“Something’s Gotta Give’ — superior romantic comedy
Hollywood doesn’t make many romantic comedies anymore, light films that have wit and a sense of enjoyment that doesn’t depend on car crashes or the end of the world. Too bad, because at one time the films from California could be enjoyed like a glass of a light wine.
Happily, there are still some out there, including “Something’s Gotta Give,” starring Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton with a fine supporting cast.
Both stars are at their best here, she as a divorced playwright with a 20ish daughter (Amanda Peet, chic and pert as ever); he as an aging roue having an affair with Peet, despite their age differences. Helping keep laughs coming and the plot moving are a likeable Keanu Reeves as Nicholson’s doctor and the excellent Frances McDormand as Keaton’s friend.
The story weaves through several hospital visits by Nicholson as he first has a minor heart attack and is thus forced to stay with Keaton in her Long Island home. At first antagonistic, Keaton eventually finds Nicholson someone she can love and revive the old flame of love. Nicholson is gradually drawn into her web and they eventually wind up in bed.
But as with all good romantic comedies the path of true love is never obstacle free. The stars have intimate moments but it all falls apart when Keaton stumbles on Nicholson having dinner with a beautiful babe from his past.
Six months later they meet in Paris and her temporary affair with Reeves ends as they pair reunite on a Parisian bridge in a snowstorm.
Keaton is a total delight here. She makes ordinary dialogue sparkle with a shrug of the shoulders, a look from the corner of her eyes. She almost singlehandedly revives the concept of romantic comedies.
But Nicholson is the perfect foil, looking messy and unkempt, rolling out his lines with deft timing and inflection. He has moved from dramatic actor to character and does it well.
Can‘t praise the movie enough — two fine stars, an excellent script and skillful direction by Nancy Meyers. And there’s a very funny scene where Nicholson accidentally walks in on Keaton as she was getting ready to show. She’s nude, but it’s a flash and that’s all, but she makes it a classic moment of comedy.
It’s rated G-13, runs 128 delightful minutes and it is available at the Carson library.
