Bed & Breakfast

Bed and Breakfast was made back in 1989 but only got a limited release in 1992, I haven't seen it on video or DVD but I managed to catch it on an afternoon on British TV.

It's one of the only Roger Moore films I hadn't seen, so it was a joy to see him here in his first post Bond film (he seemed to semi-retire after A View to a Kill). He's always had a knack of looking ten years younger than what he really was so he's well cast as a healthy tanned charming English gent(but of course)who enters the lives of 3 generations of women, a widow, Talia Shire, her mother in law, Colleen Dewhurst and daughter, Nina Siemasko, when he's washed ashore mysteriously.

We know that he's in some sort of trouble as there's a rather badly staged scene where he's being beaten up and thrown overboard a yacht, but to the three women, he a breath of fresh air to their individually frustrated lives. Claiming he has Amnesia to avoid explaining his situation the women welcome him into their coastal guest house where he begins to recieve free board and food if he agrees to be the man about the house and fix up the place.

This is quite a gentle small scale picture with good performances and it proves that Moore has got genuine charm rather than depending on his ultra smooth or sleazy Bond style approach. This is not Oscar worthy stuff but this forgotten little gem should be given more recognition and Moore should be considered a better actor than he usually is.

The fault of this movie lies though with the lack of thrills, it is obviously a romantic tale, but we don't seem to discover what Moore's character is really up to and the ending seems a little half hearted..

This light comedy romance has the interesting clash of cultural differences and an easy to understand authentic Brazilian actress portraying a Brazilian character (though her presence in American films has been extremely limited). Her physical appearance doesn't quite rise to the level of extremely gorgeous or beautiful like those of Salma Heyak or Jennifer Lopez., at least as she was made up for this film. Dean Cain performs as he usually does with typical confidence. Both principles offer up a nice screen presence. The storyline is slightly different from many romantic comedies though nothing like a break out. All the supporting cast blend well into the movie's plot and make nice contributions of their own. An entertaining and likeable movie. For a similar contrast see Bottle Shock (2008) that focuses on wine and romance along with a bit of English/French/British tone or a romantic drama Walk in the Clouds (1995) with Keanu Reeves who portrays a returning soldier who impersonates a fiancée so that a woman he just met wouldn't have to face humiliation in front of her father as she returns home.

"Bed & Breakfast" is a film that you'd assume would be pretty bad. After all, it has a score of 5.4 on IMDB...which is well below the IMDB average. However, I was shocked that I really enjoyed the film...even though some might hate that it's a bit predictable. But to me, that predictability isn't a bad thing...sort of like a romance novel that leaves you feeling good.

Three generations of women live in a house they use as a B&B in Maine. However, they are three miserable women. Ruth is the grandma (Colleen Dewhurst) is old...but longing for excitement, love and sex...but she's afraid it's all passed her by. Claire (Talia Shite) is the mother...and she's very uptight about sex and carries her dead husband's memory with her everywhere. And, Cassie (Nina Siemaszko) is Claire's daughter...and she longs to leave the repressive home, as her mother finds fault with so much that Cassie does. However, when a stranger literally washes up on the shore, this unusual man (Roger Moore) ends up impacted all three of their lives for the better.

Predictable? Sure...often. But romantic movies usually have a certain amount of formula to them...so I could forgive this. I liked the acting, the nice story and the way the film worked out at the end. A nice date movie...or just a nice movie.

By the way, this was Colleen Dewhurst's last film and it debuted just after her death. It's a nice ending to her long career.

Bed and Breakfast is one of the few films that Roger Moore made following his departure from the James Bond hotseat in 1985, after A View to a Kill. At the height of his popularity (and employment) in the 1970s, Moore was frequently criticised for giving simplistic performances in roles which demanded virtually nothing of his talents. Ironically, this film features perhaps his best performance of all, yet was made at a time when he appeared in hardly any films at all.

The story is undeniably slight, but diverting all the same. It tells of a con man (Moore) who is washed ashore - bruised and beaten after being thrown off a gangster's yacht - on a beach in Maine. The nearest building is a ramshackle bed and breakfast hotel run by three generations of women, all from the same family and all constantly bickering about their (unimpressive) lot in life. Moore talks his way into their lives and awakens long repressed sexuality in all three of them. Then, predictably, the gangsters he was involved with earlier turn up and threaten his ruse....

The gangster subplot is quite hokey and does little to increase the interest of the picture. The film would have been enjoyable enough without it. However, the inter-relationship between Moore and the three isolated, frustrated women makes for intriguing and occasionally heart warming viewing, and gives all the actors the chance to deliver some excellent dialogue. The background photography, capturing the lovely Maine seascapes, is a treat throughout.

Bed and Breakfast is a film that everyone should see. No classic, true enough, but definitely one of Moore's best films and a totally harmless and civilised way to while away a lazy afternoon.

Roger Moore, my fave Bond, finally gets a chance to show his acting chops. This flick is about a mysterious stranger who comes into the lives of three very different women and has a gorgeous Maine setting.

The only weak point is an out of place crime subplot. But it's wrapped up not too shabbily by the cast, director, and screenwriter. The screenplay could've been better, but all in all it's a mildly amusing, slight, harmless movie.

This film made me also realize that actor Jake Weber, who plays a hitman in this film, was not Alan Cumming. I always thought Alan was the guy from Meet Joe Black. They look so much alike, I guess it was easy for me to confuse them as the same dude.

I just wish old Rog would do some more dramatic roles in films like this. I always thought it would be great if Stanley Kubrick had cast Roger in Sydney Pollack's role in Eyes Wide Shut. Kinda like how Quentin Tarantino took a chance on Robert Forester, another under appreciated actor, in Jackie Brown. Ah, well, what might have been...

But I, as usual, well, not that usual, digress. See Bed & Breakfast. Dig?