Something's Gotta Give

_That Hamptons episode_ A lifelong ‘ladies man’ (Jack Nicholson) used to dating young women has a life-altering experience while staying at the manor of a playwright (Diane Keaton) in the Hamptons. Amanda Peet plays the latter’s daughter, Frances McDormand her sister and Keanu Reeves a local doctor. Written & directed by Nancy Meyer, "Something’s Gotta Give" (2003) is an amusing romcom that addresses the theme of dating people well younger than yourself vs. dating people closer to your own age, as well as epiphanies and finding your true love or soulmate. While there’s a little nudity done for laughs, it lacks the sleazy/bathroom humor of romcoms that would’ve been superior if they didn’t stoop to that low level of non-humor, like “She’s Out of My League” (2010). The film runs 2 hours, 8 minutes, and was shot at The Hamptons, Long Island & New York City; Warner Brothers Burbank Studios & Santa Monica, CA; and Paris, France. GRADE: B

"Harry" (Jack Nicholson) has a penchant four younger women to whom he could be a grandfather. He's a charismatic music executive, has some considerable success on that front and his current squeeze is "Marin" (Amanda Peet) who takes him to her mother's beach house for the weekend. What she doesn't know is that her writer mum "Erica" (Diane Keaton) and her sister "Zoe" (Frances McDormand) are also staying at the place - so their plans for a romantic weekend look to have been kiboshed. They are all grown ups, though, so why not just act like it and spend a weekend maturely and sensibly? Well that might have worked had he not had an heart attack and have to be rushed to the ER. There they all meet the dashing doctor "Julian" (Keanu Reeves) who has read her work and who takes a bit of a shine to "Erica". "Harry" is in no immediate danger, but is ordered to rest up at her house whilst "Marin" has to go back to the city. Once ensconced, he decides that he is going to try his charms on an older woman for a change, but she's pretty impervious to his wiles so he is forced to venture into new and untested territory - actually being himself and engaging with another adult on her own terms. Might that work, and what of "Marin"? For that matter, what of the enthusiastic doctor too? Keaton always did have a certain comedic timing that, assisted by some really quite pithy writing, sees her on entertaining form here and more than a match for a Nicholson whose character I felt was just a little too old hat for me. There's mischief and a cheeky glint in his eye, but this is the sort of characterisation we have already seen him deliver a few times before and I didn't find there much new or engaging as this progresses, turbulently, towards a conclusion that's fairly predictable. That said, there is an often quite enjoyable chemistry between the pair and also between her and the under-used, love-struck, Reeves and, of course, romance is bound to thrive as they all travel to Paris for a romantic reckoning. If you like cheese and wine parties then this ought to work: there is plenty of wine and more than enough cheese to go round.