Something's Gotta Give Review

by David N. Butterworth (dnb AT dca DOT net)
December 16th, 2003
SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE
A film review by David N. Butterworth
Copyright 2003 David N. Butterworth

**1/2 (out of ****)

    Observing the 66-year-old Jack Nicholson bedding women less than half his age has never been the most comfortable of cinematic sells yet "Something's Gotta Give," the new battle-of-the-sexes comedy from writer/director Nancy Meyers
("What Women Want") takes this alarmist trend and turns it into an actual plot device! Harry Sanborn (Nicholson) is an aging lothario cum hip-hop producer whose major claim to fame is that he only dates women under thirty. His latest
conquest is the spry Marin Barry (Amanda Peet, appearing clothed for about the first time in her history) who, as the film opens, is whisking Harry off to her mother's immaculate Hamptons beach house for a little weekend R&R. Said R&R results in an impromptu visit to the ER for the libidinous Harry by way of a mild heart attack (Viagra jokes ensue). Harry's physician (played by Keanu
Reeves yes I will repeat that Keanu Reeves plays a doctor!?) insists that Harry
stay "nearby," meaning that Mom (Diane Keaton), a fussy, turtle-necked playwright
who's working on her latest manuscript, has to reluctantly baby-sit Harry until
he's fit enough to return to the mainland. As expected in this little ditty 'bout Jack and Diane, post-menopausal love blossoms, occasionally impeded by Dr. Neo (sorry, Julian), who starts hitting on Erica (Keaton) the minute he claps eyes on her (it seems that the older woman/younger man mystique is not immune to Meyers' scrutiny either, although Reeves' skills as an actor are severely
put to the test). Sadly, any attempts at sophistication--and I'll admit there are many charming hints at what might have been--are almost constantly undermined
by smarminess (most of it by the devilish Nicholson), woodenness (Keanu), and cornball predictability (Keaton is quite luminous though). Too bad that erudition
and poignancy were the somethings Meyers had to give.

--
David N. Butterworth
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