HouseSitter (1992)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Frank Oz

Writers (WGA):

Mark Stein (story) and
Brian Grazer (story) ...

Release Date:

12 June 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

She's turning his house into a home...hers!

Plot:

Con artist Gwen moves into Newton's empty house without his knowledge, and begins setting up house posing as his new wife.

Plot Keywords:

Small Town | Waitress | Architect | Con Artist | Employer Employee Relationship

Cast

Steve Martin	...	Newton Davis
Goldie Hawn	...	Gwen Phillips
Dana Delany	...	Becky Metcalf
Julie Harris	...	Edna Davis
Donald Moffat	...	George Davis
Peter MacNicol	...	Marty
Richard B. Shull	...	Ralph
Laurel Cronin	...	Mary
Roy Cooper	...	Winston Moseby
Christopher Durang	...	Reverend Lipton
Heywood Hale Broun	...	Travis Keller
Cherry Jones	...	Patty
Vasek Simek	...	Karol
Suzanne Whang	...	Moseby's Secretary
Mary Klug	...	Lorraine

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild sensuality and language.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Germany:6 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Buffalo, New York, USA

Company:

Imagine Films Entertainment

Trivia:

Meg Ryan was originally set to star as Gwen. When Ryan declined, the producers opted for Kim Basinger. But Basinger also declined, so Goldie Hawn took the part.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the mom gives Gwen the card with the money, Gwen closes the card twice between shots.

Quotes:

Newton Davis: Tell me why for God's sake did you come here?
Gwen: I just wanted to see what it would be like to live in that picture.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Your Studio and You (1995)

Hawn makes "Housesitter' worthwhile

Steve Martin plays Newton Davis, a big city architect, whose marriage proposal is turned down by his childhood sweetheart Becky (Dana Delany). His proposal included a dream house, which has been sitting empty ever since. But after sharing a one night stand with Gwen, a waitress with a knack for telling lies. Gwen eventually moves into the empty house and convinces the neighbors, including Davis' parents and Becky, that she's his wife. When Davis arrives, he formulates a plan to use Gwen and their fake marriage to win back Becky.

Sure. the plot sounds a little crass, but the actors make it work to a certain degree. Martin, basically playing his 'American everyman' role with a flair for physical comedy, gets some laughs as Davis. But Hawn steals the show, it's her spawn of lies and the sweetness of her character that elevates this movie from being your standard sitcom. But, in spite of the acting, the movie still suffers from a script that lacks a real comedic punch. Too often recycled gags, like Newton's uptight parents and jerk boss, are used to strain humor into otherwise bland proceedings. A movie like this could have used new ideas. (6/10)