Irreconcilable Differences

Plot synopsis:
The film begins with media attention surrounding Casey Brodsky's (Drew Barrymore) decision to divorce her parents and have her nanny, Maria Hernandez (Hortensia Colorado), appointed as Casey's legal guardian, which results in her parents, Albert (Ryan O'Neal) and Lucy (Shelley Long) Brodsky, both being brought out of their respective self-absorbed lives and made to testify in court about their personal lives. Much of the film is presented as flashbacks.
At a truck stop in Indiana on the night of January 20th, 1973, film professor Albert Brodsky is hitchhiking across the country, where he gets picked up by Lucy van Patten, a woman who has ambitions of writing books, particularly for children, but her fiancé "Bink," a gruff Navy man, represses her, and she is depressed about being relegated to the life of a military wife. Through getting to know Albert, Lucy loosens her inhibitions, breaks off her engagement to Bink, and marries Albert shortly afterwards.
The couple moves to California, where Albert attaches himself to a famed Hollywood producer, who entrusts him to film a romantic script the producer has kept shelved for a long time. When Albert suffers from writer's block about the romance, Lucy aids him with her writing skills. The film becomes a box office hit and garners him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director , but cracks are forming in Albert and Lucy's marriage, particularly since Albert was slow to credit Lucy for the screenplay and he is frequently traveling to places such as Cannes, France, while leaving his daughter in the care of Lucy, or more often Maria, their maid. When Albert sees a young woman named Blake Chandler (Sharon Stone) working at a hot dog stand, he takes her home and casts her in his next movie, which becomes a moderate success. When Lucy sees signs that Albert is interested in Blake for more than just acting, she divorces him, further troubling Casey. Albert ensures that Lucy gets custody of Casey, while he lives in a Hollywood mansion with Blake.
A turning point occurs when Lucy, angered both at Albert's procrastination in paying child support and at the sight of a sloppy, overweight woman in a supermarket buying the same comfort food as she is, hurries home and channels her anger into writing a tell-all novel. Meanwhile, Albert's producers are warning him not to attempt his musical remake of Gone with the Wind, which he is calling Atlanta. But Albert ignores their advice, and his budget for the picture skyrockets, mainly because of his own perfectionist attitude and Blake's diva-like behavior on set. Atlanta becomes an embarrassing box office bomb, costing Albert any assignments in Hollywood and causing Blake to desert him. Meanwhile, Lucy's novel becomes a runaway success, allowing her to buy and move into Albert's former mansion, and she begins to morph into a diva.
There is a final confrontation in which Albert and Lucy quarrel in front of Casey about her custody, which degenerates into a literal tug of war with each parent pulling on one of Casey's arms, ignoring her pained protests. That is the final straw for Casey, who then decides to divorce both her parents.
The film then returns to the courtroom, where Casey gives testimony that just because two parents no longer love each other, that does not give them the right to ignore their children. Both Albert and Lucy break down in tears. Maria is given legal custody of Casey.
The film ends months later With Casey still living with Maria and her family. Albert seems to be doing better now getting modest but regular work directing TV commercials and sitcoms and is being considered to direct a B movie and Lucy has returned to her more down to earth personality. Both Lucy and Albert arriving at Maria's house for visitation with Casey at the same time by mistake, and all deciding to go out to eat together at a family restaurant, suggesting there is now a more peaceful, though decidedly bittersweet, relationship among the three.

Tags: romantic, flashback

Review:
The movie starts with a lawyer telling his client what it means to divorce.
Later Albert is freezing and wet and Lucy feels sorry for him ...The movie is mostly a comedy as Albert and Lucy get to know each other and have a number of misadventures.
But Albert, who has a new job as a film professor at UCLA, really wants to direct, and as he makes the contacts that will allow this to happen, he and Lucy see Hollywood life and hope that won't happen to them.
Unfortunately ...I liked the movie best when it was a lighthearted comedy.
Shelley Long and Ryan O'Neal did a great job, and Long went through a number of character changes.
Sharon Stone was good as Blake Chandler, a bubblehead who for some odd reason became a star with Albert's help.
Another good performance came from the actress playing the housekeeper/nanny who apparently spent the most time with Casey.
Irreconcilable Differences is one of the best movies of the 80s and quite possibly the most underrated love story ever made.
I think it may have been due to the marketing campaign -- they tried to sell it as a cutesy gimmick movie where a precocious child "divorces" her parents.
This movie is able to provide strong commentary about failed relationships, especially when egos, power, and greed substitute for the things that should really matter in a person's life.
Watch Ryan O'Neal's eyes toward the end as you can actually see an inner peace that he never had earlier.These are just a few of the great things I loved about this great, heartwarming, and underappreciated film.
If you want a great love story with some very good comic and dramatic moments as well, rent this movie!
I  didn't know anything about this movie before watching it, except that Drew Barrymore divorces her parents.
But the movie has so many elements that make it one of the strongest films of its type.
After watching this film I came to IMDB to see if shelley long or ryan o'neal had won oscars for their performances and if the film won best picture, but apparently it was shunned and not many people have seen it....at least there's cable.
It looked like a lot of effort went into making the movie, so it's a shame it's been overlooked..
Ryan O'Neal and Shelley Long are perfectly matched in this movie about a couple in a marriage that falls apart due to family vs.
An eight year old Drew Barrymore is very impressive as a child who attempts to divorce her parents because they neglect her.
Thrown in for good measure is an intrepid look at the movie business and an early vixen like performance from Sharon Stone as the home wrecker.This film is very balanced in its look at all the subjects involved.
A very under rated movie that contains some acute observations about life's priorities (or lack of them)..
One of the best movies Ryan ONeil ever made!.
I originally saw this movie in 1985 with my kids and of course, we loved it!
Later in the film you see the heartbreaking reality of many a child's life growing up in Hollywood.
The premise is so sad and Drew Barrymore is so poignant - truly showed what a talented kid she was and sadly she seems to have been living very much the same way her character was in the film.
Who knows but if you ever have a chance to see this movie, clear your schedule and sit down and watch it..
"Irreconcilable Differences" is a very good seriocomedy about a Hollywood couple who are sued for divorce by their 9 year-old daughter.
Ryan O'Neal, Shelley Long, and Drew Barrymore are well cast as the family torn apart by career, jealousy, and a little girl caught in the middle who just can't take it anymore with her parents' constant fighting.
Directed by Charles Shyer from a screenplay by Shyer and Nancy Meyers, "Irreconcilable Differences" shows us what its like to be in the Hollywood film industry which is fascinatingly detailed here.
One hilarious scene is the part when acclaimed film director O'Neal is shooting a movie which appears to be a musical remake of "Gone With The Wind".
A very young Sharon Stone stars as the actress playing the character modeled after Scarlett O'Hara.
But there are touching moments too, especially the early scenes when the O'Neal and Long characters first meet.
"Irreconcilable Differences" is an underrated movie that deserved more attention than it received when released in 1984.
Good comedy/melodrama with a unique twist; the self-parody of the movie industry is often ingenious..
The real comedy lies in the "screwball" plot twist to which the film's title refers (we learn, early in the plot, that it is little Drew's character, not the parents, who is suing for divorce), and especially the story's underlying satire of the entertainment industry.
Highlights include how Albert/Ryan's plummeting career as a director parodies those of Cimino (dust, smoke and flies a la Heaven's Gate) and Bogdanovich (starring untalented girlfriend in multi-million-dollar flops).
Considering the real-life ups and downs of Ryan O'Neal's and Shelly Long's careers, however, I'd say the film's a roaring success..
Please, if you are a parent, watch this movie so that you can understand how important you are to your child.
Say what you will about the Shyer-Meyers team ("Private Benjamin", "Father Of The Bride", "Baby Boom"), they know how to craft a movie, often exploiting every ounce of sentiment from their scripts.
"Irreconcilable Differences" is somewhat of a departure for them however, a depiction of neurotic movie people, denizens of Hollywood, who have hardly any good points.
The plot set-up has youngster Drew Barrymore trying to emancipate herself away from her famous mom and dad, and the H-Wood high-life is shown as both cause and effect.
A terrific sequence involving Sharon Stone in a quasi-musical version of "Gone With The Wind" is satiric comic genius, yet the movie is so hard on its players, so brittle and tough, it's difficult to shake off the bad vibes even as the third act winds down to a sunny conclusion.
Also funny and dramatic is star Shelley Long, who is sunk with bad hairstyles and colors throughout the film.
Really mother, for $600 a week I expect you to know the difference between hot and cold!" This film's comments on the Hollywood scene are great because Charles Shyer & Nancy Meyers have lived it.
For anyone wanting to get this film on DVD it is now possible to order it from Hard to find Movies and will be available 14th April 09 As I live in the UK its going to cost a lot because of postage but its worth it.
Shelley Long has always had a raw deal from the critics over her films but I have always found most of them really nice viewing..
A movie to be watched over and over again!.
Then her transformation into a best-selling author (with a story of their life, of course) and his decline (bankruptcy, etc.) because of his new spoiled brat of a wife (played excellently by Sharon Stone).
Drew Barrymore is probably one of the youngest actresses to receive a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in this film.
Pity the other stars in that Spielberg film never became the household name that surprisingly that Drew has accomplished.
I remember it being out but I have to say when I was 11 years old, I wanted to be Drew Barrymore (that was before I knew what happened to her).
I like the casting of Shelley Long who is probably one of the greatest female comediennes of our time who never gets enough work in my opinion to let her talents shine.
Sharon Stone debuts in this film too.
Ryan O'Neal is worth mentioning because I don't think he was acting in this film.
Don't miss the fabulous musical version of "Gone With the Wind" that the producer, Albert, (Ryan O'Neal) sinks "every last dime" into, so his spoiled lover (Sharon Stone) can sing off-key howlers like:"This Civil War, ain't gonna get me down, I'm moving my act, to a brand new town..."A highly under rated film and a perfect role for the young Ms. Stone, who though hardly recognizable as a redhead, appears to be perfectly cast as a narcissistic, husband stealing, twit..
What is this movie about?It is mostly about old regrets, and living and learning life lessons in marriage and family situations.
It is so much more romantic than any Meg Ryan movie.
What it is, is a well written, smart, funny, well acted and well executed tear jerker which could have the stoniest of hearts melting by the end.I honestly feel that the relationship between people who fall out of love is well documented here, and what adds an extra depth to this story is the effect is has on the children, be it in this case an extremely well casted Drew Barrymore.This is a smart tale which deserves to be viewed as a warning to those who fall in and out of love easily.
But it is also a nice piece of Sunday evening entertainment, with a sharp script about Hollywood, parenting and matrimony.If you're ever channel surfing at what ever time in the day and just happen to pass by a movie that features Shelley Long, Barry Lyndon, the girl from E.T and a young Sharon Stone.
IRRECONCIALABLE DIFFERENCESThis is one of my all time favorite movies.
a run-down copy at that.This film contains a career best performance from Shelley Long...
career highlights from Ryan O'Neal and Sharon Stone...
and possibly one of the most potent roles Barrymore has had in her long career.On top of the performances, the screenplay creates a masterful balance of comedy pulled from real life situations, all the while never allowing it to be distracting to the heart tugging elements of the film.
A simple wash of the film, remastering, and a few cheesy extras is all I ask.If you haven't seen this movie, do it.
If you love Drew Barrymore you absolutely have to get this movie she is so cute in this movie.
Other than the far fetched conceit of a little girl trying to divorce her famous parents, it's a very clever story, well written and funny.
Ryan O'Neal and Shelley Long both give strong performances.
This film also has a brilliant comedic performance by Sharon Stone.
The movie was funny and enjoyable to watch.
The one nude scene is surprising in a movie of that era.
The actors in this movie make the characters seem very real and well-rounded.
Drew Barrymore is Casey Brodsky, a child whose parents are going through a divorce.
The movie is Casey's story as she tells it in court.
It's a very cute movie for the whole family and I'm sure most of us have already seen it at least twice, but if you haven't then I'd recommend it..
It's such a Sunday afternoon movie that you would have thought more people would have stumbled across it and slowly fell in love with it.
Whenever I want to feel all warm and fuzzy or have a good cry, I switch on this film and my family know to leave the room!
All the leading stars, especially the cute little Drew Barrymore and Sharon Stone in her first starring role, are flawless and the script is top notch!
Here's a cast some would have waited a long time to see: Ryan O'Neal,Shelley Long ,Drew Barrymore, Sam Wanamaker.
Big Hollywood star, Cheers actress whose never found a film to match the series, Drew Barrymore (any more need to be said) and th great Sam Wanamaker.
TO make things worse for the parents, Drew wants to leave them both and live with the mind.
Directors need to be persuaded to leave things as entertainment instead of trying to force blatant social commentary onto the script when the comedy is doing it already.
A very young Drew Barrymore decides to divorce her parents (Ryan O'Neal and Shelley Long) in this hit-and-miss comedy that never does come together.
O'Neal hits super-stardom as a film-maker, but does not give Long the credit she deserves and starts romancing the star of his first feature film (the scene-stealing Sharon Stone).
He becomes a big-time celebrity with Stone now at his side while Long sinks into depression, but then there is a reversal of fortune as Long becomes a great novelist and O'Neal loses his shirt on a big-budget "Gone With the Wind"-styled film that tanks with critics and audiences.
The movie goes back and forth between the media-crazed trial and flashbacks that, like the film, are sometimes mediocre.
Ten year old Casey Brodsky (Drew Barrymore) seeks emancipation from her parents Albert (Ryan O'Neal) and Lucy (Shelley Long).
He hires ingénue newcomer Blake Chandler (Sharon Stone) for his next movie leading to their divorce.
Albert loses everything making a flop with Blake while Lucy gains success as a children book writer.Written by married couple Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer, this is Hollywood married life with all the ups and downs.
Drew Barrymore is actually the supporting actress.
Even the acting is poor; there is no chemistry between Long and O'Neal.
A nude Sharon Stone couldn't save this movie!.
Ryan O'Neal plays a tweedy east coast grad student who finds success in Hollywood first as a film editor, then as a writer, and finally as a director in quick succession, thanks in large part to his talented wife (Shelley Long) who is the one who really knows how to write--which makes me wonder how much of this is autobiographical since the script was co-authored by the husband and wife writing team of Charles Shy and Nancy Meyers.Success immediately goes to his head and O'Neal trades Long in for a younger model (Sharon Stone, in her debut, looking slightly Latino and very cheap, but already in possession of that unique Sharon Stone quality of evil).
Without his wife, however, O'Neal's scripts are not so good; and of course Stone is only using him to further her own ambitions.
His solo film flops and he goes broke, but Long bounces back and writes a revenge best seller...Drew Barrymore plays the nine-year-old daughter who, finally disgusted with their vanities and being neglected, hires a lawyer and "divorces" her parents for her nanny (the "clever" premise of the film).The script shows a lot of workmanship, and lectures Hollywood from the pulpit nicely, but starts too slow and is a little too predictable in places.
The movie might have worked if somebody else had played the leads.
If you can stand Shelley Long, and I've tried and I can't, you might like the movie.
Ryan O'Neal manages to look a lot like Ron Howard here; perhaps Howard is his idea of a director.
And Drew Barrymore, bless her heart, is too goody-goody to be real.If they could have gotten, say, Meg Ryan and Tom Cruise to play the leads, they might have had a smash.
I think it was too much story in one movie, though.
However, I identified with Barrymore's character and I really liked the relationship between Shelley Long and Ryan O'Neal, when they got along.
Drew wants a divorce!.
Drew Barrymoore plays the child of Ryan O'Neal and Shelly Long who sues her parents for divorce because they spend all their time working and fighting.THe media hears of this and takes advantage of it.
Writing team Charles Shyer and Nancy Meyers scored a bullseye with IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES, a surprisingly smart and amusing comedy that blended the family dysfunction comedy with the "inside Hollywood" type of comedy and the results is quite entertaining.
Our story begins with 10-year old KC Brotzky (Drew Barrymore)arriving in a Los Angeles courtroom where she is suing for emancipation from her divorced parents,filmmakers Albert and Lucy Brotzky (Ryan O'Neal and Shelley Long).
The film then flashes back to the beginning of Albert and Lucy's relationship,showcasing the first smash hit film they made together, followed by another film during which Albert has an affair with the leading lady (Sharon Stone,very funny in one of her earliest roles)and how the making of this film tore Albert and Lucy apart.
Albert and his new love then make a "Gone With the Wind"-type spectacular that bombs at the box office and things just go from bad to worse with poor little KC caught in the middle and tired of being a bargaining chip between her parents.
O'Neal delivers what is probably the best performance of his career and Long is a good match for him.
Aided by a deft screenplay, O'Neal, Long, and Barrymore deliver a nearly forgotten gem here which delivers warm family laughs and takes accurate potshots at Hollywood as well..
First of all, this may have worked (at least a little better) if the story was told in chronological order instead of starting near the end and continually using flashbacks to lame scenes of the past during the overly sweet testimony of Drew Barrymore.
Okay, I get Drew Barrymore as the overly sweet cute little kid.
But Shelley Long and Ryan O'Neal?
But after seeing their "wake up after a reunited one night stand" scene, and seeing that apparently Ryan O'Neal had no nipples, I realized maybe they are a good match.
It looks like she cut it herself, with dull scissors and her eyes closed.One of the worst films I've seen.
But at least now the world knows Ryan O'Neal has no nipples..
Humour and drama are balanced with alacrity.Ryan O'Neal and Shelley Long play off each other well, and you always believe them.
Drew Barrymore is as cute as a button as she provides the sub-plot concerning family affairs and parenting.
Also stars Sam Wanamaker, Allen Garfield and a very young Sharon Stone.It is hard to understand why Meyers and Shyer felt it necessary to provide the moral ending.