Themes: Breakups and Divorces, Crumbling Marriages, Age Disparity Romance
Main Cast: Alan Alda, Ann-Margret, Hal Linden, Veronica Hamel, John Shea
Release Year: 1988
Country: US
Run Time: 104 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
After 20 years of marriage, Steve Giardino (Alan Alda) and his wife Jackie (Ann-Margret) agree to a divorce in this situation comedy. The focus is on both of them as they suffer through matchmaking, blind dates, and their new life as eligible singles. Donna (Mary Kay Place) is Jackie's friend, while Mel Arons (Hal Linden) is the confidante of the vain but likeable Steve. Steven worries that he will never find anyone decent to date until he meets the pretty Dr. Kay Hutton (Veronica Hamel). Jackie is enamored with a sculptor (John Shea) before his glaring faults become too much for her. While Jackie's new relationship is on the outs, Steve prepares for a new life with Kay. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
Review
His former fellow TV star Hal Linden steals this solid comedy-drama away from writer/director Alan Alda. Linden is arch and funny as a veteran of the divorce wars trying to take his newly single pal under his wing, but the Woody Allen-lite flavor of Alda's work sometimes scuttles the film's loftier intentions, replacing penetrating insights for situation comedy-style laughs. His television roots and the schizophrenic nature of Alda's work as a feature filmmaker are clearest here; the story is at times rewarding as it limns the aches and pains of middle-aged single status, but other times it is simply broad, predictable, and visually static. Still, there are few writer/directors with the Alda touch at dialogue, character development, and recognizing society's current malaise; he can't be faulted for being an artist that should probably be writing for the stage but who's savvy enough to know that the motion picture is the dominant storytelling format. If they don't always quite reach the heights occasionally scaled by Allen, no one else comes as close to that level of quality as Alda and Neil Simon. A New Life is a solid reminder why both Simon and Allen tapped Alda to star in a few of their projects in the next decade. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Beatrice Alda - Judy; Mary Kay Place - Donna; David Eisner - Billy; Cynthia Belliveau - Tina; Eve Crawford - Jackie's Lawyer; Barry Flatman - Suitor #2; Paul Hecht - Barry; Stephen Hunter - Ultrasound Doctor; Alan Jordan - Steve's Lawyer; Michael Kirby - Dr. Dave Salisman; John Kozak - Phil; Vince Metcalfe - Suitor #3; Fiona Reid - Sylvia; Victoria Snow - Audrey; Deborah Theaker - Shirley; Celia Weston - Eleanor; Catherine Disher - Student; Jackie Samuda - Mara; Malcolm Stewart - Suitor #1; Janet Bailey - Teacher; Mary Ann Coles - O.B. Nurse; Laura Dickson - Janet; Michele Duquet - Sherry; Alec Mapa - Sybil; William Irwin - Eric
Credit
Lucinda Zak - Art Director, Michael S. Bregman - Associate Producer, Barbara Kelly - Associate Producer, Mary Colquhoun - Casting, Mary E. McLeod - Costume Designer, Yudi Bennett - First Assistant Director, Alan Alda - Director, Michael Polakow - Editor, William H. Reynolds - Editor, Louis A. Stroller - Executive Producer, Joseph Turrin - Composer (Music Score), Lucinda Zak - Production Designer, Barbara Dunphy - Production Designer, Kelvin Pike - Cinematographer, Louis A. Stroller - Producer, Anthony Greco - Set Designer, Alan Hicks - Set Designer, Alan Alda - Screenwriter
