1 out of the 2 films left in James L. Brooks' filmography that I haven't seen before his magnum opus drops this weekend in Ella McCay.
This film had major potential to be a classic in my eyes, but it has too many things bringing it down. Like the romantic plot lines, I don't care about Albert Brooks and Julie Kavner's relationship. I feel no spark between them, and it's not charming; it just halts my enjoyment. Now, the relationship between Nick Nolte and Joely Richardson, I see its purpose to show how his priorities change from focusing on his acting career to supporting his daughter, but all the scenes before building the relationship are timid. Where the gold really lies is in the daddy-daughter relationship. Whittni Wright is funny and precious as Jeannie, and watching Nick Nolte adapt to being a father is fun. If the movie really just focused on this relationship, then it could have been highly regarded by me like The Game Plan or Paper Moon. Also, the ending is weird; it felt like it just ended. I literally said to myself that's it.

1 out of the 2 films left in James L. Brooks' filmography that I haven't seen before his magnum opus drops this weekend in Ella McCay.
This film had major potential to be a classic in my eyes, but it has too many things bringing it down. Like the romantic plot lines, I don't care about Albert Brooks and Julie Kavner's relationship. I feel no spark between them, and it's not charming; it just halts my enjoyment. Now, the relationship between Nick Nolte and Joely Richardson, I see its purpose to show how his priorities change from focusing on his acting career to supporting his daughter, but all the scenes before building the relationship are timid. Where the gold really lies is in the daddy-daughter relationship. Whittni Wright is funny and precious as Jeannie, and watching Nick Nolte adapt to being a father is fun. If the movie really just focused on this relationship, then it could have been highly regarded by me like The Game Plan or Paper Moon. Also, the ending is weird; it felt like it just ended. I literally said to myself that's it.

Watched the musical version 
Real bad. Real real bad.

Watched the musical version 
Real bad. Real real bad.

Why is Albert Brooks doing a voice? His voice is already a voice!

Why is Albert Brooks doing a voice? His voice is already a voice!

A bizarre film that takes parts that excel in Brooks’ other films and pushes them past the point of charm straight into insanity. It’s not even that it’s not entertaining, but every scene feels like an enormous miscalculation. I guess that makes sense when you consider this was a musical with all the music numbers cut out, but I can’t imagine a longer version being BETTER.

A bizarre film that takes parts that excel in Brooks’ other films and pushes them past the point of charm straight into insanity. It’s not even that it’s not entertaining, but every scene feels like an enormous miscalculation. I guess that makes sense when you consider this was a musical with all the music numbers cut out, but I can’t imagine a longer version being BETTER.