Advertised as a wacky marital sex romp (with allusions to wife-swapping), this Erich Segal script surprises by being a mostly sobering look at a marriage between two middle-agers (Shirley MacLaine and Anthony Hopkins) which has faltered and can't really be rectified. Released alongside a spate of similar middle-age-crazy comedy-dramas (including MacLaine's "Loving Couples", which she made back-to-back with "Seasons"), this one has the added appeal of seeing serious-minded Hopkins romancing Bo Derek (fresh off her triumph in "10" and usually out of her clothes). The writing is often achingly 'cute', with hardly a wink to the audience to let us know co-writer Segal is in on the joke. However, the more thoughtful moments (integrated unobtrusively by director Richard Lang) offer some insight into what breaks up a marital union, and both MacLaine and Hopkins have strong scenes. ** from ****
15 Reviews
The reaction of a Woman betrayed by her husband
esteban174716 July 2002
It is sad that a film with good actor/actress as Hopkins and MacLaine did not perform well as one may expect. They were husband and wife, the first one a professor who falls in love with one of his girl- students. He simply informed his wife of this event as if nothing would happen, but this was a mistake. His wife decided to have a young lover, and all four informed went together to the mountain in holidays!!! Only in films this phenomenon can be seen. Then their daughter is also coming to the mountain with his boy-friend and his future father-in- law, who immediately falls in love with the mother of his future daughter-in-law. I think that sometimes the director wanted to make the film more comic because as a drama it was lost. The final result is not the best.
Seasons Come And Go..
AaronCapenBanner22 September 2013
Anthony Hopkins plays a University professor engaged in an affair with a young student(Bo Derek, the perfectly cast "10"). His wife(played by Shirley MacLaine)finds out about it, but rather than divorce him, instead has an affair of her own with a young carpenter who just so happens to be doing work in their home. Hopkins is none to pleased by this, yet the four of them nonetheless go on a skiing trip together at their vacation cabin, where relationships will come to a head, since their college age daughter also arrives with her boyfriend...
Good actors cannot do much with such mundane material. Its attempts to be "modern" about the morality of affairs is awkward and unconvincing, and the film is mostly dreary and unsatisfying, though Bo Derek lights up every scene she is in(especially in the hot tub!)
Good actors cannot do much with such mundane material. Its attempts to be "modern" about the morality of affairs is awkward and unconvincing, and the film is mostly dreary and unsatisfying, though Bo Derek lights up every scene she is in(especially in the hot tub!)
Great video rental!
SanDiego28 November 2000
Great "find" in video stores boasts a really good script regarding the sexual strayings of a mid-life couple. Anthony Hopkins plays the philandering husband (Bo Derek the young hot tart) and Shirley MacLaine plays the wife who takes up with a lover of her own. This topic is now "hot" again what with Oscar winner "American Beauty" not to mention the whole Monica-Clinton affair. Don't let Bo Derek's name keep you from watching this film (and why should it when Anthony Hopkins and Shirley MacLaine are the leads?) Bo does the "Bo" thing early on (in a hot tub no less) so this film really does offer the best of all worlds. Should be watched with another Shirley MacLaine movie with a very similar plot that was released the same year (1980) called "Loving Couples" (with James Coburn the philandering husband and a young Susan Sarandon the young hot tart). They were released between "Being There" (1979) and "Terms of Endearment" (1983) so if you are wondering what Shirley MacLaine did between her two very different roles in those films here's your answer. Shirley is charming. Great entertainment.
Just dreadful...but what can you expect from a Bo Derek movie?
preppy-311 December 2006
A middle-aged husband (Anthony Hopkins) falls for a beautiful young woman (Bo Derek). His wife (Shirley MacLaine) starts her own affair in retaliation.
I caught this in a theatre in Massachusetts in 1980. It was filmed on location around there and I was curious to see how the state looked on the big screen. There was a bit of controversy while the film was being shot here--Hopkins HATED working with Derek because she refused to rehearse. He threatened to quit more than once. After seeing the film I wish he had quit! The script is by the numbers and not even remotely funny (this was supposed to be a romantic comedy). MacLaine and Hopkins do their best with the material but not even their considerable acting talents can save this. Every single event was predictable and boring. Also Derek's complete lack of acting talent is almost painful to watch. I don't care how beautiful she is--the woman just can't act! Hopkins hatred for her comes through loud and clear.
This did nothing for the stars careers. Derek already had "10" out and Hopkins had "The Elephant Man" but MacLaine did this and another dreadful "comedy" called "Loving Couples" at the same time. She did point out in her book that they were both awful and almost ruined her career. Good thing she did "Terms of Endearment" a few years later.
I had blocked this movie out completely but I saw a bit of it on TV recently and all the bad memories came rolling back. Also if you're just watching this to see Derek nude it happens during the opening credits and that's about it. A really bad film--1 all the way.
I caught this in a theatre in Massachusetts in 1980. It was filmed on location around there and I was curious to see how the state looked on the big screen. There was a bit of controversy while the film was being shot here--Hopkins HATED working with Derek because she refused to rehearse. He threatened to quit more than once. After seeing the film I wish he had quit! The script is by the numbers and not even remotely funny (this was supposed to be a romantic comedy). MacLaine and Hopkins do their best with the material but not even their considerable acting talents can save this. Every single event was predictable and boring. Also Derek's complete lack of acting talent is almost painful to watch. I don't care how beautiful she is--the woman just can't act! Hopkins hatred for her comes through loud and clear.
This did nothing for the stars careers. Derek already had "10" out and Hopkins had "The Elephant Man" but MacLaine did this and another dreadful "comedy" called "Loving Couples" at the same time. She did point out in her book that they were both awful and almost ruined her career. Good thing she did "Terms of Endearment" a few years later.
I had blocked this movie out completely but I saw a bit of it on TV recently and all the bad memories came rolling back. Also if you're just watching this to see Derek nude it happens during the opening credits and that's about it. A really bad film--1 all the way.
Very quirky.
gridoon13 November 1999
Quirky, thoroughly offbeat erotic comedy is ultimately worth seeing, despite its talkiness and its occasionally stagy direction. It sure deals with some serious subjects in a less-than-plausible way (the characters are way too calm and civilized), but its gentle eccentricity, and the appealing performances by the entire cast (Bo Derek is stunning!), leave you with a nice impression. Fair film.
Too sophisticated and nice for me.
planktonrules5 October 2021
"A Change of Seasons" is a film that makes polyamory seem fun and sophisticated. Call me old fashioned, and I really am, I can't relate to the plot...and that might explain why the reception to this film was cold, at best--with three Razzie Award nominations.
Shortly after the story begins, Karyn Evans (Shirley MacLaine) guesses that her husband, Adam (Anthony Hopkins), is having an affair with one of his college students (Bo Derek). But instead of being angry or hurt, Karyn gets herself a young stud of a boyfriend. And, to make things REALLY weird, the four of them go on a couples vacation together! Complications arise when the Evans' daughter shows up...and is naturally shocked by her parents' behavior.
I think how much you enjoy the film certainly will be affected by your views on polyamory and adultery. For me, it's not a funny topic and I found it hard to relate to the characters. Some might not feel this way and might enjoy the plot.
But for me, it wasn't just the story that left me flat. I rarely talk about this with any film, but the music in this movie was just godawful!! Every time the singing began, my skin crawled....it was THAT saccharine and awful. The music of the Carpenters was like acid rock compared to the stuff in "A Change of Seasons"
Overall, a couple good actors in a script that might have worked better had the film actually been a comedy. Some real laughs would have improved it...as well as ANY other soundtrack!
Shortly after the story begins, Karyn Evans (Shirley MacLaine) guesses that her husband, Adam (Anthony Hopkins), is having an affair with one of his college students (Bo Derek). But instead of being angry or hurt, Karyn gets herself a young stud of a boyfriend. And, to make things REALLY weird, the four of them go on a couples vacation together! Complications arise when the Evans' daughter shows up...and is naturally shocked by her parents' behavior.
I think how much you enjoy the film certainly will be affected by your views on polyamory and adultery. For me, it's not a funny topic and I found it hard to relate to the characters. Some might not feel this way and might enjoy the plot.
But for me, it wasn't just the story that left me flat. I rarely talk about this with any film, but the music in this movie was just godawful!! Every time the singing began, my skin crawled....it was THAT saccharine and awful. The music of the Carpenters was like acid rock compared to the stuff in "A Change of Seasons"
Overall, a couple good actors in a script that might have worked better had the film actually been a comedy. Some real laughs would have improved it...as well as ANY other soundtrack!
Loving Couples
sol-14 May 2016
Complications ensue when a married couple vacation as a foursome with their respective extramarital lovers in this odd comedy-drama starring Anthony Hopkins and Shirley MacLaine. The film bares striking similarities to fellow 1980 MacLaine movie 'Loving Couples', but this effort is balanced more in favour of drama than comedy (not necessarily a better thing). The way the plot develops almost defies credibility with university professor Hopkins nonchalantly confessing an affair with a student, played by Bo Derek, to his wife. He is then absolutely staggered to learn that she does not approve. Then, rather than get angry, MacLaine gets revenge by taking her own lover in the form of an intruder, and to top it all off, Hopkins is utterly insulted by his wife's infidelity! The film holds little of interest as a tale of Hopkins realising his own double standards and as a story of MacLaine asserting herself. The runtime is also noticeably beefed up by several picturesque but pointless ski montages. Things do improve though after the one-hour mark as the couple's daughter visits their holiday home, only to be amazed, startled and disgusted by her parents' adulterous living arrangements. Edward Winter also makes a hilarious brief appearance as Derek's very conservative father. He steals every scene that he is in simply by reacting so normally to everyone else's abnormal behaviour. Overall though, this is hard film to enthusiastically recommend even with a stronger second half, but it is no better or worse than 'Loving Couples' if that is a yardstick to measure by.
Why is Anthony Hopkins in a film as unbelievably pointless as this?
sarah_copley2k19 January 2001
This is the most pointless, tedious, unbelievably dull and ridiculous film that I have ever seen. The most annoying thing is the fact that you can still tell Anthony Hopkins is a good actor!! It's so bad that I have ran out of things to say and must simply fill the space............
A touching and poignant comedic farce
bill00337 March 2006
This film was well written by Erich Segal of Love Story fame and by the producer, Martin Ransohoff. It is a comedic farce, but it is also touching and poignant and the characters are all quite likable and well developed. One reviewer didn't see the point to it all, but the point was that life does not end with marriage and middle age. We all have our temptations and we do the best we can with the complexities that confront us. No character in this film meant harm to any other and the result of each person's actions were not to be tidied up with easy answers. The consequences of the decisions made by the husband, the wife, the husbands girlfriend, the wife's boyfriend, and the girlfriend's father were left for us to ponder. Only the daughter, with the idealism of youth, could blissfully move on without considering what bends in the road she might face in her future. Anthony Hopkins, Shirley MacLane and the other cast members do a fine job with the material. I liked it very much and strongly recommend it.
A Waste of Talent
rollo_tomaso22 February 2001
How can two future Oscar winners star in a movie and have zero chemistry? Try a hackneyed plot, pedestrian direction with self-important pretentious, a grandiose score, and pointless dialogue. The cinematography is excellent, though, and the supporting cast, especially TV-veteran Edward Winter (best performance in film) is surprisingly robust, considering the material (EXCEPT Bo Derek, or course, whose notoriety from 10 is one of the reasons this was rushed to the big screen prematurely.
why????????????? spoilers
rockinghorse31 March 2004
Warning: Spoilers
I thought at the time that this movie was slapped together to take advantage of the popularity of Bo Derek. Since she is topless during the credits, there is no real point in staying for the movie itself.
I bet Shirley McLean felt the same way. She doesn't seem to care for the movie any more than I did.
Anthony Hopkins was nobody in particular back then and did nothing to help his career.
Ed Winter, pardon any mispelling, was known for being Col Flag on MASH. He's still known for that, if even for that.
Everyone ends this movie being happy except Anthony Hopkins, who wanted to keep his options open. The audience is happy because they can go home if they haven't already left.
I stayed because I thought it had to get better. I was very naive.
I bet Shirley McLean felt the same way. She doesn't seem to care for the movie any more than I did.
Anthony Hopkins was nobody in particular back then and did nothing to help his career.
Ed Winter, pardon any mispelling, was known for being Col Flag on MASH. He's still known for that, if even for that.
Everyone ends this movie being happy except Anthony Hopkins, who wanted to keep his options open. The audience is happy because they can go home if they haven't already left.
I stayed because I thought it had to get better. I was very naive.
An underestimated movie
imdb-1857617 February 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I loved this film when I saw it on the big screen as a teenager, and I loved it even more when I saw it again yesterday. We watch characters developing in a crucial situation - some of them more, some of them less. And at the end of the day we are surprised who does (more) and who doesn't (or does less). What else can we hope for when going to the movies - except the assets of Miss Derek?
Bo Derek was Fantastic
garyldibert1 February 2009
This picture opened in theaters on December 1 1980 starring Shirley MacLane as Karin Evans, Anthony Hopkins as Adam Evans and the young and gorgeous Bo Derek as Lindsay Rutledge. This movie was about Adam Evans who's a professor at the local college is over 40 years old and has had affairs with some of his students. Along comes Lindsay Rutledge who's one off Evans students and the one he's having an affair with now. One night at a friends house the subject of affair came between Adam, Karin and there friends. The subject didn't bother there friends but it bother Karin. So on there way home Karin asked Adam if he indeed was having an affair and he said yes. Adam and Karin have been married for some 21 years and to Karin that means something, but to Adam it really means nothing. Karin stayed home raised the children and kept his house clean and washed his clothes which in these times it hard to find a good woman that would do all those things. Adam is planning to take a trip to Montreal and Karin tells Adam she wants to go and he tells her not this time. Instead of taking Karin, Adam takes Lindsay instead. While Adam is in Montreal, Karin is home by herself when she hears noises coming from the kitchen. So she goes down to investigate and finds a strange man in her kitchen feeding birds a peanut butter sandwich. The young mans named is Pete and his there to build a book shelf for Adam Evans. When questioned by Karin, Pete pulls out a slip of paper to show Karin that work is for real. Karin said okay and tells Pete that she's going to bed and then she asks Pete if he wants to come along. When Adam comes back from Montreal and walks into his house it looks like a storm hit and that's not all he found. Does Adam go with Lindsay or is she just a fling? What else did Adam find in his house? What does Karin do to Adam if anything? I love this movie because it just goes to show you that men can be real ***holes. Adam had a great home life, a great job and a beautiful wife but that wasn't enough. He wants more and he got more and Adam got what he deserved. As far as Bo Derek, she was fantastic. The way she started the film by coming up out of that water was beautiful. The shower scene was even better and I especially liked her part in the ending. I no some people didn't give this movie very go rating, however despite there review I give this movie 10 weasel stars for Bo Derek acting and beauty.
A charming and enjoyable romantic comedy drama romp
Woodyanders17 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Middle-aged college professor Adam Evans (superbly played by Anthony Hopkins) has an extramarital fling with lovely, innocent coed Lindsey Rutledge (a winning performance by the delectable Bo Derek). Meanwhile, Adam's spunky wife Karyn (a marvelously sassy and spirited Shirley MacLaine) gets involved with kind, hunky young carpenter Peter Lachapelle (affable Michael Brandon). Complications ensue when Adam and Karyn decide to spend a vacation at a posh country home with their two respective lovers in tow. Director Richard Lang, working from a witty and perceptive script by Erich Segal, Ronni Kern and Fred Segal, maintains a warm, gentle tone throughout and coaxes fine acting from a bright and personable cast. Hopkins and MacLaine are terrific in the leads, with fine support from Derek, Brandon, Mary Beth Hurt as the Adams' fiery daughter Kasey, Edward Winter as Lindsey's hearty, tolerant father Steven, Paul Regina as Kasey's wacky fiancé Paul Di Lisa, and K Callan as Karyn's supportive friend Alice Bingham. Moreover, the characters are refreshingly complex and genuinely engaging, with MacLaine as Karyn in particular qualifying as the definite stand-out. Derek's slow motion tryst with Hopkins in a hot tub rates as a definite memorably steamy moment. Philip Lathrop's glossy cinematography, Henry Mancini's bouncy, melodic score, and the catchy, folksy theme song "Where Do You Catch the Bus for Tomorrow?" are all up to par as well. An amusingly quirky and occasionally quite touching delight.
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