Starting Over

A Woody Allen- influenced, rather enjoyable comedy about divorce, with a trio of great stars. I especially loved Burt Reynolds' sleepy, Bill Murray-esque energy and every moment with Candice Bergen on screen (that "cringe-inducing" scene is meant to be as cringe-inducing and hilarious as it is - she totally pulls it off). Plus, it was shot by Sven Nykvist, so the whole thing is just gorgeous to look at.

Wonderful, warm hearted romantic comedy has attention to character detail foreshadowing Brooks' TERMS OF ENDEARMENT; Pakula and Nykvist's austere work would seem to be out of place, but actually contributes an interesting tension. Reynolds is unusually relaxed and likable, but film is stolen by a heartbreaking Clayburgh, and a brilliant bit of droll self-effacement from Bergen. Consistently intriguing and unpredictable until a sputtering finale which attempts to wrap things up too easily.

Not a bad film except for a cringe inducing scene with Candice Bergen trying to be a seductive chanteuse. What ever made Pakula think that she was talented enough to pull it off.