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I.Q. has all the elements of a classic romantic comedy. Certainly Meg Ryan has demonstrated she has the stuff for funny love with films such as When Harry Met Sally... and Sleepless in Seattle, and director Fred Schepisi's Roxanne ranks among top contemporary romantic comedies. Even though Tim Robbinsreceived acclaim for dramatic work in Jacob's Ladder and The Shawshank Redemption, his early comedic work shouldn't be forgotten (well, maybe Howard the Duck, but not the hilarious Sure Thing). And Walter Matthau? No explanation needed.

Combine I.Q.'s talent with its fresh story and it charms. Garage mechanic Ed Walters (Robbins) is captivated at first glimpse by pretty, perky Catherine (Ryan), a gifted academic who lives with her uncle, Albert Einstein (a brilliant Matthau). Catherine is engaged to pretentious James Moreland (the oh-so-appropriate English actor and writer Stephen Fry). Catherine's early 1950s world is all bookish and brainy, even though she has aspirations toward the romantic (Moreland's idea of a honeymoon is the Belgian Congo with Pygmies; she longs for Hawaii). Einstein and his professor pals, played by Lou Jacobi, Gene Saks, and Joseph Maher, conspire to match their beloved Catherine with the sincere and smart (though not intellectual) Ed.

This is a sweet--but not saccharine--story about "engineering" the course of true love and the ironic triumph of heart over head. The topnotch performances (which also include Tony Shalhoub and Frank Whaley as fellow mechanics) really draw audiences into this winning movie. --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

Reviews (21)

The cutest, most endearing love story of all time!
An attractively, welldone movie. Meg Ryan's character seemed to be made just for her and she played it superbly. And Walter Matthau was wonderful as Einstein. They couldn't have picked a better guy. I was just cuted out by the characters he and his friends (Lou Jacobi, Gene Saks, and Joseph Maher) played. The were the funniest, most humorous match-makers I have ever seen in a movie. In short, I think that the cast of characters was nothing short of magnificent.

Catherine (Meg Ryan) is the niece of the well meaning but bumbling Einstein (Walter Matthau). She was born with the mind of a scientist who always follows her head, and is just learning what it means to follow her heart. And Ed (Tim Robbins) is just the man to teach her how (with a little help from Einstein and his friends).

This Movie Is, Like, Jivin'!
I have to confess.....I love this movie. I think I've watched it over 300 times, and I'll probably watch it another 300.

Say what you want to about Meg Ryan being too cute, about the plot being predictable, whatever. I think it's just....jivin'. It's a neat love story, about the actions of boy meets girl, fate and love, and Albert Einstien's convertible. Throw in a comet and a few wacky physicists, well, it's just pure fun. I wish to heck I could find the score somewhere; the blend of do-wap and Mozart is as much fun as the movie itself.

I'm prejudiced because Tim Robbins is my favorite actor, but all the acting in this goofy, off the wall film is top-notch. Though it's not one of the late Walter Matthau's most famous roles, I personally think it's one of his best, and I can't think of anyone better to play the eccentric Albert Einstien.

One of the most beautiful things about this film is the accuracy of the set and costumes. Not just Meg Ryan's picture-perfect 50's dresses, but the buildings and vehicles, and especially the heavily wood-panelled bungalows favored by the rich during the late 50's; they're so time-perfect you can almost smell the Lemon Pledge.

Incedentally...look for one of the funniest performances in one of the experiments by Meg Ryan's movie fiance, "Excremental Psychologist" James Moreland. I'm not sure who the actor is, but in the background of his lab is a student driven psychotic by a "time depravation experiment", and his physical humor and antics are about a thousand times better than anything from SNL in the past decade.

By the by, this makes a perfect date movie, and is mild enough for kids...but still fun for adults. It's just all around terrific, and a great buy.

A brilliant romantic comedy
Now this is how to do the genre!

This is brilliantly funny, poignant and tender, but never insipid (the director is Australia...so insipidness is definitely out) movie. Matthau is truly fantastic as Einstein, as are his three sidekicks (especially Godel! and the tree that likes to eat their stuff!) as they try to manuever the two leads together and remove the Lesser Professor, a.k.a the rat man, Chimp Pimp, etc from the picture: the stuffy english fiance of Meg Ryan's Character, played perfectly by Stephen Frey. Of course the Lesser Professor is trying to hang on to Meg Ryan's character and expose Tim Robbin's character as a fraud because of his new found friendhsip with Einstein and the secret paper they're working on so Tim Robbin's character can impress Meg Ryan's charater with 'his genius' because that is what she looks for in a man- a genetic hope of making genius children so she, lacking in her own confidence, can achieve through her children. MEg Ryan's character is Eistein's neice.

I can't understand how Matthau didn't get a best supporting actor nomination for this movie! He is so good, as is all the cast: they fit perfectly, especially the 'four boys'.

The story is fairly linear but well paced. It does deal with a lesser theme of self belief, being yourself, and sexual equality and that brilliant men can be have brilliant women as their equal, or betters. The main theme is not letting the brain rule the heart too much, and to be happy. And that some things-love- defy science!

I can't think of any movie like this one. Its unique, clever, witty and subtle at times (especially the humor: Einstein on a motorbike going wah-hoo...very cool!). So if you like your movies sophisticated, wholesome, honest, stylish and not contrived then you defintely want to see this one! The cinematography and 'fifty-ness' is fantastic!

Definitely 5 stars! More even...!

DVD is very plain: just the movie. No added features or even bio's for that matter. But with a movie this good, who needs them? The picture and sound quality are top notch.

SILLY, BUT CHARMING
Apart from a quote I love ("I'd rather be an optimist and a fool, than a pessimist and always right") the movie is also a relatively intelligent feel-good romantic comedy. Matthau is hilarious as Einstein, almost looks like him too! Robbins is at his suave best, and Meg a prim intellectually inclined neice of Einstein.

If you have any respect for the history of physics and the reputations of the people who formed non-Euclidean theory, leave it at the door. (One cannot but wonder if fictional physicists, instead of real characters could not have accomplished the same thing in terms of compelling characterizations?)

In any case, the movie is a neat little love story, and worth a cosy evening's rental.

Surprise! A good Movie
I caught this flick on cable TV one day and was left feeling I watched a good-hearted romantic comedy. The movie wasn't the funniest or raunchiest and it wasn't a tear-jerker...just the way a romantic comedy should be. Robbins (the actor) was great in his "working man" role. The Einstein twist was marvelous and his (Einstein's) fellow genius' were also great.

Strongly recommended for someone looking to watch a romantic comedy free of zany characters or crazy scenes. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

I Can't Imagine Anyone Else As Murray
A THOUSAND CLOWNS is one of my favorite films. I can't imagine better casting than Jason Robards as the nonconformist Murray Burns. Anyone who has ever been stuck in a dull job will be able to identify with Murray and will applaud his efforts to deal with the situation on his own terms. Barbara Harris is superb as the idealistic but rigid social worker Sandra Markowitz who melts under the collective charms of Murray and his nephew Nick (Barry Gordon).

Martin Balsam won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as Murray's exasperated brother. The movie also received Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Screenplay Adaptation and Adapted Music Score.

A Cult Comedy about Conformity and Love.
Every bit the equal of Harold and Maude, A Thousand Clowns is the sleeper cult movie of the 60's.

After seeing Jason Robards struggle with telephones, relatives, women and conformity, you too will be talking back to the weather lady with his quotes. Only Zorba The Greek has more memorable one-liners.

Invading social workers threaten to separate Robards from his nephew unless he learns to conform sufficiently to keep a job as a comedy writer for Chuckles the Chipmonk.

Strong acting by a wonderful cast, great dialog, and powerful editing in a black and white format will keep you glued the the screen and smiling from beginning to end.

And for the rest of your life, you will know the proper use of the line "you can never have too many eagles" :-)

To drop out of the rat race and live spontaneously

Format: Black & White
Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios
Video Release Date: August 3, 1999

Cast:

Jason Robards ... Murray Burns
Barbara Harris ... Sandra Markowitz
Martin Balsam ... Arnold Burns
Gene Saks ... Leo 'Chuckles The Chipmunk' Herman
William Daniels ... Albert Amundson
Philip Bruns ... Man In The Restaurant
John McMartin ... Man In The Office
Barry Gordon ... Nick, Wilbur Malcolm, Theodore, Raphael Sabatini, Dr. Morris Fishbein, Woodrow, King, Rover, Lefty, Chevrolet, Big Sam Burns

Murray Burns (Jason Robards) has resigned from the rat race. His young nephew Nick (Barry Gordon), who lives with him, is about to be taken away by the welfare department because he is considered an unfit parent. Sandra Markowitz (Barbara Harris), one of the welfare workers, falls in love with Murray. That, in a nutshell, is the conflict.

This is a good, funny movie, well acted and directed.

Best in scripts ...
This has always been one of my favorite movies because the script is first-rate. I recommend this movie to anyone that appreciates quality and depth in a film.

The movie, set in the heart of Manhattan, is centered around the relationship between an out-of-work actor, his nephew and himself. There are few movies that can capture the real struggle of daily life and still make you laugh along the way. This movie is one of them. The classic lines, as given in other reviews, cannot be given justice in a written review. They must be seen and experienced first hand.

You won't be disappointed by the acting of Jason Robards, Barry Gordon or anyone else in this film. If you're prone to self-examination, this movie will quickly be one of your favorites.

+1/2 - Before the hippies... there was Murray
An intriguing film about the balance between nonconformism and one's responsibility to others. Jason Robards stars as Murray Burns, an ascerbic, bohemian Madison Avenue dropout who spends his days romping through Central Park, visiting the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty, seeing ships off, and generally thumbing his nose at all the 9-to-5ers who haven't also had the gumption to quit their jobs. He's also the guardian of his twelve-year-old nephew, Nick, but sadly the child welfare authorities have gotten wind of Uncle Murray's odd ways and willful unemployment, and Robards is forced to contend with the crushing power of "the real world."

Adapted from a stage play, this film retains much of the blocking and timing of its original incarnation, but makes fine use of New York's mid-'60s scenery to conjure the giddy solitude of Murray's outside-looking-in lifestyle. Like many theatre pieces from this era, this grapples with Big Issues and Psychology (both with capital letters), but it does so with a light touch, more a Neil Simon-y bittersweetness than overtly angst-ridden and shouted at the top of one's lungs. Made just before the hippies took over, this film is an obvious precursor to "Harold And Maude" and the like... On the surface, the issues aren't terribly subtle, but they are handled deftly and echo well; the film retains an admirable sense of uneasiness and ambiguity even up through its seemingly neat-package ending. Barbara Harris is good in the role of Murray's anguished girlfriend, and teen actor Barry Gordon is a marvel as the precocious nephew, Nick, giving as good as he gets, playing opposite Robards. (Gordon later moved into bit television roles and voiceover work; a pity, since he's fascinating here, in a more serious role...)

An interesting movie, exploring dilemmas and choices that are still present today. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

"Worn to perfection" is the tag line promoting this crafted character study. It describes Paul Newman, the resourceful 70-year-old lead actor, but not his character, Sully, a North Bath, New York, loner who totally emulates the negative definition of the title. Newman gives a brilliant performance (Oscar-nominated and winner of two critics circle awards) relying on his well-honed subtleties. The dramatics are simple: the return of his son (Dylan Walsh) and grandson, offering a chance to reconcile; odd jobs for a construction company he's trying to sue for an injury; and a comedic grudge match against the owner (a reserved Bruce Willis). North Bath is the kind of place, wrapped in winter (beautifully shot by John Bailey), where enemies are friends, marriages are shaky, and Hawaii is only a state of mind. This "town drama" of a blue-collar America offers the patient filmgoer a rich and rewarding experience. Another small gem from writer-director Robert Benton (Places in the Heart). --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Paul Newman is a national treasure
This is a lovely, dense movie about a deceptively simple man and his deceptively simple life. Paul Newman makes it look so easy and makes everyone else include Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith and a slew of character actors look wonderful. The movie is never forced and the pace is perfect. I lived in one of the towns in which the movie was filmed and the director captures the town perfectly. The light is even right. Watch this movie. It's funny and sweet and warm and perceptive about people and family and relationships. And Jessica Tandy never looked more graceful in this her last film.

Paul Newman can still play the everyday guy and be amazing!
Finally we are able to again appreciate the elements of effective storytelling in the movies: depth of character, simple settings, moral values, and pure entertainment. Paul Newman has always been one of the best natural actors in the business, and he shows it again here with class and maturity. He plays Sully, an older man who goes from one odd job after another to find meaning in his life. He boards with his past eighth grade teacher (Jessica Tandy, in one of her last roles) and accepts jobs from time to time from a sleazy contractor (Bruce Willis). It is only once he reunites with his son (Dylan Walsh) and his grandson that he realizes where his responsibility lies and the meaning of his life is found. Writer/director Robert Benton, who has directed Newman in other films such as "Absence of Malice," knows exactly where Paul's strengths in acting lie, and he allows him to show it off in very effective ways. Sully is not an overly emotional or vibrant character, but does have wit and grace that is totally likable and fascinating. Melanie Griffith also contributes to the stellar cast as Willis's neglected wife (Imagine that!), and she herself is touched by Sully's qualities just as we the audience are. "Nobody's Fool" is a triumph of writing and subtle genius, a masterpiece that relies on natural talent and realism of character to tell its tale, and what a rewarding tale it is!

I bore Sully's children
NONONO. Not Paul Newman, but the character he played, Sully. I cannot tell you how many people said he had nailed the charming ne'er do well, and Bruce Willis channelled his best friend, for whom he worked. His children love him, I love him, I just can't live with him anymore. This was the story of my life for many years, a man drifting from job to job, helping others before his own family, and shrugging at the consequences. Paul Newman deserved the Oscar for this performance. It is criminal he was not awarded it. He was brilliant, and this will be recognised years later as one of those losses that was probably the result of the movie not being a big box office draw. I have worn out my vhs, and am ordering the dvd. This is a must see, a must have for any intelligent connoisseur of fine cinema. It is a poignant, gentle tale, with more than a dash of humour. I should also add that I vividly remember the cold and very snowy winter this movie was made, and the news from the set because I live near where it was filmed. Normally I would not mind signing my name, but I am hesitant, since "Sully's" current girlfriend reads all of these things and she has been blaming me for not granting him a divorce. In typical Sully passive-aggressive fashion, he has treated that too with a wink.

Almost as good as the book
This movie, like the novel of the same name, shows the life of a flawed but amiable character, Donald Sullivan, over a period of a few days in a small town in Upstate New York. Rarely do I see a movie that is almost as good as the book, but here the only drawback to the movie is that it is too short. (It would probably have to be 8 hours long to tell the entire story.)

Paul Newman is perfect as Sully, Bruce Willis is astounding as a small-town builder, and Rachel Griffiths is heartwarming as Willis' wife. If you like the book, see the movie; if you like the movie, definitely read the book.

One of my favorites...
I love this movie...it is one of my all-time favorites for a variety of reasons. It features a wonderful performance by Paul Newman and a great cast of supporting characters, but the real star is the story. It's a very good reminder of the impact we have on the lives of others, even if we mostly focus on our own challenges, dreams, and daily frustrations. But whether the movie makes a poignant impression on you or not, you can still enjoy it as a fun, touching story... ... Read more

Reviews (20)

I Can't Imagine Anyone Else As Murray
A THOUSAND CLOWNS is one of my favorite films. I can't imagine better casting than Jason Robards as the nonconformist Murray Burns. Anyone who has ever been stuck in a dull job will be able to identify with Murray and will applaud his efforts to deal with the situation on his own terms. Barbara Harris is superb as the idealistic but rigid social worker Sandra Markowitz who melts under the collective charms of Murray and his nephew Nick (Barry Gordon).

Martin Balsam won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as Murray's exasperated brother. The movie also received Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Screenplay Adaptation and Adapted Music Score.

A Cult Comedy about Conformity and Love.
Every bit the equal of Harold and Maude, A Thousand Clowns is the sleeper cult movie of the 60's.

After seeing Jason Robards struggle with telephones, relatives, women and conformity, you too will be talking back to the weather lady with his quotes. Only Zorba The Greek has more memorable one-liners.

Invading social workers threaten to separate Robards from his nephew unless he learns to conform sufficiently to keep a job as a comedy writer for Chuckles the Chipmonk.

Strong acting by a wonderful cast, great dialog, and powerful editing in a black and white format will keep you glued the the screen and smiling from beginning to end.

And for the rest of your life, you will know the proper use of the line "you can never have too many eagles" :-)

To drop out of the rat race and live spontaneously

Format: Black & White
Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios
Video Release Date: August 3, 1999

Cast:

Jason Robards ... Murray Burns
Barbara Harris ... Sandra Markowitz
Martin Balsam ... Arnold Burns
Gene Saks ... Leo 'Chuckles The Chipmunk' Herman
William Daniels ... Albert Amundson
Philip Bruns ... Man In The Restaurant
John McMartin ... Man In The Office
Barry Gordon ... Nick, Wilbur Malcolm, Theodore, Raphael Sabatini, Dr. Morris Fishbein, Woodrow, King, Rover, Lefty, Chevrolet, Big Sam Burns

Murray Burns (Jason Robards) has resigned from the rat race. His young nephew Nick (Barry Gordon), who lives with him, is about to be taken away by the welfare department because he is considered an unfit parent. Sandra Markowitz (Barbara Harris), one of the welfare workers, falls in love with Murray. That, in a nutshell, is the conflict.

This is a good, funny movie, well acted and directed.

Best in scripts ...
This has always been one of my favorite movies because the script is first-rate. I recommend this movie to anyone that appreciates quality and depth in a film.

The movie, set in the heart of Manhattan, is centered around the relationship between an out-of-work actor, his nephew and himself. There are few movies that can capture the real struggle of daily life and still make you laugh along the way. This movie is one of them. The classic lines, as given in other reviews, cannot be given justice in a written review. They must be seen and experienced first hand.

You won't be disappointed by the acting of Jason Robards, Barry Gordon or anyone else in this film. If you're prone to self-examination, this movie will quickly be one of your favorites.

+1/2 - Before the hippies... there was Murray
An intriguing film about the balance between nonconformism and one's responsibility to others. Jason Robards stars as Murray Burns, an ascerbic, bohemian Madison Avenue dropout who spends his days romping through Central Park, visiting the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty, seeing ships off, and generally thumbing his nose at all the 9-to-5ers who haven't also had the gumption to quit their jobs. He's also the guardian of his twelve-year-old nephew, Nick, but sadly the child welfare authorities have gotten wind of Uncle Murray's odd ways and willful unemployment, and Robards is forced to contend with the crushing power of "the real world."

Adapted from a stage play, this film retains much of the blocking and timing of its original incarnation, but makes fine use of New York's mid-'60s scenery to conjure the giddy solitude of Murray's outside-looking-in lifestyle. Like many theatre pieces from this era, this grapples with Big Issues and Psychology (both with capital letters), but it does so with a light touch, more a Neil Simon-y bittersweetness than overtly angst-ridden and shouted at the top of one's lungs. Made just before the hippies took over, this film is an obvious precursor to "Harold And Maude" and the like... On the surface, the issues aren't terribly subtle, but they are handled deftly and echo well; the film retains an admirable sense of uneasiness and ambiguity even up through its seemingly neat-package ending. Barbara Harris is good in the role of Murray's anguished girlfriend, and teen actor Barry Gordon is a marvel as the precocious nephew, Nick, giving as good as he gets, playing opposite Robards. (Gordon later moved into bit television roles and voiceover work; a pity, since he's fascinating here, in a more serious role...)

An interesting movie, exploring dilemmas and choices that are still present today. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A quote
I saw this one ages ago on a TV. I vagely remember it being a simple and warm comedy with a rather sobering ending. The reason it deserves a five-star grade is probably the best quote I've ever seen in any movie. There's this scene where his agent is trying to teach the main character (Winkler) some sense and he goes: Look, there are two kinds of people in this world: there are people who put the lamp- shades on lamps and the others who put the lamp-shades on their heads. You're in the second group.

This comedy is the One and Only!
An excellent comedy that will sure to make your sides ache. This is about an actor (Henry Winkler) that is out of work and cannot find an acting job. He meets, falls in love with, and marries a beautiful girl (Kim Darby). He finally does find work that is kind of along the lines of acting: he becomes a professional wrestler. There are the hillarious challenges of him having to explain not only to his wife, but also to his inlaws, the nature of his employment. You will enjoy The One And Only. ... Read more

Description

Mel Edison, a soon-to-be-unemployed advertising executive, is driven to the brink of a nervous breakdown by New York City living.In an attempt to escape from a garbage strike, nosy neighbors and an unreliable air conditioner in the middle of a head wave, Mel and his long-suffering wife Edna visit his brother in the country.Unfortunately, the dark cloud of tribulation seems to follow Mel in this comic nightmare. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Another knockout for Simon/Lemmon
This is the third in a trio of classic comedies written by Neil Simon and starring(onscreen) Jack Lemmon. This movie delivers laugh after laugh without slapsick, and without the cheesiness of some of Simon's later works. (The Goodbye Girl) This movie earns five stars from me not only because it's a great comedy, but this movie gives the viewer a heartfelt lesson in humanity as well. See it at all costs. Worth owning, too, I've all but worn my copy out.

A little but incredible comedy
This movie is among the greatest twenty american comedies in any age.
Lemmon is superb and the lovely Anne Bancroft(Miracle worker) makes a great couple.
It's incredible how this work has been so underestimated.
A must for everyone.
A lot of laughable gags.

Melvin Frank made a masterpiece comedy
It's incredibkle this movie has been so underestimated.
The plot is plenty of laughable situations. A well script and above all the presence of this wonderful couple.
The unique Jack Lemmon and the lovely Anne Bancroft an extraordinary gifted actress. (Miracle worker)
Under no circunstance you should doubt about the virtues of that film, because if you edit the twenty best american comedy films in any age, this film deserves to be in that list.

Surprisingly the plot is so realistically current again
Being a 70s movie, it had a slow start but then as scene rolls in, the story line suddenly sparkles in the dark and jitters through the nurve with uncanny current realities of recent years. Great flowing script and its a privilege to watch two Maestros (Jack Lemmon and Anne Bancroft) playing it out in perfect harmony with perfect tune till the very end! Amazing!

I love this one!
To my way of thinking, this is the highest form of comedy: it is the kind of comedy that makes us laugh and cry at the same time; it is the kind of comedy that captures something about who we are, and presents it in such a forgiving and loving light that we simultaneously laugh and ache. For me, the quintessential example of this is the boxing scene in City Lights, which is as tragic as it is hilarious. "Prisoner of Second Avenue" is, in a sense, an entire play about this boxing scene: it is about the struggle to survive in a cold and almost brutal world. The only difference is that, in the boxing scene, the hero chooses to take a beating in order to save someone else, while here the two heroes struggle to survive as a team. In the final scene, we know that this team has won, not because a new job has been located, but because this team will prevail. What a wonderful homage to the strength of the human spirit! Couple this with the exceptional (as always) performances of two great actors: Anne Bancroft and Jack Lemon, and you have what I think is a true gem.

By the way...it's time to bring this in DVD! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Truly Wonderful Experience To Treasure Forever.
There isn't really anything to say about LOVESICK that hasn't been said by the other Amazon.com reviewers already. But my gosh, I just have to express my love for this movie! , I consider myself madly in love with a girl. LOVESICK is the very first film I have ever seen to accurately express this dazzling, baffling, and just plain ridiculous feeling we call love. Dudley Moore gives a quiet, toned-down performance (at least when compared to ARTHUR), which gives him a realism like nothing I have ever seen on film. Same goes for Elizabeth McGovern, who with her exceptional beauty and controlled delivery makes her all the more believable. You really do feel that these two people are madly in love! Dudley Moore's slowly escalating obsession with this woman is a marvel to behold, with frequent visits from Ales Guiness in a terrific supporting role. Another key aspect of the film is the music by Peter Knight; magical, enchanting, and every other similar word fails to describe it. Words cannot begin to describe LOVESICK, an everlasting homage to love, through good times and bad times, to ultimately realizing that everything else is rubbish without it.

Or, if you wanted to skip all that other stuff above, do yourself a favor: stop reading this review and GO SEE THIS MOVIE11

wonderful
This is a subtle, low key but very funny and wise film. Great showcase for Dudley Moore. Beautiful, sophisticated music score as well!

A 2 Star movie that rates 5 stars!
According to Leonard Maltin, this is a 2 star movie. And I can agree with that on most counts. What makes this movie a 5 star film is the special magic it casts upon the viewer - I mean me.

How can you put magic into words? Impossible.

I can only say this...there is a special magic about Moore falling for McGovern. You can see it happening - hell, I could see it on their faces. It's that knock-down-drag-me-out kind of love that defies emotional definition. It has happened to us all - at least I hope it has, for this kind of love is worth experiencing at least once.

What makes this film magical is the fact that it all works out. In real life there are too many variables that inevitably screw everything up. But in this movie, everything worked out perfectly. Only in Hollywood.

I would be greatly remiss if I didn't give special kudos to Peter Gabriel, whose beautiful music perfectly captured the beauty of the scenes. This music worked to enhance the magic still further. I only wish it were on CD! I'm a 56 year old male who still feels a tear when the last scene lifts to a panoramic view of Central Park and the music takes you away.

Last and not least, the actors collected for this enterprise are of noteworthy status...Moore, McGovern, Ron Silver, John Huston, David Strathairn, Alec Guinness, Alan King, Selma Diamond, and my favorite, Wallace Shawn. Quite a cast for a 2 star movie.

If you're not a romantic, you won't have the foggiest notion of what I'm talking about. But then, this movie is not for non-romantic people.

Forget "reality". Just watch this movie and let it take you away!!!!

a movie that has only a small ration . . .
LOVESICK is a movie that has only a small ration of wit. However, if you like to believe that schzophrenia describes split personality, the script that this film followed was schzophreniic. There were moments when it followed a comedy line, then split to drama--you were never quite sure which-- but it was rarely comedy funny and hardly ever dramatic suspenseful. You could call it a dull romance. Dudley Moore, psychiatrist, falls in love with his atttractive patient, Elizabeth Mc Govern. He develops some stupid, not funny, cupid induced behavior. The love fixation develops into a romance that overcomes some pesky obstacles. Those obstacles are an erstwhile Mc Govern boyfriend, and Moore's wife. But, love conquered: [1]Mc Govern didn't care much for her boyfriend, and [2] Moore's wife has been having an affair with an artist--she's quite willing to give up Moore. Some suspense, the chance that Moore would lose his license, is directed at him from the psychiatric psychoanalysis community, but it is simply not an awful threat to Moore nor his career. I caught only one memorable funny scene when Moore complained to Elizabeth that she failed to help him with a patient because she had penis envy. Let me paraphrase: "You say I did it because I was castrated?" Elizabeth asked. "Yes," replied Moore. "Well, doctor, they are going to come after you with a net." That scene is worth three stars. It made my wife laugh. I saw this movie because Moore was linked in the casting to Alec Guiness and Elizabeth Mc Govern. Their talents were wasted even though the underlying thesis of this movie is correct; viz., guys who are lovesick belong in the funny farm.

You're never too old for Lovesick(ness)!
This romantic/comedy is one of my all-time favorites! Dudley Moore plays a charming, married psychiatrist who falls in love with a young, vulnerable female patient (Elizabeth McGovern). Even though Moore's antics are exaggerated to amuse the viewer, the message has passed the test of time: Once stung by Cupid's arrow, even the most sane adult becomes slightly insane! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Goodbye People
Each character portrays the feelings of their individual needs in a way that we can easily identify with them. The plot brings the actors into a real life situation that addresses our natural fears, anxieties, affections, disappointments and hope.

We do not always follow through on plans,ideas or life style changes because of our insecurities. This movie approaches this subject with great sensitivity and humor, warmth and courage. The leading actors each face an individual challenge in their lifestyle and careers which creates empathy with the viewer. Add to this, the cruelty of the business world with all the failures and problems inherent in having to deal with financial gain and you have a resulting mix of conflict. You are emotionaly drawn into the story and live all the moments with the performers.

The music compliments the mood and punctuates the action with a melodic and harmonious blend that helps create the feelings and action on screen. The lighting is excellent and assists in highlighting the set and actors while creating the mood with the shift in intensity and color. The dialog is intelligent,natural, easy to follow, in this well conceived plot with a simple story line.

The director and cinematographer has provided us with a well edited and inspirational work that combines pathos, humor and drama. This "feel good" film leaves us with a great feeling that you can accomplish your dream at any time of your life regardless of adversity. ... Read more