Themes: Death of a Parent, Starting Over, Generation Gap
Main Cast: Peter Falk, D.B. Sweeney, Julianne Moore, Jan Rubes, Frankie R. Faison
Release Year: 1995
Country: US
Run Time: 108 minutes
Plot
In the film Happy New Year (1987), actor Peter Falk donned old-age makeup to play a senior citizen. Eight years later, he did it again, twice, in the TV movie remake of The Sunshine Boys (1995) and this film, a comedy-drama. Falk stars as Rocky Holzcek, a cantankerous 76-year-old Polish-American baker who insists, despite relatives' protests, upon adopting his young grandson Michael when the boy's parents pass away. Twenty years later, Michael (D.B. Sweeney) is a medical student who's forced to take in his still-spry grandfather when the old man is evicted from his apartment building. Although the crusty, outspoken Rocky gets along fine with Michael's Chinese college roommates, he is less enthused about his grandson's girlfriend Beth (Julianne Moore). Eventually, Michael and Beth marry, move away and have children, while Rocky continues working as a baker, passing the age of 100. When a tragedy befalls Michael and his kids, the old man once again comes to his grandson's rescue, but even a force of nature like Rocky can't last forever. Roommates was loosely based on the real-life experiences of screenwriter Max Apple and his grandfather. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Ellen Burstyn - Judith; Gerry Becker - Dr. Minceberg; Bernard Canepari - Judith's Lawyer; Scott Cohen - Attending Intern; John Cunningham - Burt Shook; Noah Fleiss - Michael at age 5; Jeff Howell - Surgeon; Joyce Reehling - Barbara; Vickie Ross-Norris - Cecilia's Nurse; Ernie Sabella - Stash; Willard Scott - Himself; Nelle Stokes - Recovery Room Nurse; Eric Stoltz; Rohn Thomas - Kevin; David Tom - Michael (age 15); Courtney Chase - Lisa; Kate Young - Nun; John E. Blazier - Baseball Spectator; Lisa Davis - Betty; Raymond Wong - Deng
Credit
Jefferson Sage - Art Director, Linda Lowy - Casting, Linda Palermo Donahue - Costume Designer, Peter Yates - Director, Seth Flaum - Editor, John Tintori - Editor, Ira Halberstadt - Executive Producer, Adam Leipzig - Executive Producer, Elmer Bernstein - Composer (Music Score), Leonard Engelman - Makeup, Dan Bishop - Production Designer, Douglas Higgins - Production Designer, Mike Southon - Cinematographer, Robert W. Cort - Producer, Ted Field - Producer, Scott Kroopf - Producer, Dianna Freas - Set Designer, Stephen Metcalfe - Screenwriter, Max Apple - Screenwriter
