The screenplay
is very similar to the
1970 original of the same name, except it starts slower and couldn’t
keep pace with the original. The whole train ride from the original was
removed, replaced by a car drive that meant nothing. The chemistry between
Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn doesn’t compare to that of Jack Lemmon and Sandy
Dennis. Sandy’s portrayal of a wife facing a difficult time was far more
amusing to watch than Goldie Hawn’s depiction of the same character.
This 1999
version also relied on physical mishaps to drive home the comedy, but in the
end, they fell flat. It’s hard to compare both movies because the first one was
more focused on the dynamics between Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis, while here,
the actors failed to replicate the same chemistry.
The movie has a
different ending from the original, so get ready for a ride that wraps up
differently. I wonder why they changed the original’s idea, where things kept
getting worse until the very end.
Our couple,
Henry (Martin) and Nancy Clark (Hawn), are heading to New York for a job
interview for Henry. Henry has lost his job in Ohio, and since their two
children are now adults, there’s nothing keeping him there. He doesn’t tell his
family about his recent bad luck, thinking he can wing it. He tells them the
interview in New York is for a job promotion and relocation.
Here’s how the
couple gets to New York. Initially, only Henry was going. He had a plan, and
going alone would make it easier to maintain his lie. Nancy, feeling bored with
her life and current situation, decides to sneak onto the plane with him. Her
idea is that a trip to New York will reignite something in their marriage.
The trip is a
disaster. The plane gets rerouted to Boston, and upon landing, they realize
their luggage is lost. They head to their hotel, but the delay in Boston causes
them to lose their booking. They get mugged at gunpoint, get involved in a
getaway robbery, and find out their daughter has maxed out their credit card.
Things don’t get
better when Henry gets arrested and misses his meeting. To make matters worse,
he has to reveal to Nancy that he lost his job in Ohio and that this New York
interview is a do-or-die situation.
The movie was a commercial and critical failure, and I don’t see any reason for anyone to bother watching it.
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