When I was 20 and first read this story I loved it. Then I saw the movie and was charmed by Liv Ullman, Edward Albert, and the rest of the cast. (Binnie Barnes was a Ziegfield Girl! Gene Kelly dances the twist!) Now, over 30 years later, I have watched it more times than I can count.
OK, so you know the story from the plot synopsis. Whoever says there is no chemistry between the two leads doesn't have the same nervous system that I have. However, there is one glaring problem: for a 40-year-old woman to be interested in a 22-year-old, he must be a pretty incredible and "mature" guy. But Albert's character consistently descends into childish argument and even name-calling when Ullman disappoints him. ("You don't know what you want." and "You are a silly, helpless woman...") This would be an unbeatable romance if there was more depth to his character and more development of their relationship. It's not chemistry that's missing, it's any evidence of true intimacy. And that is a flaw of the script, not the casting.
Still, with a "willing suspension of disbelief", it is a charming romance and a chance to see Liv Ullman be happy.
OK, so you know the story from the plot synopsis. Whoever says there is no chemistry between the two leads doesn't have the same nervous system that I have. However, there is one glaring problem: for a 40-year-old woman to be interested in a 22-year-old, he must be a pretty incredible and "mature" guy. But Albert's character consistently descends into childish argument and even name-calling when Ullman disappoints him. ("You don't know what you want." and "You are a silly, helpless woman...") This would be an unbeatable romance if there was more depth to his character and more development of their relationship. It's not chemistry that's missing, it's any evidence of true intimacy. And that is a flaw of the script, not the casting.
Still, with a "willing suspension of disbelief", it is a charming romance and a chance to see Liv Ullman be happy.