I've never been one for the belief in God. In fact I consider myself an atheist in most circumstances. But this is one of those weird occasions where God is either real or it turned out that the Matrix program is true and they decided to make a movie with just me and mind.
For this movie stars every major actor that I've had an obsession with for the last few years.
Well except for Jane Fonda. That's not to say that I dislike Jane Fonda, she's just not somebody that I generally pay attention to.
And I see you a little sad saying that now considering she's the best part of the entire movie.
So the movie is made up of three major soliloquies.
First one is between Alan Alda and Jane Fonda. Two people who had formerly been married and are now (kind of) battling for the custody of their 17 year old daughter.
Between Alan Alda's semi sadistic sarcastic humour and Jane Fonda's kind of passive but surprisingly Direct aggressive wit.
There lies and Incredibly good character interaction mixed in with chemistry that shouldn't work but kind of does. It's easily the best part of the entire movie and I think they should have ended the film on this particular scene as opposed to beginning it with it.
Second is between Maggie Smith and Michael Caine.
Now their performances aren't as good as previous but their overall interaction is probably the best one to watch.
There's something about that sophisticated dry wit the comes about with the Shakespearean acting of Maggie Smith and that kind of classy and yet really direct insult of Michael Caine that just works so well.
Maggie Smith is one of those women that can steal the scene regardless of whoever she's sharing it with. And even though she's not the best actor in the movie, she's easily still my favourite.
3rd is between Elaine May and Walter Matthau. This is the part of the movie I thought would be my absolute favourite.
But unfortunately their doubt this weird situational comedy that feels more at home in a sitcom then it does a film.
And it's a little sad given that their chemistry is amongst some of the best. After all, these two had started a movie previously that's still to this day maintains to be my absolute favourite movie.
I still love the way they interact with each other though. Between Walter Walter Matthau break down as he accidentally discovers he may have slept with this random woman over the night, to Elaine May's distraught; But ultimately indifferent approach to his actions. As she decides to ignore the entire event just to maintain a decent image.
And finally there's a B-plot between Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby as they decided to go on vacation with each other and bring their wives. It's supposed to be a very relaxing occasion. But a series on of unfortunate events keeps getting in the way and the two ultimately end up hating each other in the end; As personal rivalries devolve into a physical confrontation. It's the weakest part of the entire movie.
And it's kind of disappointing because Richard Pryor is a very talented, funny man and I think he could have been essential in the plot of one of the other stories. Or possibly given a better plot on his own. But having him trying to interact with Bill Cosby of all people just seems kind of odd.
They're particular forms of humour are very opposing to one another.
That was probably the idea to begin with.
They wanted these two Titans of Comedy attempting to be friends but ultimately enemies all for the sake of comedic effect.
But it just comes off as kind of pathetic and a bit upsetting giving that Richard Pryor had to result so much physical comedy.
The man should have been given something better.
So the plot is a little all over the place.
You could have had all four of these stories happening in different areas of the world and you'd still end up with the exact same effect.
As much as I loved certain aspects of the movie, I would never pretend that it was anything more than just a good.
All the actors are here and there's a wonderful scenario to be had. But the movie ultimately misses the goal and just gives us individual stories that are still entertaining, but ultimately deprived of anything greater.
This film could have done with another half an hour; Trying to at least finish up certain plots or even to interlink a few of the other stories together.
Just for some sense of coherence.
It's like the movie ''A Mad Mad Mad Mad World''. There's 20 different stories going on there and they all intermix of each other in one unique way or another. This film could have followed in the same suit but instead just kind of devolves into television show that continues on for an hour and a half.
My only real problem with this movie (besides not utilising all the different actors with each other) would have to be some of the audio effects.
Some of the mixing in this movie sounds are kind of weird and the first 10 minutes is just awful.
Characters sound like they're inside phone booth while their physical bodies are walking around outside.
One or two of the Practical effects with Richard Pryor's car at the beginning of the movie are pretty bad too.
He's supposed to have blown a gasket on his car, but you can clearly see that it's just a superimposed image.
It's nothing that really takes you out of the film and it all goes away after 15 minutes. But I can imagine a lot of people turning this movie off, thinking it was something far worse than it really is, simply because of a bad introduction.
Despite this movie being nothing particularly interesting I'm still happy that it exists.
I can't think of another movie with the same lineup of actors and the intensity of some of the scenes they have of each other.
It's one of the most unique things I've ever seen.
I can still remember my reaction the first time I ever looked at this poster.
Just seeing all those names which I have been following for so long in various other movies. I had been watching beforehand.
Just being so flabbergasted at a film starring everyone I loved existed and I had no knowledge of it.
It's as if somebody had poked around in my brain, picked out every major character I ever cared for and stuck them in one movie. Then purposely created it way back in the past just so I'd have something interesting to watch 40 years later.
If this movie had 'Alec Guinness' in it I might be inclined to believe that ''theory''.
I was kind of surprised with this movie. I had heard a lot of other people saying that it was subpar or even bad. And I can see why they would say that.
With the story's not linking up and some of them just not delivering on their premise.
But overall I found themainly enjoyable. The first two major plot lines are fantastic and overall the film is fairly entertaining.
There's no lackluster bits or stagnant material. Everything moves along at a pretty brisk pace and you're sure to find something that will be enjoyable to you.
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