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Picking up the story thread left by 1983's Terms of Endearment, this overwrought sequel is made palatable by Shirley MacLaine's charismatic performance, which in turn is nearly equaled by Marion Ross's role as her housekeeper. An unexpected surprise, Ross obviously was never allowed to display her range as Mrs. Cunningham on Happy Days. Returning as the vibrant Aurora Greenway, MacLaine far outshines the thin material involving the tangled and unhappy lives of her three grandchildren. The plot picks up 13 years after the death of Greenway's daughter (played by Debra Winger in the original). One of the kids is in jail; one is living in poverty. Her granddaughter, played with prickly rebelliousness by Juliette Lewis, is heading for all sorts of trouble. The plot, told in disconnected and maudlin episodic segments, often borders on the absurd. The characters screech and weep, one of them dies, then we watch others screech and weep some more. So why bother? Because it is occasionally quite witty, and MacLaine indeed shines as brightly as the evening star to which she is compared. Both movies were based on novels by Larry McMurtry. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Star Bright
In The Evening Star, the sequel to 1983's Oscar-winning predecessor Terms of Endearment, Aurora (Shirley MacLaine) picks up where she left off.

The saga now continues with her dead daughter's beleaguered offspring, and Granny Aurora just ain't doing so well. Her heart is, as always, in the rightest of places. Every week she's in the state pen visiting Tommy (George Newbern), but he's content to toss her homemade brownies in the trash. Teddy (Mackenzie Astin) drives a tow truck and has a little brat of his own. Most belligerent is Melanie (Juliette Lewis). Like the others, she's still angry over her mother's death and more often than not takes it out by doing whatever she feels like, much to the chagrin of Aurora.

All these problems drive Aurora into the arms of Jerry (Bill Paxton), a much-younger therapist who, like Albert Brooks in Mother, has some kind of unresolved Oedipal conflict to work out. Their scenes together are cute and sexy.

The film's sentimentality is overshadowed by the pure spunk of MacLaine's portrayal. And her perennial nemesis Patsy (Miranda Richardson) more than keeps Aurora's blood pumping.

It's fun to see MacLaine in this role again. She imbues Aurora with a warmth and trueness that reminded me how much I had missed her. Even the third act cameo by Jack Nicholson as astronaut Garrett went down easy.

Perhaps best of all is Marion Ross (Yo, Mrs. C.!), who gives a lovely performance as Rosie, Aurora's maid.

A heartstring tugger
If you enjoy watching people's lives, you will probably enjoy this movie. There doesn't seem to be a plot, per se, but simply an unfolding of the years through various characters' lives. The acting and dialogue are superb.If you were a fan of "Terms of Endearment," then you may feel a sense of closeness to the characters - you WANT their lives to go well. It is touching to see the years pass and the "family" draw closer together (some friends in the film are as much a part of the family as if they were blood kin.) If you are really into the film, you will laugh and you will cry. Although it's not your typical story type with a definite beginning and ending, it is well worth watching. After it is over it leaves you with some things to think about - important things about life.

WITTY AND EMOTIONAL
I really took a while to get into the film, but Shirley MacLaine's part made it for me. Her honest approach to all she met, couldn't help win her votes. She was a grandmother keeping her family together as best she could, yet when it all fell apart she still left the door of approach open for them all. You can relate to many in the film, if you are young and impetuous or older and denying your age or honestly facing it. A good film in my opinion.
A BIG REQUEST ......... my video cut out at the moment when Shirley is being driven in the back of "Bill Paxton's" (Jack Nicholson) car casting Rosie's ashes to the wind along the beach.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE CAN ANYONE TELL ME THE ENDING????????

Waiting for a reply in anticipation
JOSE HARRIS

Wish I had never seen this
What on EARTH possessed Shirley Maclaine to go along with this? Was she just desparate for work that she didn't mind completely dishonoring Term of Endearment???? This movie was horrid. Absolutely horrid. If I could turn back time, I would never have seen this film at all. I felt it was out of the bounds of tradition with the first film and should not have been a sequel at all.

Even on its own merits, the film cannot stand alone.

Heartmoving!
Everytime I watch this witty, funny, sad, tearful movie, I both laugh and cry. The acting is wonderful. Shirley Macclaine is a very lovable character along with the rest of the cast. Great movie! Never get tired of re-watching. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

One of the funniest movies ever
The movie starts and ends with the two main characters, Joe and Hubbs, out on a Friday night trying to get drunk, stoned, and laid..... Yeah, not too deep, but can't you identify with at least part of the concept?

This movie has so much great dialogue that I cannot even start to get into it, as I'll go on all night.

The director and co-writer commentary is outstanding. Every saying, character nickname, song selection has a story behind it. I'm surprised James Melkonian, the director has not been involved in more projects.

This movie blows away 9/10 teen movies since 1982 easily.

What can I say about the cast of characters (where did they come up with these guys): Tack, Dixie Cup Dean, Lanie, Mike Dick, Mike New York, Hanky, Jill's Dad, Crump's Brother, The Narly Eyeball, The Samoan Dude. It goes on and on...

The music is great, even though they couldn't afford the Zeppelin/The Who tunes. Black Sabbath, Montrose, T-Rex, and of course BOC make this movie great.

The dvd case has a reviewer quoted as saying "Better than Dazed and Confused". I 100% agree - D&C while a good film, is too boring - does every movie of the genre have to make you think about your future? Thought movies were there to help you escape a little. For once, a movie about cutting loose for a night - The Stoned Age.

Don't fear the reaper!

Will not win an oscar.. but will never go out of style.
I waited up till 2 in the morning to first watch the Stoned age after hearing good things about it. I was not dissapointed. The movie is a cult classic and is better then that darling of critics "Dazed and Confused"(which is saying something).

The basic premise of the movie is well... take a friday night in Torrence, California, with two stoner friends/their equally braincell deprived buddies, and add a couple of chicks. Although it sounds lame and usual, the movie is best in that it does not take itself seriously. The movie doesn't try to make a few teenagers sound like english graduate students at 18 like present day envogue teen movies, instead it simply lets the characters... well be kids. It seems every character on the movie reminds me of someone I knew in High school. The most hilarious thing about the laughs in the movie, is the fact that they don't appear to be trying to make you laugh. Like dazed and confused, they simply find away to make you snicker almost every minute.

The two main Characters, Hubbs and Joe, make a hysterical pair, but to me the most memorable character is "Tack". Tack(played by Clifton Gonzalez-Gonzalez)is such a loser(meant in a good way) its funny. The two "chick" roles(not counting the "buffalo butts girls") play outstanding as the counterparts to Hubbs and joe. Party girl Laney and walflower(and moody) Jill provide probably two of the most hilarious scenes of the movie when both of them pound Joe.

The gist of the movie is, Joe and Hubbs only mission in life is to get as they so eloquently put it "Drunk, stoned, and laid". When the two find out about Laney and Jill from Tack,they see their night perfect and set out to fulfill the "night of our life" trifecta. However it seems everyone from Cops, Disco dancing store clerks,loser friends/cocky jocks, overzealous/pervert dads, and big samoan guys stand in there way. This intermixed with Joe "Wierding out" and scaring off chicks with his constant "Narly eyeball" remarks. Oh and did I mention a big, violence prone older brother that has personally eyed Laney and Jill as "his chicks".

In the end(not gonna spoil the movie) Joe is still a wuss, and Hubbs is still the tough guy. However at least Joe drives the Blue Torpedo now(have to see the movie to get it) and finally stands up to Hubbs. Look for guest appearances by Frankie Avalon and Jill is none other then Grace Slick's daughter(there is your star power right there).

Give it a try.. and when you start to find yourself offended by the movie... remember.. its just a movie and supposed to be fun.

Worst flick ever
I had heard of this movie for years, and when it came on cable, I decided to watch it. Biggest waste of time. No plot, crappy acting, and little to no pot smoking in the entire movie. Go stare at a wall, and you will be more entertained than watching this P.O.S.

Just Cruisin'
I saw this in the theater(yup, it actually had a theatrical release for a day or so) at the perfect age-17. Anyone who went to high school can recall the years of 16 and 17 to be the years of that mindless activity called "cruising"(of course, I know some losers in their 30s who continue to do this, I'm sure you do too). At that age you could drive, but you couldn't buy cigarettes, liquor or get into a bar, so what could you do? Go cruising! The idea was to meet girls with varying degrees of success. If you can relate to that, you'll get some degree of entertainment from The Stoned Age which starts off with this premise. This film is over exaggerated but ironically very realistic at the same time. Everyone knew someone like Tack-some annoying schmuck who would usually find his way into your car somehow. Everyone's also ended up at a party thrown by a bunch of idiots from a totally different "class" or "scene" than you. And who didn't know a couple of "Buffalo Chicks?" If you were one of those guys who took the "nice guy" approach to getting women, you'll totally identify with Joe. You can literally feel his frustration as he desperately attempts to woo the amazingly sexy Laney, only to have her jump in the sack with a sexist jerk who seduces her through...well....acting like a jerk. If you were a womanizing jerk like Hubbs, then you'll relive fond memories as you watch him get the chick through the most juvenile tactics available. I didn't grow up in the 70s, but it was the perfect setting for this film. The lingo is accurate, the music great, and the issues and concepts are still relevant today; The rich disco kids and their hatred for the lower/middle class hard rock stoners for example. Cruising, of course. People should really stop the comparisons to Dazed and Confused. That quote on the box was a bad idea, the director even says so in the commentary track! Two different films, folks. The only thing they have in common is the time period and some stoner characters. Would you compare Monty Python and The Holy Grail to Excalibur coz they take place in the same time period and have a few similar themes? Back to the music I mentioned before, I was very impressed with the soundtrack. In the commentary, the director mentions that this whole film was to be strictly Led Zeppelin songs, but it couldn't be done financially. Thank God for that! That would have been way too cliche. This movie works so much better with a soundtrack with no Led Zeppelin. God forbid there were other bands in the 70s other than Zeppelin, alot of them better, believe it or not. In this film we get songs by Ted Nugent, Deep Purple, Focus, Montrose, references to the Scorpions, and The Blue Oyster Cult takes center stage. That's cool coz BOC don't get the respect they deserve anymore. The cast of unknowns does a decent enough job. I'm not sure why the character of Jill is refered to as an "oinker" and "hoagley". Throughout the film, we keep getting reinforced the notion that Jill is supposed to be unattractive. Well, just watch the film and see if you think Jill is unattractive. Sure, maybe she doesn't leap off the screen like Laney, but she is one good looking woman. Of course, Laney is always dressed skimpy while Jill is isn't. Jill also looks the most 70s, Laney doesn't. Anyhow, this film is a sure gem to discover if you did the cruising thing in high school or were a teenager in the 70s. Also, to really enjoy this, totally disregard that Dazed and Confused quote on the box.

Great movie...
It's just a feel good.... brings you back kind of a movie. Always great for a laugh. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

One of the funniest movies ever
The movie starts and ends with the two main characters, Joe and Hubbs, out on a Friday night trying to get drunk, stoned, and laid..... Yeah, not too deep, but can't you identify with at least part of the concept?

This movie has so much great dialogue that I cannot even start to get into it, as I'll go on all night.

The director and co-writer commentary is outstanding. Every saying, character nickname, song selection has a story behind it. I'm surprised James Melkonian, the director has not been involved in more projects.

This movie blows away 9/10 teen movies since 1982 easily.

What can I say about the cast of characters (where did they come up with these guys): Tack, Dixie Cup Dean, Lanie, Mike Dick, Mike New York, Hanky, Jill's Dad, Crump's Brother, The Narly Eyeball, The Samoan Dude. It goes on and on...

The music is great, even though they couldn't afford the Zeppelin/The Who tunes. Black Sabbath, Montrose, T-Rex, and of course BOC make this movie great.

The dvd case has a reviewer quoted as saying "Better than Dazed and Confused". I 100% agree - D&C while a good film, is too boring - does every movie of the genre have to make you think about your future? Thought movies were there to help you escape a little. For once, a movie about cutting loose for a night - The Stoned Age.

Don't fear the reaper!

Will not win an oscar.. but will never go out of style.
I waited up till 2 in the morning to first watch the Stoned age after hearing good things about it. I was not dissapointed. The movie is a cult classic and is better then that darling of critics "Dazed and Confused"(which is saying something).

The basic premise of the movie is well... take a friday night in Torrence, California, with two stoner friends/their equally braincell deprived buddies, and add a couple of chicks. Although it sounds lame and usual, the movie is best in that it does not take itself seriously. The movie doesn't try to make a few teenagers sound like english graduate students at 18 like present day envogue teen movies, instead it simply lets the characters... well be kids. It seems every character on the movie reminds me of someone I knew in High school. The most hilarious thing about the laughs in the movie, is the fact that they don't appear to be trying to make you laugh. Like dazed and confused, they simply find away to make you snicker almost every minute.

The two main Characters, Hubbs and Joe, make a hysterical pair, but to me the most memorable character is "Tack". Tack(played by Clifton Gonzalez-Gonzalez)is such a loser(meant in a good way) its funny. The two "chick" roles(not counting the "buffalo butts girls") play outstanding as the counterparts to Hubbs and joe. Party girl Laney and walflower(and moody) Jill provide probably two of the most hilarious scenes of the movie when both of them pound Joe.

The gist of the movie is, Joe and Hubbs only mission in life is to get as they so eloquently put it "Drunk, stoned, and laid". When the two find out about Laney and Jill from Tack,they see their night perfect and set out to fulfill the "night of our life" trifecta. However it seems everyone from Cops, Disco dancing store clerks,loser friends/cocky jocks, overzealous/pervert dads, and big samoan guys stand in there way. This intermixed with Joe "Wierding out" and scaring off chicks with his constant "Narly eyeball" remarks. Oh and did I mention a big, violence prone older brother that has personally eyed Laney and Jill as "his chicks".

In the end(not gonna spoil the movie) Joe is still a wuss, and Hubbs is still the tough guy. However at least Joe drives the Blue Torpedo now(have to see the movie to get it) and finally stands up to Hubbs. Look for guest appearances by Frankie Avalon and Jill is none other then Grace Slick's daughter(there is your star power right there).

Give it a try.. and when you start to find yourself offended by the movie... remember.. its just a movie and supposed to be fun.

Worst flick ever
I had heard of this movie for years, and when it came on cable, I decided to watch it. Biggest waste of time. No plot, crappy acting, and little to no pot smoking in the entire movie. Go stare at a wall, and you will be more entertained than watching this P.O.S.

Just Cruisin'
I saw this in the theater(yup, it actually had a theatrical release for a day or so) at the perfect age-17. Anyone who went to high school can recall the years of 16 and 17 to be the years of that mindless activity called "cruising"(of course, I know some losers in their 30s who continue to do this, I'm sure you do too). At that age you could drive, but you couldn't buy cigarettes, liquor or get into a bar, so what could you do? Go cruising! The idea was to meet girls with varying degrees of success. If you can relate to that, you'll get some degree of entertainment from The Stoned Age which starts off with this premise. This film is over exaggerated but ironically very realistic at the same time. Everyone knew someone like Tack-some annoying schmuck who would usually find his way into your car somehow. Everyone's also ended up at a party thrown by a bunch of idiots from a totally different "class" or "scene" than you. And who didn't know a couple of "Buffalo Chicks?" If you were one of those guys who took the "nice guy" approach to getting women, you'll totally identify with Joe. You can literally feel his frustration as he desperately attempts to woo the amazingly sexy Laney, only to have her jump in the sack with a sexist jerk who seduces her through...well....acting like a jerk. If you were a womanizing jerk like Hubbs, then you'll relive fond memories as you watch him get the chick through the most juvenile tactics available. I didn't grow up in the 70s, but it was the perfect setting for this film. The lingo is accurate, the music great, and the issues and concepts are still relevant today; The rich disco kids and their hatred for the lower/middle class hard rock stoners for example. Cruising, of course. People should really stop the comparisons to Dazed and Confused. That quote on the box was a bad idea, the director even says so in the commentary track! Two different films, folks. The only thing they have in common is the time period and some stoner characters. Would you compare Monty Python and The Holy Grail to Excalibur coz they take place in the same time period and have a few similar themes? Back to the music I mentioned before, I was very impressed with the soundtrack. In the commentary, the director mentions that this whole film was to be strictly Led Zeppelin songs, but it couldn't be done financially. Thank God for that! That would have been way too cliche. This movie works so much better with a soundtrack with no Led Zeppelin. God forbid there were other bands in the 70s other than Zeppelin, alot of them better, believe it or not. In this film we get songs by Ted Nugent, Deep Purple, Focus, Montrose, references to the Scorpions, and The Blue Oyster Cult takes center stage. That's cool coz BOC don't get the respect they deserve anymore. The cast of unknowns does a decent enough job. I'm not sure why the character of Jill is refered to as an "oinker" and "hoagley". Throughout the film, we keep getting reinforced the notion that Jill is supposed to be unattractive. Well, just watch the film and see if you think Jill is unattractive. Sure, maybe she doesn't leap off the screen like Laney, but she is one good looking woman. Of course, Laney is always dressed skimpy while Jill is isn't. Jill also looks the most 70s, Laney doesn't. Anyhow, this film is a sure gem to discover if you did the cruising thing in high school or were a teenager in the 70s. Also, to really enjoy this, totally disregard that Dazed and Confused quote on the box.

Great movie...
It's just a feel good.... brings you back kind of a movie. Always great for a laugh. ... Read more