Archie

I'm old enough to remember Cary Grant starring in numerous hit movies. I was vaguely aware that he came from an impoverished English childhood and was one of those movie stars who seemed to have a different spouse or girlfriend every time you read about them. So I binge-watched this limited series and was glad I did. Other reviewers have been disappointed that only one spouse, Dyan Cannon, was featured. However, to incorporate all the other failed relationships would have required multiple seasons and been a grueling experience! Since the poor guy really did have an absolutely horrendous childhood, it was no surprise that he had relationship problems in adulthood. In my opinion, his shrink should have spent less time with LSD therapy and devoted more energy to exploring the types of behavior and communication skills that lead to long-term, in-depth relationships. Archie had no decent role models from whom to learn! I thought all the actors did a good job of portraying the real people they represented. When I watch a biopic, I am not looking for a typical comedian's imitation of a celebrity, re-creating all of their features, body movements, exact voice, quirks, etc. Obviously a tall, thin actor would not look right playing a well-known person who was short and fat, or vice versa. However, past casting the basic "type", I appreciate a performance that captures the person's personality and essence, regardless of whether or not the actor is a physical dead-ringer.

The characterisations here are definitively subpar. No one looks or sounds like the people they portray, except for Laura Aikman, who looks quite a bit like and acts very much like her part. Therein lies the rub. Far too much effort to get that right that everything else fell by the wayside. The title is a misnomer, to say the least. It's not about Archie, it's not about Cary. It's about Dyan. It should have been called "Dyan, Me, Me, Me and the 6 years I spent with that guy to whom I've served up a narcissistic manipulation pie with a light sprinkle of powdered truth".

He said it best, everything is a confrontation to her. And every confrontation in this lifetime movie of the week is a character assassination for every acquaintance she makes. Everything that goes wrong is always someone else's fault. He does drugs, he sold the dog, he's overbearing and controlling, his mother is a beach, his biz partner is a time stealer. Despite all her obvious flaws, the production makes everyone else out to be the bad guy and poor misunderstood her. Every scene is manicured and curated to paint everyone else in a bad light, and even when you think that maybe there's a bit of balance here, it quickly turns to self-victimizing pandering, expecting the audience to be too stupid to see it.

An excellent study into the true character of a bitter ex-lover, but very little in the way of the person for whom we were duped into thinking it was about. It might think it's subtle, but it's not.

Isaac's portrayal is really good. I would never have guessed someone could nail the part. But don't say it is true if it isn't. His brother died before he was born. Made it look like Mae West movie was his first and so on. Stick to the facts so we all won't doubt the movie.

Any huge fan of Cary Grant will enjoy this and I did get entertained. The implied part of his Randolph Scott relationship is movie time crap. Jennifer Grant always claimed he wasn't gay. She knew him better than anyone. Read her book Good Stuff.

Also, what an inappropriate song to play when portraying New York. Movie looked so timely but failed there.

Look up the only photo I could find of his father, he was spot on.

Cary/Archie would be disappointed and disgusted.

On screen he seemed like the perfect man and had a perfect life. Nothing could be further from the truth. He had a terrible childhood. He made a successful career but he understandably had his demons. He was a good man whose childhood affected him his whole life. Only when he became a father did he really find peace and happiness. He didn't feel like he had to make the most money or need any public adoration. He was comfortable being a father even though it came very late in life for him. I always liked him as an actor whether it was a romantic comedy or a dramatic thriller but I really came to respect him as a person.

This is a very entertaining and beautifully made drama. It is not really a biography, it doesn't go through his life story - indeed it virtually glosses over his Hollywood career instead focusing on his relationship with his fourth wife in the 60s and his relationship with his mother. It does this sensitively, emotionally and intelligently.

Not simply listening his career allows the story to explore the man himself and what's wonderfully refreshing these days is that is doesn't dis him like so many biographies of celebrities tend to do these days. He wasn't perfect but he comes across as a genuinely nice guy.

Whilst the main narrative is set in the 60s, there are flashbacks into his awful childhood in Bristol. These insights into his past explains who he became. Considering these traumatic experiences, it's amazing that he turned out so normal.

It's a very watchable four hours.