Paternity

Burt Reynolds is in fine form in "Paternity". His supporting cast is very likeable. There are a bunch of laughs in this movie. I laughed out loud quite a few times. That said, there are more smiles than there are laughs in "Paternity". The movie has a lot of charm but, after a while, it begins to feel a little long. "Paternity" never goes completely south but the fun factor decreases quite a bit as they try to slide into the love story part of the movie. "Paternity" is a pretty easy watch. It's not that different than a lot of the other romantic comedies that came out around that time. (I first saw this movie in the theater (Bellerose, NY) when it first came out.

Buddy Evans (Burt Reynolds) is the most eligible bachelor in New York managing Madison Square Garden. He's 44 and something is missing from his life. With his friends Larry (Norman Fell) and Kurt (Paul Dooley)'s advise, he decides to find a surrogate mother with whom to have a son. The search runs into various roadblocks including a misunderstanding with interior designer Jenny (Lauren Hutton). Maggie (Beverly D'Angelo) is a waitress at his diner hangout who gets accepted to study music in Paris. While chasing after Jenny, Buddy gets into a cab with Maggie. Buddy loses Jenny but Maggie needs the money and accepts the unusual proposal.

Burt Reynolds uses all of his roguish charms to make this one work. There are warning signs that my young mind probably didn't understand while watching this back in the day. Watching it today, Burt hanging out with a bunch of kids is awkward at best. Since it's Burt, it's still pretty funny. The most memorable sequence is chasing Lauren Hutton. It's so memorable that I conflated her character with Maggie. This has some awkward fun while able to maintaining a light-hearted feel.

In his string of romantic comedy films, and even his car chase flicks, Burt Reynolds is never alone. There's always an eclectic cast of characters supporting him along the process...

But here's a movie where Burt, playing extremely subtle as a single successful guy who yearns to have a baby, seems completely isolated, at first, and not only because he wants the child born through a surrogate mother...

Other than Paul Dooley as his work buddy and Norman Fell as a shrink, there aren't too many outlets for the usual ensemble humor -- not the kind that would result in the signature blooper reel during the end credits...

Some of the best moments have Burt interviewing women for the job -- mostly ones he's dated in the past. And one particular insult battle with ornery Carol Locatell is a hilarious standout while on the classy side, Lauren Hutton turns in a cameo as perhaps the perfect candidate... leading to a chase through Manhattan, the buildings and skyline captured as if a character in itself...

Yet what brings real light to this unique lightweight comedy is Beverly D'Angelo as a waitress/music teacher needing money to study abroad...

She takes the gig and sleeps with Burt after a contrived yet still romantic date and, once impregnated, she lives at his bachelor condominium...

Of course they hang out enough for both to fall in love (D'Angelo's restroom conversation with Burt's lover Elizabeth Ashley is a standout): but it takes long enough to not be another New York City romantic-comedy. And while the ending is visible for miles, D'Angelo plays her part with enough vulnerable charm to make the turnout a happy instead of corny one. You'll be glad things worked out, if only for her sake.

It's a comedy based on the theme of "torture the star". Burt is the star, so he gets tortured. His character Buddy does strange things throughout the movie, making for an adventure into his life that is anything but predictable. Buddy has a big heart but many small character flaws. These flaws are what leads to the predicament he finds himself in and the progression of the film to it's conclusion is a true classic in romantic comedy. The film is a wonderfully done and although there are some adult scenes,nothing in it is graphic. It is just pure comedy. So open a bottle and enjoy this timeless classic with someone you love. Burt's impeccable timing and style make every scene is a work of art. Sadly Netflix seems to have forgotten to get a copy so you will have to look elsewhere to view it.

I was watching a marathon of National Lampoon vacation flix, and I instantly thought of this movie when I thought of Beverly D'Angelo. She's done many, many memorable movies over the years. Hair, the John Candy flick Summer Rental, and this one are standouts. Suburban Mom roles for Beverly. Odd, but she does it well.

This movie is all about Beverly, and Burt allows it. Which I think is very cool. Because she excels in the role. About as serious as an 80's RomCom can stand to be.