I fully agree with Salsa Boy from San Francisco. I saw this movie last night through the D.C. Jewish Film Festival. Elliott Gould did the best he could with a script that was one-dimensional at best, and, at worst, rehashed the worst sort of Borscht Belt stereotypes (to wit, "We Jews don't paint, we HIRE painters..."). Through most of the movie, I felt like I was watching cartoon characters (awkward girl with low self-esteem; brother who's an insensitive jerk; father who's super kvetchy), though it did get stronger toward the end. The theme--self-discovery and transformation--was a worthy one, but handled clumsily and in eminently disbelievable ways. Both the writer (Wendy Kout) and the great Gould himself spoke and fielded audience questions. I made the mistake of asking Ms. Kout why the characters seemed at times like caricatures, and I was stunned by her response, which I'll quote in its entirety: "You are SO welcome to your opinion." This movie is redeemed a bit by Gould's vulnerability and charm, but his talent is largely squandered in a script penned by a Hollywood hack.
18 Reviews
OK if predictable romantic comedy/homage to L.A.
ross_tm16 July 2017
As a love letter to modern L.A. it does a great job, though with less nuance than, say, L.A. Story. Sara Rue is likable in the eponymous role, and she grows quite a lot in the film though rather more quickly than is credible and in a fairly predictable way. Her take on the "I have no filter" character is convincing, but the character itself is a little hackneyed. Her costar Haz Sleiman (Cookie) is very very good. The secondary characters are mainly OK though generally not believable as humans.
Unfortunately, Elliott Gould -- one of my very favorite actors - gives what has to be the worst performance of his career. His dialogue is full of clichés about old Jewish men of at least half-a-generation above him, the lines coming out of his mouth do not fit him at all, and he is obviously aware of this as he delivers them. As he has by far the strongest presence of any actor in the movie he dominates every scene in which he appears, and the movie suffers as a result.
From the description this could have just been simple Hallmark fare, but it has more to offer than that. It is worth watching if you're looking for an uncomplicated, reasonably funny urban romance, and willing to overlook the main plot line and some of the worst dialogue excesses while keeping an eye out for the great visuals and some of the genuinely funny interactions between Rue and minor characters like Bubba Ganter, Sonya Eddy and the wonderful Tonita Castro.
Unfortunately, Elliott Gould -- one of my very favorite actors - gives what has to be the worst performance of his career. His dialogue is full of clichés about old Jewish men of at least half-a-generation above him, the lines coming out of his mouth do not fit him at all, and he is obviously aware of this as he delivers them. As he has by far the strongest presence of any actor in the movie he dominates every scene in which he appears, and the movie suffers as a result.
From the description this could have just been simple Hallmark fare, but it has more to offer than that. It is worth watching if you're looking for an uncomplicated, reasonably funny urban romance, and willing to overlook the main plot line and some of the worst dialogue excesses while keeping an eye out for the great visuals and some of the genuinely funny interactions between Rue and minor characters like Bubba Ganter, Sonya Eddy and the wonderful Tonita Castro.
Mostly okay
rhoda_s_girl25 February 2020
So overall I thought it was pretty good- there were a few spots I could have done without (unnecessary bondage, reference to porn etc), but thought the overall the characters did pretty good, were like able (or purposefully unlikeable), good chemistry between too main characters, and good scenery. Other then the bondage, it wasn't too objectionable although I really wanted to smack the brother (although pretty sure that was the point.) Not bad for light hearted, (mostly) feel good movie.
You'll feel good after watching this film
nubeowolf11 November 2011
There's always an uplifting feeling when we see someone (even a fictional a character) find the courage to be true to themselves. It's something we all aspire to do. Dorfman will not disappoint in this regard. Sara Rue (Deb) becomes a whole person and we get to take part. Sara really delivers here and should find more star vehicles. Deb leaves the safety of the San Fernando Valley to explore the unknown of a revitalized downtown Los Angeles-not an easy transition for her. In five short days she begins to understand she's more than an enabling sister and daughter but a real person entitled to her own space and feelings. You'll never be able to look at Elliot Gould the same way again. He's great as a truly loving father who still has the potential to grow and enjoy life. Haz Sleiman is great, simply great. His character Cookie comes off as almost too good to be true and still authentic. I enjoyed the film and would recommend it to everyone.
Predictable but Well Done
SouthernViews9 March 2022
I found this movie to be very charming. Yes, the script has a bit of a textbook rom-com format. But the performances from the cast elevate the film. Sara Rue and Haaz Sleiman light up the screen when present. I loved seeing Elliott Gould here as well. And Catherine Hicks can do no wrong. The cast is impressive. For whatever reason, I found myself swept up in the story and performances. If you love a good rom-com, you should definitely check out Dorfman in Love.
Disappointing, as it could have been so much more
Jonas202123 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I recently viewed Dorfman at a film festival in San Francisco, in which the writer, director, producer, and Elliot Gould were present. Sadly, that was the best part. The movie, itself, was cliché and superficial, the script was threadbare. There was no nuance, and most everything represented was painted in black and white (how I hate that!). The brother is always a jerk. The father always favors the brother over the protagonist, martyr daughter (Deb), until -after a two minute heart-to-heart - he sees the error of his ways. A 10-yr romantic interest of Deb - who is sensitive and understanding and appreciative throughout the entire movie - becomes a sex-crazed, self-absorbed narcissist when she is forced to make a critical decision between two men near the movie's end. I found little honesty in this movie, and I imagine the actors had to work hard to create back-story and dimensionality to their characters, as little was provided by the script itself. For a young kid producing this movie on his/her Super 8, I'd be impressed. For a film worthy of contemplation and discussion in a film festival? Don't waste your time.
It's not a terrible movie, but it's far from a good movie. The writing reminds me of the admonitions we give children about drugs, alcohol, and sex: "Don't do them; they're bad". Yet, those same children see their own parents and elders drinking and having sex. The truth is that the issue is more complex and nuanced than what we can explain to young children, so we make it black-and-white. This movie is like that, and as a result, it misses the mark completely. It's a caricature of itself, and ultimately, an embarrassment.
This movie would best we watched between 3:30-5a, when you can't sleep, and you have nothing better to do. It's like junk food, except that it doesn't taste as good.
It's not a terrible movie, but it's far from a good movie. The writing reminds me of the admonitions we give children about drugs, alcohol, and sex: "Don't do them; they're bad". Yet, those same children see their own parents and elders drinking and having sex. The truth is that the issue is more complex and nuanced than what we can explain to young children, so we make it black-and-white. This movie is like that, and as a result, it misses the mark completely. It's a caricature of itself, and ultimately, an embarrassment.
This movie would best we watched between 3:30-5a, when you can't sleep, and you have nothing better to do. It's like junk food, except that it doesn't taste as good.
It's a really nice movie!
szefu326 January 2014
I'm sorry for my grammar - English is not my mother language :) Well I really liked the movie. I decided to watch it because there was my favourite actress - Sara Rue. She did a really amazing job! She was so charming in that movie. I love her acting. The move is really nice, a good movie for a winter evening. It's not a "stupid American romantic comedy". It's a nice movie, I enjoyed it so much. It was really cool to see how Debb changed from little, shy girl to a brave woman with higher self esteem. I recommend this movie to everyone :) It's great! Btw: I'm from Poland. The joke about Poland and polish people in the movie may offend someone but I'm not really offended by it. It's just because there's a stereotypical thinking in the USA about Poland (I've heard similar jokes in many American TV series..).
Sara Rue is the best actress ever! :)
Sara Rue is the best actress ever! :)
Festival of Jewish Self-Hatred
dansview31 October 2013
I watched (but didn't finish), because I thought there might be some fresh take on the Valley Girl theme. What I found was the most vulgar display of Jewish self-hatred ever put on screen.
It's one thing to feel this way inside about yourself, but to put it on screen, you have to hate yourself at a whole new level.
Let's see: Jews are materialistic, adulterous, have low self esteem, vulgar, and pepper their daily conversations with talk of menorahs, chicken soup, and flem. Arabs are sensitive, refined, and loving, with great families.
Not only that, the depiction of the Valley theme was manipulative and false.The days of the Valley being some provincial haven for "white bread," or Ashkenazi "Jewish princess" culture are long over, and most of the Jews now are either Israeli or Persian and look like the Arabic guy in the movie. There's mention of Applebees Restaurant, as if the Valley is known for quaint neighborhood diners. Hardly. It's all Thai food and Mexican, just like Downtown.
Having said all that, the lead actress did an adequate job, and the guy who played the self-absorbed Liberal journalist was excellent.
The photography was nothing special. There is a lot you can do with the L.A. scenery, and they didn't do one tenth of it. How about showing the San Gabriel Mountains behind the skyline? Someone will burn in hell for this one. Most likely the writer. Send us a postcard.
It's one thing to feel this way inside about yourself, but to put it on screen, you have to hate yourself at a whole new level.
Let's see: Jews are materialistic, adulterous, have low self esteem, vulgar, and pepper their daily conversations with talk of menorahs, chicken soup, and flem. Arabs are sensitive, refined, and loving, with great families.
Not only that, the depiction of the Valley theme was manipulative and false.The days of the Valley being some provincial haven for "white bread," or Ashkenazi "Jewish princess" culture are long over, and most of the Jews now are either Israeli or Persian and look like the Arabic guy in the movie. There's mention of Applebees Restaurant, as if the Valley is known for quaint neighborhood diners. Hardly. It's all Thai food and Mexican, just like Downtown.
Having said all that, the lead actress did an adequate job, and the guy who played the self-absorbed Liberal journalist was excellent.
The photography was nothing special. There is a lot you can do with the L.A. scenery, and they didn't do one tenth of it. How about showing the San Gabriel Mountains behind the skyline? Someone will burn in hell for this one. Most likely the writer. Send us a postcard.
Great romantic comedy for men and women!
lmgordon-703-9940414 June 2013
Such a fun movie!!! Fantastic cast and lots of laughs. An inspiring story told beautifully, with an insider's peek at the coolest places in downtown LA.
If you live in LA or ever intend to visit and haven't seen this movie, you are seriously missing out.
I've lived in LA my whole life and was so excited to learn about hidden gems I never knew about before.
And the chemistry between Elliot Gould and Sara Rue is terrific. Gould is hysterical, as always, and Rue comes out of her shell like never before.
Highly recommend. Good times for all.
If you live in LA or ever intend to visit and haven't seen this movie, you are seriously missing out.
I've lived in LA my whole life and was so excited to learn about hidden gems I never knew about before.
And the chemistry between Elliot Gould and Sara Rue is terrific. Gould is hysterical, as always, and Rue comes out of her shell like never before.
Highly recommend. Good times for all.
One-dimensional cliché-fest
Groverdox3 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Dorfman in Love" seems to have been a lost movie. In the golden age of IMDb - when the message boards were still available - I remember people asking where and when and how they could watch it.
Naturally, this made us all interested to see it. We shouldn't have bothered.
It's not just that every character in the movie is one-dimensional and painted in broad brush strokes with character arcs you can see coming from the first time they are on screen. It's also the fact that the movie totally runs out of steam toward the end and becomes hopelessly boring.
The main character is an over-worked accountant who looks after her widower dad and is overworked by her spoilt brother. She is in love with the studly, jet-setting reporter she works with, but he seems to mostly use her (notice a theme?) for pep talks when he feels low. She meets a handsome artist, but is unreceptive to him at first...
The conclusion is so forced it almost seems like a slap in the face. The stage is set for our protagonist to choose between her photographer or the artist next door. This would be a difficult decision, if the photographer didn't start acting like a jerk out of nowhere at the zero hour, making it not really a decision at all.
And then we have the relationship between father and daughter. Elliott Gould spouts Yiddish constantly throughout this movie. He doesn't speak without using terms like "tauches", "fagela", "mensch". Were they trying to make sure it would get a spot in Jewish film festivals? Anyway, he experiences a similarly unbelievable arc when he realises, out of nowhere, he has spoilt his son and neglected his daughter.
I say these changes are "out of nowhere", which they are if you try to take the movie seriously as something that is trying to be realistic. In fact, you can see them all coming simply because you are so well-versed in clichés. "Dorfman in Love" is one of those movies that relies on our familiarity with the clichés it uses to tell its story. Take those clichés away, it would be a dead zone. You'd be angry, instead of bored and irritated.
Naturally, this made us all interested to see it. We shouldn't have bothered.
It's not just that every character in the movie is one-dimensional and painted in broad brush strokes with character arcs you can see coming from the first time they are on screen. It's also the fact that the movie totally runs out of steam toward the end and becomes hopelessly boring.
The main character is an over-worked accountant who looks after her widower dad and is overworked by her spoilt brother. She is in love with the studly, jet-setting reporter she works with, but he seems to mostly use her (notice a theme?) for pep talks when he feels low. She meets a handsome artist, but is unreceptive to him at first...
The conclusion is so forced it almost seems like a slap in the face. The stage is set for our protagonist to choose between her photographer or the artist next door. This would be a difficult decision, if the photographer didn't start acting like a jerk out of nowhere at the zero hour, making it not really a decision at all.
And then we have the relationship between father and daughter. Elliott Gould spouts Yiddish constantly throughout this movie. He doesn't speak without using terms like "tauches", "fagela", "mensch". Were they trying to make sure it would get a spot in Jewish film festivals? Anyway, he experiences a similarly unbelievable arc when he realises, out of nowhere, he has spoilt his son and neglected his daughter.
I say these changes are "out of nowhere", which they are if you try to take the movie seriously as something that is trying to be realistic. In fact, you can see them all coming simply because you are so well-versed in clichés. "Dorfman in Love" is one of those movies that relies on our familiarity with the clichés it uses to tell its story. Take those clichés away, it would be a dead zone. You'd be angry, instead of bored and irritated.
A simple feel-good one
audrulyte15 November 2013
I'd say I wasn't expecting much from this movie, and somewhat conflicting reviews of the movie did not help on the matter either. But eventually I am happy I did watch Dorfman since I enjoyed it tons. The story in the movie is simple and maybe even somewhat of a cliché, but since I do not need my romance and feel-good movie fixes to be overly complicated, this easy to stomach story did work for me quite well. A simple setting of a young gray mouse type of a woman getting her chance to prove to a guy she is secretly in love with for many years that she's the one for him, turns out to be more of a journey to her own self discovery and for once love and being loved in return. Looking for a nice romantic movie for the evening, why not try Dorfman, you might find a little gem here
was this someone's story?
ksf-220 May 2021
When Deb Dorfman (Sara Rue) house sits for a friend, her life changes forever. Her dad (Elliot Gould) has tried setting her up, but it doesn't seem to ever work out. Her married brother is a mess, and drags her into it. And now she has to house sit for a friend's cat. And it hates her. Will Deb ever get her own life figured out? Maybe she and her new next door neighbor can help each other. It's fun. Kind of feels like this was someone's own life story. Directed by Brad Leong, who has directed four films to date.... two of those were short films. Story by Wendy Kout,who was also a writer on mork and mindy in the 1980s. That's awesome! Blast from the past.
Cute RomCom
monamie-9872716 September 2015
I really enjoyed watching Dorfman in Love. I could kind of relate with the main character as being quirky and a little insecure. The story was very realistic unlike many love stories that seem so extreme.
It was a feel good movie that in the end puts a smile on your face. Being a native Californian, it was nice to see the revamped Downtown Los Angeles area being displayed throughout the film. The music was fitting and from local Californian artists.
I would definitely recommend having a girls' night in and enjoying this film.
The film was well written and executed!
It was a feel good movie that in the end puts a smile on your face. Being a native Californian, it was nice to see the revamped Downtown Los Angeles area being displayed throughout the film. The music was fitting and from local Californian artists.
I would definitely recommend having a girls' night in and enjoying this film.
The film was well written and executed!
Adorable, Enchanting RomCom
bgellman2 August 2015
Loved Dorfman for its sincerity, authenticity, humor and Downtown LA. Expertly written and brilliantly acted by Wendy Kout, Elliot Gould and Sara Rue.
While the Jewish humor will be appreciated by the tribe it's not overbearing and everybody will be laughing.
The plot feels personal to the writer/creator yet repeatable to common every day struggles of the "average" person.
Seeing E. Gould support this is indie flick is a wonderful pleasant surprise adding credibility to the film's premise and ambitions.
Absolutely recommend a great for date night!
While the Jewish humor will be appreciated by the tribe it's not overbearing and everybody will be laughing.
The plot feels personal to the writer/creator yet repeatable to common every day struggles of the "average" person.
Seeing E. Gould support this is indie flick is a wonderful pleasant surprise adding credibility to the film's premise and ambitions.
Absolutely recommend a great for date night!
It's all about Sara Rue.
rkhen11 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This is a formulaic rom-com, but that's not a bad thing if they get the formula right. You'll pretty much know what's going to happen from the first scene, right down to the way it's all going to end, but like I said, they do it well.
Sara Rue in the lead role does the best job of playing an actual woman I've seen in a long time. No tired Hollywood "supermodel in glasses playing homely" stuff. Rue is beautiful from the first shot, but you have to, like, look, to see that. You gotta appreciate Rue's performance; playing real is difficult. (Which I guess is why we usually get fake.)
I'll avoid spoilers here, but let's just say that whatever transformations may or may not take place are all about framing beauty that's standing in front of you, rather than painting over anything. (Just go with it; you'll get the allusion when you've seen the movie.)
This movie isn't going to set the world on fire, but it's a nice evening in with a well-played story. I recommend it.
Sara Rue in the lead role does the best job of playing an actual woman I've seen in a long time. No tired Hollywood "supermodel in glasses playing homely" stuff. Rue is beautiful from the first shot, but you have to, like, look, to see that. You gotta appreciate Rue's performance; playing real is difficult. (Which I guess is why we usually get fake.)
I'll avoid spoilers here, but let's just say that whatever transformations may or may not take place are all about framing beauty that's standing in front of you, rather than painting over anything. (Just go with it; you'll get the allusion when you've seen the movie.)
This movie isn't going to set the world on fire, but it's a nice evening in with a well-played story. I recommend it.
One of my favorite movies & soundtrack!
tracierusch11 October 2023
I LOVE THIS MOVIE! This is one of my favorite films. It's so sweet and heartwarming. Most importantly, I love the music! My husband and I are both musicians and romantics. The thing about this movie that really grabbed us is the soundtrack. The songs, in and of themselves, are nothing special. However, each and every song that was chosen fits each scene perfectly! The songs truly set the mood. We're both avid film buffs and we often comment on how well or not the soundtrack fits a movie. I can honestly say, without hesitation, that whoever chose the music for this film is a GENIUS! You can actually feel the tone each scene is trying to convey with each song. It draws you in and keeps you there. There are only a couple of things about this film I don't like: 1. The blatant advertisement by the L. A. tourist board to ride use the metro and visit their hot spots and 2. The back-breaking, bending over backwards to appease Haaz Sleiman's coming out of the closet. Too much and not necessary. Other than that, I truly love this movie.
omit elliot gould and it sings
sandcrab27717 January 2020
I can't say how many times i wanted to quit watching this movie because of elliot gould ... he's a lousy actor and worse comedian ... the best work he ever did was mash which i saw just before i left for vietnam in 1970 ... now he's just dust on whatever film he's in ... sara rue was great and the sole reason i kept watching
Dont know why average is so low
rwscrnn17 January 2022
This is a seemingly simple cliche story but actually has so much heart and soul! With great performances and chemistry. With interesting real feel of setting and culture of characters. Well worth the watch and love and story stays with you!
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