A restaurant owner explores his wanderlust by visiting his mother's empty apartment weekly, discovering that his attempts at romantic pursuits are far more challenging than anticipated.A restaurant owner explores his wanderlust by visiting his mother's empty apartment weekly, discovering that his attempts at romantic pursuits are far more challenging than anticipated.A restaurant owner explores his wanderlust by visiting his mother's empty apartment weekly, discovering that his attempts at romantic pursuits are far more challenging than anticipated.
Paul 'Mousie' Garner
- Waiter #2
- (as Mousey Garner)
Lois Hamilton
- Girl in Car
- (as Lois Aurino)
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Arkin gives a fine turn as a successful middle-aged middle-class fish restauranteur whose fingers smell of fish and who simply has to get in on this Sexual Revolution he's heard so much about. Thus follows three sequential trysts in his mother's apartment, the first with a the embittered Kellerman, the second with the flighty Prentiss and the final with the depressive Taylor, each ending in its own disastrous way. Arkin does a lot of his frustrated signature shouting and there's a lot of dialogue, but it is a Neil Simon play after all.
The Kellerman sequence is a bit tiresome and her many soliloquies bombastic and preachy. Taylor's vignette was more amusing--if you find bipolarism and melancholia amusing. Her demand that Arkin list three good people belabors the point.
But sandwiched between these two is the Prentiss episode, which is a gem. Prentiss plays the perky, quirky, dope-smoking character to a tee: "I know I'm a goofball but that's part of my charm." Those voice inflections changing 10 times a minute, those eye rolls, those downturned crooked smiles, teeter into the realm of self-parody but we're loving it. And it doesn't hurt at all that she simply looks like a million bucks.
The Kellerman sequence is a bit tiresome and her many soliloquies bombastic and preachy. Taylor's vignette was more amusing--if you find bipolarism and melancholia amusing. Her demand that Arkin list three good people belabors the point.
But sandwiched between these two is the Prentiss episode, which is a gem. Prentiss plays the perky, quirky, dope-smoking character to a tee: "I know I'm a goofball but that's part of my charm." Those voice inflections changing 10 times a minute, those eye rolls, those downturned crooked smiles, teeter into the realm of self-parody but we're loving it. And it doesn't hurt at all that she simply looks like a million bucks.
This Neil Simon comedy is about a middle aged Jewish man Barney Cashman who runs a seafood restaurant in New York City and lives in the suburbs with his wife Thelma. This comedy is typical Neil Simon. Barney tries to have an affair with three different women. Elaine played wonderfully by Sally Kellerman. There is Bobbi played by Paula Prentiss and suburban housewife Jeanette (played well by Renee Taylor). The film is about a married man having a midlife crisis. The film is based on the play but remains true to its intent. There is a lot more dialogue that action in the film. The film is set in New York City and an unknown suburb. The film is a delight for Neil Simon and Alan Arkin fans. Alan Arkin has become one of my favorite actors and this film highlights his charm and complexity as an actor.
Married restaurant-manager (Alan Arkin, miscast but still charming) contemplates having an extra-marital affair, striking out three times with different women: Sally Kellerman as a jaded sexpot, Paula Prentiss as a pot-smoking flake, and Renee Taylor as a society wife with melancholia. If you're familiar with the Neil Simon play (a dinner-theater perennial), you know right off this stagy material is not suited for the screen. Director Gene Saks must've been raised in community theater--he has little visual imagination--however his pacing and rhythm are snappy. Kellerman's segment is the best (she and Arkin get some real repartee going), but Prentiss is sidelined by uneven writing and Taylor does too much shouting (noisier isn't funnier). The picture has a dull, washed-out look, and Arkin is really too young for this part (he's supposed to be a balding 45-year-old, but he appears to be in his mid-30s with a shaved head). Some amusing bits are scattered about. ** from ****
The fast-paced, witty script follows Neil Simon's stage play almost verbatim. Countless funny lines and come-backs make this a very entertaining comedy. Mid-life crisis seems to hit almost every character. Having an affair was the "in" thing, portrayed as a survival necessity. The "loverboy" is quite nervous about cheating on his wife of 22 years (with whom he has 3 children). Opportunities seem plentiful. Saying prayers for guidance is like a fetish to this man.
Somehow the production of this 1970s NYC setting and action feel like a French or Italian comedy. There definitely is a European flavor (of the 70s). The cover of the DVD promises a letterbox format, yet delivers only a VERY squeezed TV version. There are no added features whatsoever. Those are the only disappointments in an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable comedy. Fans of Neil Simon's work will have a great time.
Somehow the production of this 1970s NYC setting and action feel like a French or Italian comedy. There definitely is a European flavor (of the 70s). The cover of the DVD promises a letterbox format, yet delivers only a VERY squeezed TV version. There are no added features whatsoever. Those are the only disappointments in an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable comedy. Fans of Neil Simon's work will have a great time.
This is a classic in my eyes, Arkin couldn't have been better. I love the long takes and the sometimes senseless arguments between the characters. I also like the score, it fits the time nicely. This is the movie that made me an Alan Arkin fan.
Did you know
- TriviaActor Alan Arkin grew a black mustache and shaved the mid section of the top of his head for his lead role of Barney Cashman in this movie.
- Quotes
Barney Cashman: [on feeling old and invisible] I could rob a bank, nobody would look up.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Un shérif à New York: The New Mexican Connection (1972)
- How long is Last of the Red Hot Lovers?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $179,689
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