Worth Winning

Bland 80s romantic comedy about weatherman Make Harmon betting his friend that he can get three different women to accept his proposal of marriage, on camera no less. That's not really all that funny or clever of a plot set-up, but I suppose it's serviceable enough. The women Harmon pursues include Madeleine Stowe, Lesley Ann Warren, Andrea Martin, and Maria Holvoe, so three of the four actresses are quite respectable, well known, and certainly better than this very unoriginal of material. I think seeing the usually serious Stowe in such a light film was the most amusing part of the film. Overall, "Worth Winning" would be completely unwatchable if it wasn't for the cast and 80s nostalgia value.

Lesley Ann Warren has a short scene in a negligee where she is as stunning as I've ever seen her (but it's not a nude scene, regrettably...). Otherwise, this is a bog-standard TV sitcom, stretched out to and hour and a half. Mark Harmon is certainly attractive, but his role does not exactly bring out the best in him. Little interest, and no heat, is generated by the other two ladies. Stowe is pretty, but not sexy, while Holvoe does not offer much of anything here, apart from her fancy dresses. Joan Severance is gorgeous, on the other hand, but she only gets a walk-on part (apparently, she did not qualify for Holvoe's part because she's not a blonde).

Everyone wants to give this film a bad rap because of its premise, which, okay, does border on the crass. So they go into it with their eyes and ears closed to all of the film's unique, quirky characterizations and undeniable charms, intent on hating it. As an ensemble, the players exude a magnificent chemistry and the screenplay is both hilarious and romantic. It's a real gem. And enough feminist criticism already. The film was scripted by two women. Veronica's character is dynamic and intriguing, one of my personal favorites.

Don't ask me why but this movie is one of my favorites. It's always entertaining, in a comedy, when the main character talks to the audience as if you are right there as a silent cohort.

The idea is Taylor Worth is a batchelor with a great job, great car, great condo, and dates the best looking women in Philadelphia. His friends, especially the excellent role playing Mark Blum, are married and it is the contention of Blum that as great a life as Worth has he secretly wants "the pain and heartache of true love".

His friends have a plan...a bet...Worth is to date and get engaged to three women, of Blum's choice in 90 days. The catch here is that each has bet something they do not, under any circumstances want to lose.

The women are great, the acting is very good, the timing is superb and the story plays out nicely. I rated this film (FG) for "Feel Good"! It's not a classic but it'll go quickly, it'll make you laugh...just don't see it with any woman that is hungup on traditional ways men view women...Your gal may not stay long enough to see how things twist and turn.

A good one to rent when you want to just lay out on the couch with some popcorn, and the kids are over their friends houses. One other note for me...I was so taken by the car they gave Harmon to drive in the movie that I got one myself!

Worth Winning is one of those cliches about a group of guy friends making bets about women, with the one guy engaged in the bet falling in love with the women of his game. In Worth Winning, hot shot playboy weatherman Taylor Worth's (Mark Harmon) buddies bet that he can't get three women to marry him within a given number of weeks. This seems easy for a guy like Taylor because of his playboy nature, but the guys picks the three women, and he seems to be irked by some quality in each of them: Veronica Briskow (Madeleine Stowe), Eleanor Larimore (Lesley Ann Warren), Erin Cooper (Maria Holvoe). One is a traditional, but rather bubbly blonde. One is a bored nympho housewife. And one is a pretentious artsy fartsy type who actually turns out to be one of the better of the characters--personality wise--as she seems to be the most 'real' of the three, and the most needed to break Taylor's overestimation of his power over women. It proves no easy task, particularly the finale when he learns that he starts to fall in love with one and soon, must reveal his bet.

The movie isn't really that funny. The idea may seem quite comical, but there seems to be too much of Mark Harmon as an overconfident ass and not enough as Mark Harmon, the witty charmer. And for something with Mark Harmon in the leading role, it makes it a little less enjoyable. That, and the fact that this story is far too redundant, and possibly, only outrageous comedy could compensate where the novelty has worn out.