Middle Age Crazy

Entertaining comedy about a man who turns 40 and begins looking at his life differently. Thinking certain events and "fun" things have crept past him, he starts looking to recapture his youth. Fast cars and younger women are suddenly more appealing than his routine life and dull wife. Even his son's girlfriend becomes an object of his lustful yearnings. Good film dealing with a very common occurrence.

Builder of fast food restaurants turns the big 4-0 and loses interest in his sexually fired-up wife and their leering, stupid relatives; he takes up with a professional cheerleader, leading his spouse to try having a fling of her own. Terrible marital comedy, suggested by the 1977 Jerry Lee Lewis song written by Sonny Throckmorton, presents its characters as prosperous but ignorant hicks--and then asks us to relate to them! Carl Kleinschmitt's witless screenplay is squeezed hard by director John Trent, however not one honest laugh emerges from these lowbrow circumstances. The attempt to turn intense character actor Bruce Dern into a commercial movie star backfires; with his hair darkened and blown dry, Dern tries loosening up, but he doesn't have a fun side to display (the rigors of a comedic performance prove too strenuous for him). No matter what he's doing on-screen, Dern is hyper-controlled to the point of snapping, while co-star Ann-Margret pretends not to notice (she's a smart lady playing it dumb for laughs). The movie is supposed to be wild and sexy and naughty, but desperation shows through like flop sweat. NO STARS from ****

Great tale that highlights the dangers of getting what you wish for and not appreciating what you have. Bruce Dern is terrific as Bobby Lee. It's strange to see him in a role where he isn't a scumbag, but his performance is brilliant and touching as a man who wrestles with latent immaturity and crushing loss. Ann-Margret was born to her role as adoring and then betrayed wife. My favorite lines will always be about being the "Daddy." I'm surprised that this movie doesn't get much play in rerun on television. It's the same coming-of-age genre as "10" except that Bo Derek didn't star as the lust interest. Both Dern and Ann-Margret pull off great performances as nouveau riche Texans who are basically down-home at heart.

I saw this movie when it first came out and I had just turned 40. To my surprise it looked like they had copied my last 18 months on film. I had went through almost the exact same thing the previous year. It really hit home. I think all men go through this at one time or another during their life. Watched the video a dozen times.

This movie captures the very essence of male menopause. Been there..Done that probably is the first thing that comes to almost every over 40's guys minds. This is almost a case study into the cause of male infidelity. Every female who has ever had her life rocked by a cheating guy should see this movie. Dern is perfectly cast in the role of Bobby Lee.

Jerry Lee' title track sums up perfectly the mindset of a man as he realizes that his youth and his life is slipping by.

I've seen this several times an recommend it. Jerry Lee's soundtrack has been in my collection of years. Its as good once as it ever was