Just Tell Me What You Want

Before reading some of the IMDb reviewers here, I thought that "Just Tell Me What You Want" had been mis-labeled a comedy. There is nothing in this film that tickled my funny bone. Indeed, watching a bombastic, temperamental, manipulative, egotistical, nasty, wealthy tyrant in his domineering corporate empire and adulterous personal life just isn't very entertaining. I like clean comedies that make me laugh or smile a lot. Still, I stayed with it - more like struggled to pay attention to get through it, so that I didn't miss anything. Well, there was no comedy to miss, that I could find.

But then I read the reviews, including a couple of frequent reviewers I look for, who often have informative comments. And they like this film - although I don't see any remarks specifically about the comedy or anything funny. It seems to appeal to some as a sophisticated take off or resemblance of one or more moguls of the movie or big entertainment industry.

So, why do I even bother to give this three stars? Because there's no doubt that a couple of the actors played their parts very well. Alan King, for one, and Myrna Loy for the other. It's just that King's Max Herschel is such an unlikeable character, that he quickly becomes boringly irritating. And, it's too bad there wasn't a better movie than this for Myrna Loy to end her career with.

A baker's dozen of reviewers preceded my comments here, and all seemed to like this film. Some even made glowing remarks about it. But only 672 viewers rated this movie before me, and It's overall rating of 5.5 doesn't speak very well for its popularity. Indeed, it didn't do at all well when it came out in 1980. The critics panned the film and it was a box office flop, probably not even covering its budget with gross ticket sales of just $2 million.

Alan King is absolutely terrific as a vulgar, sharp, overbearing millionaire who is keeping Ali Mc Graw as his mistress. She can't take anymore of him so she starts seeing a young playwright (Peter Weller). Since King is the driven type who HATES to lose, he does everything he can to win her back. This is a highly cynical but also highly enjoyable comedy with some great one liners and a stark sense of amorality throughout(The final scene just shows that everyone has their price). Even McGraw is less lockjawed than normal.Directed by the king of New York movies, Sidney Lumet.

Alan King's world falls apart when long time mistress Ali Macgrue breaks up with him and marries much younger Peter Weller. Snobby comedy isn't for all taste, but is expertly performed and is very, very funny, especially the scene in the department store. Alan King is displayed at his absolute as is Loy in a quite performance. Terrific entertainment. 9 out 10.

I have seen this movie several times, and the interplay between Alan King and Ali McGraw never fails to make me smile. There is no confusion as to which genre this movie was meant to be or in how it turned out. It's clearly a romantic comedy, and a funny one. Some younger viewers may have a hard time understanding the humor, because none of it involves body fluids, toilet humor, eating disgusting things or other gross-outs. We know that love and war are sometimes the same thing. This time, it's business, too!

King shines as a hard-nosed business tycoon who is romantically involved with his executive assistant, Bones (McGraw). He likes the informal arrangement just fine, but Bones is to the point where she either wants marriage or to move on. When she seems to fall for a young writer and moves in with him, it's not clear if she is truly in love with him, or if she is using him as leverage to make King jealous enough to propose. King, of course, retaliates. The war between the two, using under-handed business tactics is very funny, with each trying to top the other. The winner can either move on in triumph or dictate the terms of their reconciliation. King is probably best known for his stand-up comedy, but this movie shows him to be a fine comedic actor as well.

This movie became one of my favorites the instant I saw it and I didn't even like Ali MacGraw! But I like her just fine now. This is an absolutely top-notch production from start to finish and the performances are outstanding -- without exception. I mean here you have Alan King, with Keenan Wynn, and Myrna Loy as supporting actors! MacGraw and Peter Weller are very appealing as young lovers and MacGraw gives her perhaps only great performance. She pulls out all the stops in this one and couldn't be better. I just love this movie and can't understand why it wasn't a big hit. Well, I can, actually. It doesn't appeal to immature adolescent boys (including most Hollywood producers).