User reviews

I generally dislike Jack Nicholson, although I certainly think he is a very talented and gifted actor... so I watched this movie somewhat reluctantly on the recommendation of a friend. To my surprise, I liked it. I too am a woman "of a certain age" and I found myself responding to this movie very much in the context of a woman Diane Keaton's age. I laughed to tears over her creativity surge-- she very accurately portrayed that kind of grief over a relationship lost... amazing! I must say however, that if I were in a position to choose between Keannu Reeves and Jack Nicholson.. well there's no decision to make--the young stud muffin would win in a heartbeat!...(although Jack really was quite charming once he got over being such a putz).. Anyway.. a fun movie that is well done...

This movie took me by surprise, I wasn't sure if I could handle watching old actors getting it on but this movie turned out to be a great romantic comedy. Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton always give their 100% best in their performances, they did a great job in their roles. It would have been nice to see more input from Frances McDormand and Keanu Reeves, but otherwise I really enjoyed the movie.

Diane Keaton gives the performance of her career in 'Something's Gotta Give,' writer/director Nancy Meyers' smart and savvy take on middle-age romance. Keaton plays Erica Barry, a 50-something playwright living on her own in a swanky beach house in the Hamptons. Although she has achieved enormous success in her career, her personal life leaves much to be desired.

Erica, though brilliant and attractive, has pretty much shut herself off from the dating scene since her divorce a number of years ago. Erica's life runs like a well-oiled machine, with each element – both personal and professional - fitted neatly into place, with no room left over for spontaneity or passion. One fateful day, Erica stumbles upon a strange man rummaging through her refrigerator, a 63 year-old professional bachelor named Harry Sanborn who, Erica discovers to her horror, is dating her 30 year-old daughter, Marin (Harry is, actually, a notorious bachelor, having been profiled as such in a number of tony New York magazines). Even though Erica is disgusted by the situation, she is forced to take care of Harry after he suffers a heart attack while staying at her place. Despite their diametrically opposed outlooks on love and romance, Erica and Harry spend quality time together, discover their ultimate compatibility, and eventually fall in love.

Meyers has written a witty, sophisticated screenplay that offers insights into any number of 'battle of the sexes' issues. She has outrageous fun exploring the phenomenon of middle-aged men cavorting with women half their age. Jack Nicholson, known in real life for doing just that, has a great time poking fun at his own public image while, at the same time, providing a richly textured portrait of a man who may not be quite as shallow as his persona would suggest. When he so unexpectedly finds his head turned by a vibrant, attractive and intelligent woman in her 50's, Harry, a middle-aged Lothario who finds he needs Viagra to help him keep pace with his youthful 'conquests,' is forced to re-evaluate what has hitherto been the defining philosophy of his personality and lifestyle. Nicholson is magnificent at showing us the profound confusion his character undergoes as he takes those much belated but faltering steps into adult maturity.

Nicholson is, however, only one half of this extraordinary couple. As the other half, Keaton, having been handed what is clearly the role of a lifetime, has never seemed so natural and self-assured on screen. She makes of the character a capable, no-nonsense woman who has allowed her passions to lie dormant far too long. Though, on the surface, she appears confident and in control of her life, Erica is, underneath it all, a woman wounded by past experience and intimidated by a culture that expects women to be put out to pasture the moment they reach middle age. It is this combination of strength and vulnerability that makes Erica such a complex, recognizable individual – and it is the very quality that Keaton captures so exquisitely in her performance. The chemistry generated between Keaton and Nicholson in this film is so glowing and palpable one wonders why no filmmaker ever saw the potential of this dynamic duo until now.

In addition to these two outstanding performers, the film boasts excellent supporting work from Frances McDormand as Erica's pragmatic, clear-headed sister; Amanda Peet as Erica's level-headed daughter; and Keanu Reeves as Harry's handsome young doctor who finds himself smitten by Erica's mature beauty and charm.

'Something's Gotta Give' is that rare romantic comedy that not only acknowledges the romantic inclinations of people over forty, but also recognizes the emotional complexities of their relationships. Because both Erica and Harry have been around the block a few times, they bring a lifetime of baggage to their burgeoning attachment. Thus, unlike in the vast majority of romantic comedies, which are clearly geared to the younger generation, the lovers here have a depth not often encountered when the focus is on two inexperienced neophytes. It takes the experience that comes from living to make a person interesting, after all.

Thanks to the quality of the writing and the performances, 'Something's Gotta Give' takes its place among the great romantic comedy/dramas like 'Two For the Road,' 'Annie Hall,' 'When Harry Met Sally' and 'The American President.' That's mighty august company indeed.

Romance among the AARP set in a movie is never an easy proposition, pardon the pun. The participants have to be sexy enough that the younger people in the audience don't get all grossed out ("Gramma and Granpa are KISSING!!! With tongue!!!!"), but not too sexy. The audience wants to be swept off its feet, but it doesn't want anything that's overly salacious.

For the most part, writer-director Nancy Meyers succeeds here. Diane Keaton plays Erica Barry, a neurotic, highly successful playwright. Jack Nicholson plays himself. Okay, technically he plays 63-year-old Harry Sanborn, owner of a hip-hop record label and chronic womanizer.

One of the funniest scenes in the movie comes right near the beginning. Harry's with his new squeeze Marin (Amanda Peet), at Marin's mom's house. There's Harry, in his boxers and a t-shirt, putting wine in the 'fridge, when Marin's mom - you guessed it, Erica - unexpectedly comes home. Naturally, she thinks he's an intruder and calls 911. I mean, wouldn't you? It takes some explaining, but soon the misunderstanding is cleared up and our combatants (oops, participants) can get on with the romancin'.

The thrust of the story (oops, another pun) is that while fooling around with Marin upstairs, Harry suffers a heart attack. At the hospital, Dr. Mercer (an interestingly cast Keanu Reeves) admonishes the unrepentant Harry for overexerting himself and tells him not to travel for a little while. Yup, you guessed it, that means he has to bunk with Erica. And our romance is thus set up.

The good news is that pairing Keaton and Nicholson (who appeared together in 1982's Reds) was a great, great idea. Keaton basically plays a grown-up Annie Hall, and she manages to look sexy and daffy at the same time. Nicholson, for all his bluster and creakiness, still has the panache that has served him so well for the past forty years or so.

The trouble is that after their relationship is consummated, the two leads behave like seventh graders. Now, no offense to you seventh graders out there, but you do have a tendency to get melodramatic. Admit it. In this movie, Erica spends - no exaggeration here - a good ten minutes sobbing. And sobbing. And sobbing. Everywhere and anywhere. Yikes and double yikes. For his part, Harry broods like no one's ever brooded before, like he's up for an Olympic medal in the event of Feeling Bummed Out. After a while, you wish these two crazy kids would just get over it. Call her! Call him! Do something!

To make matters worse for the relationship, Erica writes a play based on her experiences with Harry, complete with him dancing drunkenly in a hospital gown. Does this lady play hardball, or what?

Granted, the storyline is predictable, but the two leads are wonderful, and very well cast. Meyers wrote the script with Keaton and Nicholson in mind specifically, the decision was a wise one.

Something's Gotta Give has a funny beginning and a sweet ending, but the middle suffers from an unfortunate lag.

It's an enjoyable story with interesting characters who were all spoiled by over-acting. And then there's the times where it's got more cheese than Switzerland.

Movie shows genuine emotional journey of both genders in their post 50's life. Experiencing love for a second time with much confused ideologies. Wonderful script, direction, performances, bgm, locations. Movies just eats the time away. Save if for a nice breezy and cold weekend.

Something's Gotta Give (2003)

There are two things recommending this film: Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. Alone and together they are funny and alive. You might expect their individual strengths, but they actually have chemistry, or at least rapport, on screen.

The story is fun and funny and heartwarming, and you kind of know what's going to happen much of the time. And you want it to, so you get that confirmation and have fun watching the two be together (or not) as their relationship grows and changes. Director and writer Nancy Meyers is pretty straight forward here--and if she's no Nora Ephron (lacking finesse and wit at that level), she's got the right idea. You can picture a better film, smoother and more cinematic, under a different director (there are some clunky visual decisions if you are looking), but the story keeps it going.

The rest of the cast? Mostly what you'd expect. Keanu Reeves is better than usual, playing an unplayed role nicely, and Frances McDormand is funny but a bit awkward here, as if miscast, or at odds with the director. Amanda Peet as the daughter is cheerful enough but I found her unconvincing in her role scooping up a rap record label womanizer (Nicholson) three times her age.

It's the unlikeliness of the main match-up that makes the movie work, of course, and in a way they dive into their success too easily. (A screwball comedy would have sustained the tension until the last scene, and here they keep it in the air for about five minutes.) Of course, this is a standard romantic comedy, and the romance figures heavily. And there are turns in the feelgood plot that make it rise above. And make it worth watching twice, believe it or not, at least with a few years rest. The performances are what remain sparkling and new.

You might have trouble, as I do every time I see this movie (and it's been a few times for some reason) with the last scene. It's meant to be sudden and dramatic, but the previous scene doesn't quite set things up that way. Sort of, but not quite, and the validity of the change of heart at the end is necessary. But then of course the snow falls and Paris is beautiful and life is beautiful and we all have hope. It's a feel good movie that really works.

Great performances, nicely shot, great dialog, very enjoyable.

I'm pretty sure I saw this in the theaters when it first came out (21 years ago). I don't remember enjoying it nearly as much as I did this time around. Maybe the "old jokes" just didn't land in my mid-30s like they did now that I'm old enough to appreciate them (or is it, be the brunt of them). Or maybe it's because being in love in the second half of your life is different than when there are more years ahead of you then behind you.

Either way, I thought this was a solid rom-com with some laugh out loud moments. Sure, there are some cliche moments too (like the writer turning her real life into art, and of course the overused bumping-into-someone-in-the-restaurant trope, c'mon writers there are thousands of restaurants in New York City; this can't happen THAT often) that keep this from being a great movie, but I give it a solid 7 rating.

Besides the two leads (Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton), there are great supporting roles from Keanu Reeves, Amanda Peet, Jon Favreau and the always brilliant Frances McDormand.

I kept thinking, while watching this movie, "I wish I could write a screenplay as good as this." Jack was Impeccable Jack. Diane was delightful and sexy and a wonderful role model for older women. Keanu showed more range than people give him credit for, and did an excellent job playing the role he was cast as - a supporting character, who is not supposed to outshine the lead roles, but rather enhance them (which he did). I was very pleased with this movie! It did have "several endings" which, actually, didn't detract but instead made me think, "Well, that's closer to the reality of what might happen," instead of being annoyed. As Jack's character says, "Finally, closure," and I was happy. It was a good movie and I liked it quite a lot. It'll be on my mind and in my thoughts for a while, which is the sign of an impactful movie.

The teaming of Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton in Warren Beatty's "Reds" back in 1981 was only given a minute glimpse. The glimpse though turned out to be some of the best parts of a very excellent movie. A film with these two living legends was destined for greatness and that prediction comes to reality in writer/director Nancy Meyers' "Something's Gotta Give". Nicholson is a brash and sometimes quietly obnoxious success from New York who has made a life out of chasing 20- and 30-something year-old girls. He and his newest girlfriend (Amanda Peet) get along really well. They decide to go out to Peet's mother's (Keaton) beach-house outside of the city to consummate their relationship. Of course just as everything looks perfect, Keaton (a noted playwright) and younger sister Frances McDormand (in another wonderful turn) barge in and spoil the fun. All seem a little uncomfortable and you can cut the tension between Nicholson and Keaton with a knife. Before you know it, Nicholson suffers a heart attack and all hell breaks loose. He is rushed to the doctor in the nick of time, but now Keaton has to nurse him back to health at her home. Nicholson's doctor (a good performance by Keanu Reeves, getting away from his stupid "Matrix" films) soon falls in love with Keaton who is totally oblivious to his feelings. And before you know it Keaton's warmth, smile, personality, heart and intelligence eventually wins Nicholson over as well. But you all know about Nicholson's relationships with women (in real life and the movies). Is he ready to fall in love for the first time in his life and make a true commitment? Or will his antics end up making matters worse for all involved (Keaton in particular, who becomes someone you don't want to see get hurt)? "Something's Gotta Give" is a film I really liked a lot. The old-time Hollywood style of the 1940s is very prevalent here in a 2000s package. Nicholson and Keaton, what can you say? They are arguably the two finest performers living today and they do end up feeding off each other's astronomical talents throughout. Sometimes something eventually gives in Hollywood these days, but I am happy to say that it never happens with this product. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

This movie was very entertaining and enjoyable. Yes I do admit it does have its problems- it is overlong, the ending was rather abrupt and the film does have some very predictable moments. But what does compensate are the performances of the two leads Jack Nicolson and Diane Keaten, and there are some very funny moments, such as Harry being rushed to hospital about three times, although two of those times was a sign that he had fallen in love, and when Harry catches Erica walking around the house naked. Though my favourite is when Harry is standing at the foot of a flight of stairs and wondering should I go up them? Of course Nicolson has been better, but Keaten was at her loveliest she really shone here, and there is great support from Amanda Peet and Frances McDormand, and Keanu Reeves is actually tolerable here in a less flashy role. There is a well crafted script and some nice photography and music. Overall, has its flaws, but manages to be an engaging romantic comedy. 7/10 Bethany Cox

I saw first saw Something's Gotta Give, the new film by Nancy Meyes and starring Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton, a month ago. I wasn't sure whether I liked it, or though it was so-so, or even thought it was a drop off from the work I've seen Nicholson do lately (The Pledge and About Schmidt are wonderful works for the legend). I saw it again tonight and I think I feel slightly different about it now. It's not a bad movie, but I wouldn't watch it in a theater again, and I might flip around when it comes on TV to see the good scenes. It's the kind of romantic comedy that suffers from a couple of downers, and yet there is a charm to it that should appeal to fans of the actors, and to older audiences (as I suspected over half of the audience was over the age of 50).

The good that's in the movie is that it's a sort of standard Hollywood-style story that doesn't go into rotten territory like other romantic comedies do. Nicholson plays a version of himself (a version of the truth?) as Harry, a record company executive who's dating a woman half his age (Amanda Peet). While staying at her mother's house at the Hamptons he meets both her playwright mother Erica (Keaton) and teacher aunt (Frances McDormand). Then, he gets hit with a heart attack, and is told by the doctor (Keanu Reeves) to stick around as to not get overly tensed by what he's struck down with. Then the sparks being to come up between Harry and Erica when they're left to themselves while Harry recovers.

The things that make the film work are that Nicholson and Keaton have a nice connection to each other, like one of those old Hollywood star-couples in the old-time Hollywood movies. I could've imagined the Harry role played by someone else, and maybe for Keaton too, but the way it turned out it's about right as a stars' vehicle. And there are plenty of laughs that come up involving Nicholson after the heart attack (the biggest for me came minutes after his first heart attack, when he tries to walk around), and with consistent sexual puns and wit. What didn't work for me was the Hollywood-style romanticism and direction the sob parts of the story and characters went to that were much, much better under the control of someone like James L. Brooks in the classic As Good As It Gets. In that film Nicholson played a version of himself, too, but that character and story had an edge to it all that could make it totally re-watchable for women as well as men.

As for Keaton, she holds her own quite well next to her counter-part, and she looks terrific, though for some reason seeing what the script required her to do in a role like this makes me really want to see her in a Woody Allen flick again. The acting by Reeves was another glaring flaw, reminding me that he's much better off in Matrix and action-film land than here- every time he had a romantic moment I cringed in my seat. There were also supporting roles by Peet and McDormand that were under-used.

Still, I do sorta, kinda recommend Something's Gotta Give- it has humor that isn't too raunchy (unless you get offended by heart-attack and viagra jokes), and as a chick flick it does fine. In some ways it could've been better, and in other ways there was no way it could've tried for better ground, and there were some touches that made it tolerable and watchable. (strong) C+

This is a good movie for anybody who likes Jack Nicholson because he is a riot in this film as the playboy old enough to be these women's grandpa. He meets his newest girlfriend's Marin's mom Erica, who is pretty uptight and slightly neurotic and can be hard on herself. The story really picks up when Erica starts dating the doctor played by Keanu Reeves, who kind of kills his part in the film because he is so vacant. He is nowhere near as funny as Jack. Another part that kind of messes up the film for me is when Erica's sister Zoe goes off on a tangent about the dating scene. However, Jack and Diane really stole the show and have great chemistry together. All in all, it's a great comedy.

I love a good romantic movie. However, I have noticed that most of these films feature extremely young folks. Because of this, the covert message is that older people are not sexual or don't really matter! It's only s REAL romance when the actors are young and hot....or so you might think. However, in "Something's Gotta Give", you have a film featuring a woman in her 50s and a man in his 60s--not the sort of romantic leads you'd expect. And, it's simply a delight to watch.

When the film begins, Harry (Jack Nicholson) is out chasing after a women who is about a third his age, Marin (Amanda Peet). However, this womanizing eternal bachelor is about to come into contact with Marin's mother, Erica (Diane Keaton) and for the first time in his life, he begins to have real feelings for a woman. Up until then, it was just a long series of shallow sexual relationships--in a sad attempt to prove his masculinity and protect himself from real intimacy. How all this works out is just something you'll have to see. Plus, with nearly 400 reviews for the film, it's probably not worth me repeating what others have said so many times already.

The film works for me for two huge reason--the quality of the acting and the intelligence of the script. While Erica and Harry are NOT ordinary older folks (they are both wealthy and relatively famous characters), they represent interesting archetypes--the strong but lonely woman and the sad guy who doesn't realize just how lonely he really is. Most importantly, however, the writing is so good that you believe such a relationship COULD happen--and it's not simply a formulaic film and the two behave in wonderful and unexpected ways when they realize they are in love. Well worth seeing and a great date night film for any age group--but which will probably be appreciated more by an older audience. At 50, this sort of flick is just what I was looking for!

Of the many things I like about going to the movies there are two experiences that always stand out more than others. The first is going to see a film that you have so-so expectations for and finding out that it is not only better than expected, but very good indeed. The second is going to see a film you have high expectations for and not being disappointed. Something's Gotta Give falls squarely into the second category.

Sometimes when legendary stars are teamed up in a film, the result is often less than passable. Not so with this film, thanks to a sharp-witted script and direction by Nancy Meyers, two great stars in Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson who click wonderfully together on screen and an excellent supporting cast that includes Keanu Reeves, Amanda Peet and Frances McDormand. This is a romantic comedy that is funny when it's meant to be, insightful when it needs to be, and filled with many sincere and touching moments.

Harry Sanborn (Nicholson), the over-age playboy who has spent his entire life avoiding serious commitments, is set to spend the weekend with his flavor of the moment girlfriend, Marin(Amanda Peet), at a beach house owned by Marin's mother. Unfortunately for Harry and Marin, Marin's mother Erica Barry(Diane Keaton), who is a famous playwright, shows up for the weekend also with her sister Zoe(Frances McDormand). Of course Erica doesn't quite know how to deal with the fact that her daughter is dating and possibly sleeping with a man of Harry's reputation and age leading to some very funny dialog between Harry, Erica and Zoe that rings mounds of truth. It's these early scenes in the film that sets the pace, grabs your attention, then never lets you go. Later, when beginning to get it on with Marin, Harry suffers a heart attack. Now I know having a heart attack is not supposed to be particularly funny, but in this case it's some of the many many hilarious scenes that rock throughout Something's Gotta Give. When Harry is taken to the hospital, we meet Dr. Julian Mercer (Keanu Reeves), who happens to be a great admire of Erica's plays and quickly develops a crush on her. Of course, plot manipulations being what they are, Harry ends up recuperating alone in Erica's beach house. Everything that happens from that point on speaks volumes about love, aging, and especially how men and women are viewed differently as they grow older.

I can't say enough here about Diane Keaton's performance in this film. For all the dramatic roles she has played, she once again proves how truly versatile she is with this very touching yet truly comedic role. Jack Nicholson as Harry Sanborn, is equally perfect also. He manages to take a character that we should absolutely loathe for his shallow behavior and make him not only likable but gives him depth as well. It is perhaps his best comedic role ever. Keanu Reeves in a less flashy role, shines as the young Doctor. We believe in his sincere admiration for Erica and he manages to pull it off by making us believe this is not just a school boy type crush. For some brief but very funny moments, Frances McDormand deserves our praise also.

Nancy Meyers has shown great promise as a director with the OK efforts of The Parent Trap and What Women Want. As a writer she has had some fine moments with Irreconcilable Differences, Baby Boom and Father of the Bride. With Something's Gotta Give, she puts the pieces of the puzzle together for some first class entertainment. You won't be disappointed.

My Grade: A+