Melanie Parker, an architect and mother of Sammy, and Jack Taylor, a newspaper columnist and father of Maggie, are both divorced. They meet one morning when overwhelmed Jack is left unexpectedly with Maggie and forgets that Melanie was to take her to school. As a result, both children miss their school field trip and are stuck with the parents. The two adults project their negative stereotypes of ex-spouses on each other, but end up needing to rely on each other to watch the children as each must save his job. Humor is added by Sammy's propensity for lodging objects in his nose and Maggie's tendency to wander.
Directed by Michael Hoffman
single mother
divorced
single father
family conflict
child custody
blended family
Rank
#39 in 1996·#3697 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.3 / 5
Cast
Michelle Pfeiffer
Melanie Parker
George Clooney
Jack Taylor
Mae Whitman
Maggie Taylor, Jack's daughter
Alex D. Linz
Sammy Parker, Melanie's son
Charles Durning
Lew, Jack's boss
Ellen Greene
Mrs. Elaine Lieberman
Amanda Peet
Celia
Joe Grifasi
Manny Feldstein
Pete Hamill
Frank Burroughs
Anna Maria Horsford
Evelyn
Gregory Jbara
Freddy
Sheila Kelley
Kristen, Jack's ex-wife
Crew
Michael Hoffman
Director
James Newton Howard
Original Music Composer
Oliver Stapleton
Director of Photography
Kate Guinzburg
Executive Producer
Lynda Obst
Producer
Michelle Pfeiffer
Executive Producer
Lora Kennedy
Casting
Patricia M. Peters
Stunts
Ernie F. Orsatti
Stunt Coordinator
Lora Hirschberg
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Matthew Wood
Foley Editor
Popular Reviews
101 reviews
Eden
8.0★ · 03/26/26
Really good beautiful plot, my only is that they oy got together in the last 20 minutes there was like flirting and stuff but there wasn’t enough romance in-between Jack and Melanie
Really good beautiful plot, my only is that they oy got together in the last 20 minutes there was like flirting and stuff but there wasn’t enough romance in-between Jack and Melanie
kami
5.0★ · 02/24/26
the classic "lead guy is a terrible father but he's attractive&cool so its alright, while the leading lady is a responsible mother and a hardworking woman... BORING" type of rom com. that child was annoying as hell had some cute moments tho.
the classic "lead guy is a terrible father but he's attractive&cool so its alright, while the leading lady is a responsible mother and a hardworking woman... BORING" type of rom com. that child was annoying as hell had some cute moments tho.