Never Again

In New York, Grace (Jill Clayburgh) and Christopher (Jeffrey Tambor) are two lonely souls of fifty and something years old. Jill has not had sex for seven years, and the straight Christopher is very insecure with his masculinity. Both of them have made a promise in the past that they would never fall in love again. When they meet each other, they have a very complicated affair and of course in the end they fall in love for each other. This irregular low budget movie explores an important theme completely disregarded by Hollywood: sex after fifty years old. The story looks like a "Sex and the City" of middle-aged women and has many good jokes and situations. The problem is the trailer released by the distributor. I saw it a couple of days ago, and it shows the best parts of the story, spoiling the funny situations. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Coisas do Amor" ("Things About Love")

Playing another in her gallery of savvy, acerbic divorced women attempting to date again, Jill Clayburgh effortlessly proves she's still got it. After a blind date goes south, Jill unintentionally winds up in a gay bar with her girlfriends and decides to make a night of it; luckily, exterminator/part-time jazz musician Jeffrey Tambor has also wandered in and the two singles 'meet cute' (he thinks she's a transsexual and tells her he's open to "experimenting", she finds the situation amusing). Clayburgh absolutely nails the love/hate relationship 50-somethings have with getting back into the swing of things (sometimes it's much more enticing to sit home and do nothing). Writer-director Eric Schaeffer loves a good cliché, and he doesn't mind playing up the storybook aspects of this wacky romance, yet some of his writing here is deliciously silly before the film falls into a predictable pattern in its iffy third-act. Tambor, a handsome lug with wonderful comic timing, never allows the bitterness of his character to become off-putting. He's thoughtful and deep (and troubled) but also an old-fashioned romantic at heart, and Clayburgh's salty, sneaky wit brings out the best in him (he's dry, she's wry). A hip, sassy love affair for folks over 40. **1/2 from ****

Eric Schaeffer's film was a detour from all the thrillers that opened in the summertime. This "small" picture proves that with the right ingredients, an enjoyable movie could be made.

It was a pleasant surprise to see the great Jill Clayburgh return to film, after being away for a while, in a starring role. She makes this woman believable and it's a pleasure to watch her fall in love with a man who is real and not a stereotype. Jeffrey Tambor, is right up to the challenge to make this man the object of Ms Clayburgh's affections.

This is a very "NewYorkish" type of film. We have known people like the girlfriends that push Ms. Clayburgh to take a chance in dating. Also, Jeffrey Tambor's world is easy to believe. He's the ugly duckling who has a lot to offer underneath his plain facade.

Life in this film seems to begin late in the life of the main characters. It was a joy to have seen this movie.

I am totally enthralled with this film. Not only is the script, acting (for the most part), and the directing superb-- it has a plot that is not seen in ever other love film known to man! I would have given the movie a 10 out of 10, but I have an issue with a handful of aspects about it. I didn't like a lot of the soundtrack; the songs just did not seem to fit the mood of the film in the beginning. Also, there is a cheese factor towards the end. However, if that is all that can be wrong with a film, then it is near perfection in my book. This film deals with real life issues, underneath the humor, and is so well written from both the male and female aspects of things that I kept wondering if two people had written it. (Imagine my surprise when a man had done it. He's got us down pat, ladies!) Plus, it isn't afraid to show a sexual side to humanity beyond 35-- a triumph for this day and age. Currently, this movie is my favorite of all time, and in my opinion, is a masterpiece that everyone should take the time to watch.

Eric Schaeffer's latest film is remarkably funny. It puts two people in a slightly extraordinary predicament and handles them as real people. Christopher and Grace have both been hurt in relationdhips, are both 54, and neither wants to risk falling in love again. Hence the title. The odd parts come in when each tries to at least find something new, even if it is just sex. It should be noted, this film, while dealing heavily with sex, never becomes even arguably pronagraphic. The dialogue is so wonderfully intelligent and (need I say again) funny that I found myself quoting lines throughout the trip home! If you are lucky enough to have this play in your area, I completely advise you to see it. I found myself laughing and cheering for characters as well as sighing and sobbing for them. The film's outrageous comedy is great, but the touching moments are so realistic that they also deserve a mention.