La fille sur la banquette arrière

Romantic Comedy held all the earmarks of being a moving, heart-wrenching romantic drama. There was one scene in particular that was so well done, I felt certain that I'd be reaching for the Kleenex box. However, the way it ended (no spoilers here, don't worry) and the increasingly unlikable character of Dudley Moore made for a pretty unpleasant viewing experience. The acting of Dudley and Mary Steenburgen was very good, especially in the dramatic scenes. She wore some very sweet and tender expressions, and he radiated self-loathing and sabotage. If you felt When Harry Met Sally was too cutesy and needed more dramatic realism, this precursor will be a good fit for you.

In my favorite scene, Dudley's wife, Janet Eilber, tells him she needs to have a discussion about their future. He naturally thinks they're going to split up, and he all but confesses his feelings for Mary (who has all but confessed hers). Instead, Janet announces she's pregnant. Dudley's facial expressions are perfect. He knows he has about five seconds in which to decide whether to leave Janet or stay. He knows his life is completely over, for if he leaves her, he'll be tied to her forever and carry the guilt of abandoning his child. Instead, he's stuck in a loveless marriage with massive incompatibility. Whatever budding feelings he had for Mary need to be squelched, and he needs to make this moment a happy one for his wife. All that is communicated to the camera in five seconds, and it truly breaks your heart when he embraces her.

This movie really was a precursor to When Harry Met Sally. Two people have a great relationship but are destined to just be friends, even though there's obvious love beneath the surface. Years and years pass, and they remain in each other's lives through thick and thin. The difference is the comedic tone of Nora Ephron's script. This version has no pair of friends who are funnier and more likable, and there isn't the overall lightness of the leads' exchanges. This one is heavy, and Mary carries a lot of pain throughout the years she spends with Dudley. If you like her, you won't want to miss this one - even if you don't end up liking it.

I found this movie light and entertaining. I really don't understand why it was abused by the critics. The perfect Dudley Moore vehicle, consisting of comedy in an all too real and serious romantic life situation. NO... it's not an Oscar winner, but it certainly doesn't deserve the bad rating originally heap on it. If you are looking for a true Romantic Comedy... this is the movie you are looking for. It doesn't require that you think and worry about every twist and turn, but does bring true laughter and entertainment into your home.

Proven playwright, Jason (Dudley Moore), meets his new writing partner, Phoebe (Mary Steenburgen), on the day of his marriage. He is bombastic, she is soft-spoken. He is confident in his abilities, she is anxious to prove herself. It is a work relationship that proves to be a blessing for each of them, over the years, but their personal relationship is never truly defined.

Adapted from a play, "Romantic Comedy" is a rom-com that feels like a Neil Simon story. Plus it takes place in New York City. It also features the music of Marvin Hamlisch, which gives it a familiar feeling.

Don't expect the conventional romantic wrap-up, where everyone's feelings are neatly tucked into a perfect ending. But it still feels Simonesque, which is not a bad thing.

I've never quite understood why this movie has so bad a reputation. It's not Tracy and Hepburn, to be sure, but I found Dudley Moore a lot more likable in this than I usually do and Mary Steenburgen is great, I think. It should appeal to those who like Neil Simon and movies set in the Manhattan theatre world. There's some funny stuff here and there and I thought the characters were agreeable. 'Romantic Comedy' is certainly no classic for the ages but I think that people who enjoy the genre in the title should like it.

I saw this the same week that I saw Dudley Moore's other 1983 romantic comedy, "Love Sick". While I have to give the edge to Marshall Brickman's "Love Sick," this is also a sophisticated and easy-going comedy that delivers lots of smiles and a few good chuckles. Dudley Moore was only a leading man for 13 years (1979-1992) and starred in only 13 films. While I didn't care for his boozy millionaire in "Arthur" and "Arthur 2," I think his work in Blake Edwards "10" and "Micky and Maude" was excellent. He plays an average guy with a little bit of charm and intelligence very well. Here, he plays a playwright without a great deal of talent. He has to get by on the talent of his collaborators. Mary Steenburgen is the real standout in the movie. It may be her best performance. She works very well with Moore. Steenburgen is really more of a character actress and that is where she does her best work, see "Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School." She really can't carry a movie as a lead, but here she plays straight man to Moore and the chemistry works. The story is about a man and a woman who should fall in love and get married, but their careers and lives force them out-of-sync, so they become friends instead. The movie isn't a laugh riot and it won't knock your socks off, but it is a sad/sweet two hours of mature and sophisticated banter.