- Film Review
- Reviewed By David Parkinson
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3 out of 5
Goldie Hawn is at her dippiest as waitress Gwen, who overturns the life of Steve Martin's staid architect Newton Davis in this likeable if somewhat silly romantic comedy. Davis is recovering from rejection by the love of his life (Dana Delany) when he meets Gwen, who decides to help his convalescence by moving into the dream house he has built but left empty after getting the elbow from his dream woman. When Gwen tells the neighbourhood that she's his new wife, the comic complications pile on, to generally amusing effect. Mark Stein's screenplay has all the elements that you would expect of a classic screwball comedy. It's the old loathers becoming lovers scenario - imagine Cary Grant being jilted by Carole Landis only to be swept off his feet by a madcap Katharine Hepburn and you get the basic idea. What makes this such a cosy watch is that we've seen Martin and Hawn play these kind of characters before. As he proved in Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Martin is a master when it comes to put-upon types whose initial frosty frustration gradually thaws into fond acceptance, while Hawn has been playing dizzy kooks since the heyday of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. Spouting increasingly fabulous fibs is one thing, but playing stooge is quite another and director Frank Oz is fortunate in having Julie Harris and Donald Moffat backing up the leads as Martin's uncomprehending but trusting parents. It's flawed but fun.
Plot Summary
Romantic comedy starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. Recently jilted architect Newton Davis's single fling with devil-may-care waitress Gwen has chaotic consequences. Without his knowledge, quick-witted Gwen soon sweet talks her way into his home town, his house and the hearts of his parents simply by saying she is his wife! Newton is appalled when he finds out, but discovers the arrangement has its benefits. Unfortunately for "the happy couple", Gwen's tangle of lies threatens to tie them in knots.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Newton Davis
- Steve Martin
- Gwen
- Goldie Hawn
- Becky
- Dana Delany
- Edna Davis
- Julie Harris
- George Davis
- Donald Moffat
- Marty
- Peter MacNicol
- Ralph
- Richard B Shull
- Mary
- Laurel Cronin
Crew
- Director
- Frank Oz
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