Themes: Creative Block, Midlife Crises, Writer's Life
Main Cast: John Ritter, Vincent Gardenia, Alyson Reed, Joel Brooks, Julianne Phillips
Release Year: 1989
Country: US
Run Time: 102 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Blake Edwards, mining the same territory as in his 10, Micki and Maude, The Man Who Loved Women, and That's Life, (not to mention Blind Date), once again deals with male mid-life menopausal angst. Zach (John Ritter) is a novelist suffering from writer's block, spiraling downward in a sea of women and booze. To illustrate the depths to which Zach's life has sunk, the film begins when his mistress catches him in bed with another woman. Then his wife walks in. As a result, his wife leaves him. Things keep getting worse --his agent is dying, his house burns down, and he gets picked up for drunk driving. But in spite of his despair, he can't help chasing women, engaging in a series of bedroom misadventures with a collection of women --including a female body builder; a woman who likes to set pianos on fire; and the girlfriend of a rock star who suggests that he wear one of her boyfriend's glow-in-the-dark condoms. Helping Zach regain control of his life is Barney the lawyer (Vincent Gardenia) and Dr. Westford (Michael Kidd), a helpful psychiatrist. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Raye Hollitt - Lonnie; Michael Kidd - Dr. Westford; Chelsea Field - Amy; Harlan Arnold - Divorce Judge; Toni Attell - Waitress; Diana Barton - Helena; Denise Crosby - Angie; Ed de Fusco - Policeman; Richard Domeier - Policeman; Peter Donat - Sparky; Nina Foch - Alex's Mother; Bo Foxworth - Greg; Bryan Genesse - Rick; Mark Goldstein - TV Director; Karen Haber - Leah; Ben Hartigan - Blind Man; Scott Kraft - Lucas; Steven Majewicz - Romeo; Don Maxwell - Fire Chief; John McCann - Howard Simon; Heidi Paine - Tina; Sheryl Lee Ralph - Receptionist; Dee Dee Rescher - Bernice; Charles David Richards - Party Guest; Brenda Swanson - Emily; Arsenio "Sonny" Trinidad - Danny the Butler; Don Gordon - Curt; Judy Toll - Dixie; Robert Dowdell - Traffic Judge; Robert Burleigh - Martin Dunn; Deryl Carroll - Funeral Minister; Jean Marie McKee - Rebecca; Sol Vang Tanney - Hotel Concierge; William Hubbard Knight - Adam White; Robert Arthur - Wedding Minister; Bob Hopkins - Jonas
Credit
John Clifford - Choreography, Nolan Miller - Costume Designer, Blake Edwards - Director, Robert Pergament - Editor, Ivan Neville - Composer (Music Score), Henry Mancini - Composer (Music Score), Tom Bocci - Musical Direction/Supervision, Brad Wilder - Makeup, Rodger Maus - Production Designer, Isidore Mankofsky - Cinematographer, Tony Adams - Producer, James G. Robinson - Producer, Joe Roth - Producer, Phillip Ing - Producer, Bob Beall - Set Designer, Charlie Bailey - Special Effects, Dan Cangemi - Special Effects, Industrial Light & Magic - Special Effects, Michael Owens - Special Effects, Jim Morris - Special Effects, Joe Dunne - Stunts, Blake Edwards - Screenwriter
