The usual elements

Rating: 3/10 (19 October 2004)

Cranky misogynist, an adorable dog, cute female lead, and a gay neighbor combined to produce a boring, disappointing piece of junk. I rented this for my late wife, who loved Nicholson, and I knew something was wrong when she sat stone faced through it, just as I did. Most of the film I could see what was coming down the track, but rather than surprise me, Brooks kept the train on schedule. Both wife and I got to the point where we did not want to see Nicholson redeemed, but we weren't spared.....and his redemption seemed so sudden, so 'hey it's time to be Mr. Nice now.'
Of course we had that scene so beloved of directors: three people sitting in convertible, motoring down the highway with the top down, doing a sedate 35-40, and holding a normal conversation instead of trying to shout over the wind.
27 years before this excretion, Nicholson played the young Jonathan Fuerst in Carnal Knowledge, growing into a unrepentant middle age Lothario. Why didn't Brooks leave him that way? But don't blame the writer and director; it is the age which can't stand such heady fare.