Une rencontre pour la vie

Peter Falk is a grumpy old curmudgeon who owns a small deli in upstate New York. His shiftless nephew Andrew McCarthy agrees to sponsor an inner city kid for two weeks, but forgets to tell Falk and then saddles Falk with Aaron Meeks, a young black kid from NYC, and takes off for Atlantic City.

You already know everything that's going to happen in this. Falk will reject Meeks, but he'll come around and everybody's cold heart will be melted. When you find out that Falk's only son was killed in WWII and Meeks has a brother in Vietnam (this is set in 1969) ... I don't need to connect the dots for you.

This is a remake of a 1970 TV movie written by Rod Serling. I haven't seen the original, but I can say that 30 years later, there's no reason to tell a story this familiar. Falk kind of sleepwalks through this, giving you some grumpy Columbo schtick, but not really stretching and really not giving you any convincing emotions in the weepy finale. McCarthy is kind of fine in a very undemanding role, but Nastassja Kinski is epically miscast as well-meaning upper class socialite.

This really feels like a "I need to keep my union card active" project for Robert Wise.

This is a movie I had read about in my TV and movie guides, got curious about, and today watched the 2000 version. A real gem. Not surprising, when you consider it was originally created by the legendary Rod Serling. Peter Falk is masterful as the curmudgeonly deli owner. His fancy-free cousin (Andrew McCarthy) meets Nastassja Kinski at a country club, and agrees to adopt a city kid for a few weeks of fresh air and fishing. Kinski tries to explain the situation to Falk, but he will have none of it. The next thing you know, little Herman Washington has arrived at the bus station. But of course, McCarthy has to zip off to Atlantic City, leaving Herman with the testy uncle. How it unfolds is a work of wonder. Falk meets his philosophical match, while still fondly remembering his own son, fallen in war. They enjoy some perilous fishing, and also manage to maintain dignity over the country-club set. If you aren't moved by this personal character drama, you had better check yourself for a heartbeat! Three and a half stars.

Rod Serling is best remembered for his venture into the imagination and fourth dimension of The Twilight Zone, but so many of his other writings become forgotten, such as "Requium for a Heavyweight." This story, "A Storm in Summer," written in 1970, five years before his death, Rod Serling has been able to successfully recapture the fine writing he did with "Requium." And this story is timeless as it speaks today as it did 37 years ago. Rod Serling is among my favorite writers, and I enjoy his social commentaries and dramatic twists in his stories and "Storm" is no different. The cast is excellent with Peter Falk in the lead, and the chemistry between him and his young co-star is magic! However, there are a few points in the movie that are too slow, and I didn't much care for the Grandmother (and those are the reasons for the 9 rating), but other than that, this is a wonderful movie, the kind you can see with the whole family. And a movie not to be missed!!

Despite uneven acting at times, this film still had its heart in the right place. Peter Falk (Jewish in real life) gives the best performance of the entire cast. Aaron Meeks (Herman D. Washington) had natural acting promise, but still needed a few more acting lessons. The scene where he cries was simply not convincing at all. If his adult IMDb credit list is any indication to the above, he never applied whatever talent he may have had, as his adult credits were all relegated to bit roles. Natassja Kinski was terribly miscast. Hokey acting throughout. Nice to see Andrew McCarthy with somewhat long, hippie hair. Overall, a nice tightknit film that focused on storyline rather than most of the unoriginal CGI-laded shlock of today.

This was a very powerful and touching film. Touching upon what makes a human a better person. Peter Falk and Aaron Meeks are an excellent duo. Robert Wise proves again his timeless directing sense. I do believe everyone should watch this movie and just take in what it has to offer. It will make you laugh, and cry, and appreciate life and what it offers.