes, we only find that out later through looking it over. Get on it, Letterboxd! You'll make a lot of people happy.
UPDATE: Just finished the movie, and I must say dash one of my favorite first time watches in recent memory. And I don't think I've ever liked Carol Burnett more in my life! This may be the best part she's ever played! Just wow!! I would marry her! What a charming character!
This movie made me realize how good it is to paint walls different colors too, on a slightly eccentric note. I thought at the beginning of the film how grab everything looked. I should have known Carol would fix all of that! So in love with her character! And Walter Matthau was just adorable!
The perfect senior citizen romance film, for anyone who likes whirlwind romance! And let's be real, when you're kids of that age, is there any other kind?! Not if you're lucky!
Side note: just as the end credits began to roll, the first name that pops up is Joan Barnett! Notice how the first name is Joan, and the second name ends with ett- like Jett, without the j. Filing this under Joan Jett signs from the universe. My second Joan movie of the day!
And another note, Walter Matthau has one of those faces that makes me want to cry - not in a bad way, but he just looks so lovable, yet so sad. I just want to hug him! I just want him to have someone to hug.
Already, I can tell you that this has me up in my feelings about the melancholy of age, losing people due to old age, and living alone due to losing everyone because of all age. It's just sad. But never fear, because I know that soon, Carol Burnett will enter the picture, and all will be well! Anything starring Carol Burnett and Walter Matthau I know we'll have a pot of gold at the rainbow's end.
Will update once I've seen the whole thing.
On another note, this site needs to start adding a timestamp to the movie logs, so that the exact moment a movie is logged is preserved. Because sometimes, there is great significance to the timing. And sometimes, we only find that out later through looking it over. Get on it, Letterboxd! You'll make a lot of people happy.
UPDATE: Just finished the movie, and I must say dash one of my favorite first time watches in recent memory. And I don't think I've ever liked Carol Burnett more in my life! This may be the best part she's ever played! Just wow!! I would marry her! What a charming character!
This movie made me realize how good it is to paint walls different colors too, on a slightly eccentric note. I thought at the beginning of the film how grab everything looked. I should have known Carol would fix all of that! So in love with her character! And Walter Matthau was just adorable!
The perfect senior citizen romance film, for anyone who likes whirlwind romance! And let's be real, when you're kids of that age, is there any other kind?! Not if you're lucky!
Side note: just as the end credits began to roll, the first name that pops up is Joan Barnett! Notice how the first name is Joan, and the second name ends with ett- like Jett, without the j. Filing this under Joan Jett signs from the universe. My second Joan movie of the day!
good!!
insomniac-rod11 November 2001
This is a film to enjoy with your family... John Stamos performance is good, and what can I say about Walter Matthau?, he carries great the movie in his shoulders.. The chemistry between Matthau and Stamos is perfect. This is the kind of movie to watch on a Sunday morning, or when you are in the mood of watching happy ending stories.
good solid drama
prairieboy1 June 2019
The biggest surprise in this movie was an amazingly good performance by John Stamos. With 2 icons like Matthau and Burnett, you would expect that it would be their performances that would carry the load, but it is actually the relationship between Matthau and Stamos that is at the heart of this story.
They have a wonderfully natural chemistry together, I'm betting that Stamos was in awe of the opportunity to work so closely with a master like Matthau and it was likely that closeness that drew out such a great dramatic performance by Stamos.
Burnett is great as always, but her role is quite subdued and the real magic in this movie takes place in the exchanges between the 2 male leads. Terry Polo also gives a nice performance here.
All in all this was a satisfying watch. A very simple story but acted with such a natural credibility by the ensemble cast and an intelligent script that it is elevated to being much better than average.
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