La fille sur la banquette arrière

The story involves Jason (Moore) and Phoebe (Steenburgen) as a couple of Broadway playwrights who collaborate on some hits and a few misses, while trying to overlook the fact that they have fallen in love at first sight. The following dialog i really liked and I really had my hopes up for this being an interesting film. He interviews her for potential partnership. Jason: "I have some questions Ms. Craddock do plan on getting married?

Phoebe: Eventually

Jason: That's not good enough.

Phoebe: I'm sorry I didn't know this was an exam.

Jason: The point is I don't wan't to invest in a partnership and then suddenly have you get the urge to become a nursing mother.

Phoebe: I see.

Jason: No you don't! You don't know a damn thing about the Theatre! The working conditions are intolerable the people you have to deal with are ego-centric maniacs and its filled with rejections on every level. When you're writing comedy the opposite of success isn't failure it's embarrassment and it's very public Ms.Craddock, they write HEADLINES".

Rooted firmly in the early-1980's comedy mindset of "divorce plus adultery plus Dudley Moore equals entertainment," The two leads spark little chemistry together, Romantic Comedy is neither romantic nor comedic, but I give it 5 out of 10 only because Dudly Moore and Mary Steenburgen ARE good actors and fun to watch despite the weak plot.

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 watched this today b/c of two reasons... mary steenburgen and dudley moore. I have liked both of them for years and as this is the first time i was aware of this movie i had to see how they were together. Well they had good believable chemistry but the problems i did have with the movie was it felt rushed and also the way some scenes would go from one to another with the flip screen effect... guessing that is what it is called seemed like a trick a sitcom would use. I felt like the strongest scenes was when dudley or mary would show their dramatic side... as for the comedy some jokes were better than others. I feel like they did the best with the weak script that was handed to them. Also such a weak title for a movie.

I've always known intuitively that critics don't know beans about movies. Now I have empirical evidence. One hot, lazy evening, while perusing the listings on digital cable, I was presented the choice of this, Romantic Comedy, and There Goes My Baby (of which, see my review). There Goes My Baby got three out of fours stars, and is one of the most abysmally bad movies I have had the misfortune to watch. Romantic Comedy got only one star, and is one of the most delightful character comedies I have ever seen.

Director Arthur Hiller is known for solid comedy fare like Plaza Suite, and classic melodrama like Love Story. Writer Bernard Slade also gave us Same Time Next Year, as well as an impressive portfolio of small screen classics.

Dudley Moore, while not as impressive as in Arthur a couple of years earlier, is at his peak as Jason Carmichael, a playwright looking for a new writing partner whom he finds in Phoebe Craddock, played by Mary Steenburgen. Unlike Moore, Steenburgen's career was on the rise with Romantic Comedy, and deservedly so, coming on the heels of her Oscar for Melvin and Howard.

The problem with this movie is that it isn't a movie. It's a play. Sometimes that translates well, but here the feeling remains decidedly Broadway. That's not necessarily a problem, and in fact is one of the reasons I love the movie as well as the play. But the reliance upon dialogue and character inherent in plays, and at which Romantic Comedy excels brilliantly, is lost on the sensibilities of an American movie-going audience numbed by the sensory overload of lesser films.

The supporting cast is remarkable, with Frances Sternhagen as Blanche, Jason's agent and friend, and Ron Leibman as Steenbergen's other love interest. There are too many great one-liners to site, since, after all, this is a play, but two of my favorites are "Oh I just love New York. Every time I come here I just feel like going down on the whole city." and "We're you eavesdropping? Of course not, Blanche, who can hear anything over the clatter of your bracelets." And if these leave you a little cold, remember you're not getting them with the benefit of the timing and delivery of the consummate talent in this little gem, which returns me to my original point.

Play acting, as in "acting in plays" takes a far greater talent than the totally manufactured portrayals we see in most movies. These people can do it in spades, and that's why you should see this movie... I mean play. It is now available on DVD. Get it, and refresh your palette.

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.