What happens when a romantic comedy gets rubbed down with a tube of Bengay? You get Nancy Myers’ new film, “Something’s Gotta Give,” a sophisticated comedy that revels in the over-30 dating scene and comes out looking pretty good for its age, even in the eyes of the younger crowd.
Harry Langer (Jack Nicholson) is a 63-year-old business mogul who makes it a point not to date anyone under 30, a brave standard for a man his age, yet he seems to make a profession of it. On a getaway trip with his latest girlfriend, Marin (Amanda Peet), to her mother’s Southampton summer home, Harry is suddenly surprised with the appearance of Marin’s mother Erica (Diane Keaton) and her aunt Zoe (Frances McDormand).
That first night, Harry suffers a heart attack and is later advised by his doctor Julian (Keanu Reeves) to stay in town for a few days before attempting to head back to the city with his assistant (Jon Favreau). When Marin and Zoe skip town, Harry and Erica are stuck taking care of one another until Harry gets his doc’s okay to leave. In that time spent with one another, a relationship predictably begins to blossom, leaving both parties wondering if this is for real or just another fling.
“Something’s Gotta Give” has real charm, throwing Nicholson in the slapstick role of an overconfident sex machine that plays perfectly against Keaton’s uncertain self. Both stars carry the film over its rough spots most of the time, but the second half drags its heels a bit.
While a lot of the comedic moments made me smile, the rest of the audience (comprised mostly of older couples) filled the theater with endless laughter. Clearly, “Something’s Gotta Give” is an appealing mature comedy that will offer plenty of laughs for couples of all ages.
3.5 / 5 Stars
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves, Amanda Peet, Frances McDormand, Jon Favreau
Director: Nancy Myers
