Starting Over
Burt Reynolds plays Phil Potter, a low-key, contented magazine writer who tries to put his life back together after his wife (Candice Bergen) opts for independence as a singer-songwriter. Jill Clayburgh, a wacky nursery school teacher, tries to help him surmount the emotional hurdles, but it's rough going in this delightful contemporary tale; he's still hung up over his ex-wife.
Member Reviews
Holds up remarkably well. - Yogini
Candace Bergen, a much under-rated actor, gives a great performance, as does Jill Clayburgh, and Burt Reynolds surprises: He actually can act! Any of the current crop of young women who seem to have nothing on their minds but big, splashy weddings, should see how two grown-up women manage the single life. There is an absolute gem of a clip portraying the average male person's orientation: Phil Potter wants nothing from the interaction with his wife as she is leaving him but to have sex. Jessica does the 1970s women's lib thing: she claps him very heartily on his shoulder and says something like, "Not right now, thanks anyway, kid." We sure have NOT come a long way, Baby!
The circle of divorced men is great, and many of the actors who portrayed the members have gone on to stellar careers. There are couple of neat scenes between the divorced women's group and the divorced men's group.
Charles Durning (he moves so well! Even in the latest films in which he has appeared.) does his usual reliable excellent work. Frances Sternhage is great! Jill Clayburgh is nicely flakey. Phil Potter learns that he is vulnerable. And Candace Bergen steals the show in a Helen Reddy take-off.disappointing 70s fare - natasha
I rented this because lately I've been going through my own 70s movie fest (I was born in the 70s so missed out on many of the classics like The Sting and Rosemary's Baby).. and had gotten to somewhat of the bottom of the pile when I encountered this film. I've been loving 70s pacing, art direction, subtle use of music and good storytelling, and with such a stellar cast and reputable filmmakers thought I was in for another little-known gem. Boy was I wrong. Not only is it excruciatingly slow, the writing is absolutely terrible! Makes these well-loved actors look like it was their first time out. Everything about this film was so lacklustre I couldn't even finish it. I think many many 70s flicks stand up today (especially for a buff like me) but this isn't one of them. (I couldn't believe the only IMDB review said the opposite!) Extremely amateurish. Just pass unless you're a huge Burt Reynolds fan. The only thing that was marginally enjoyable was watching him play a low-key straight man for once... without that moustache.
Member Reviews
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Holds up remarkably well. - Yogini
Candace Bergen, a much under-rated actor, gives a great performance, as does Jill Clayburgh, and Burt Reynolds surprises: He actually can act! Any of the current crop of young women who seem to have nothing on their minds but big, splashy weddings, should ...disappointing 70s fare - natasha
I rented this because lately I've been going through my own 70s movie fest (I was born in the 70s so missed out on many of the classics like The Sting and Rosemary's Baby).. and had gotten to somewhat of the bottom of the pile when I encountered this film. ...