One Fine Day (1996)

Director:

Michael Hoffman

Writers (WGA):

Terrel Seltzer (written by) and
Ellen Simon (written by)

Release Date:

20 December 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

She was having a perfectly bad day... Then he came along and spoiled it.

Plot:

Melanie Parker, an architect and mother of Sammy, and Jack Taylor, a newspaper columnist and father of Maggie...

Plot Keywords:

Architect | Idealism | Takes Place In One Day | Innocence | Redemption

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Melanie Parker
George Clooney	...	Jack Taylor
Mae Whitman	...	Maggie Taylor
Alex D. Linz	...	Sammy Parker
Charles Durning	...	Lew
Jon Robin Baitz	...	Mr. Yates, Jr.
Ellen Greene	...	Mrs. Elaine Lieberman
Joe Grifasi	...	Manny Feldstein
Pete Hamill	...	Frank Burroughs
Anna Maria Horsford	...	Evelyn
Gregory Jbara	...	Freddy
Sheila Kelley	...	Kristen
Barry Kivel	...	Mr. Yates, Sr.
Robert Klein	...	Dr. Martin
George Martin	...	Mr. Smith Leland

MPAA:

Rated PG for language and mild sensuality.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Germany:6 (w) | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Fox 2000 Pictures

Trivia:

George Clooney held Mae Whitman in front of his face to hide that his eye was bruised during a basketball game in the scene when Jack shows up at Melanies' apartment.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Melanie and the children are at Serendipity, she tells them to switch desserts. When Sammy begins to push his Frozen Hot Chocolate to Melanie, the ice cream is exactly even with the top of the bowl. In the next shot, we see him push it directly onto Melanie's jacket and it gets all over her. At this point, the ice cream is well above the top of the bowl.

Quotes:

Jack Taylor: This fish was a fox, and she had her own cookie too. But what a female dog. She shoved her fish in my face.
Dr. Martin: In front of the cookie?
Jack Taylor: What?
Dr. Martin: What is she doing with another fish anyways? What is she AC/DC?
Jack Taylor: What are you talking about?
Dr. Martin: Fish with other fish in front of cookies...
Jack Taylor: Fish. *Fish* fish.
Dr. Martin: Oh I see.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Getaway: (#15.41)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

The Boy from New York City

Not all romantic comedies are created equal!

I would probably never decide to watch this film, had it not been for my wife who rented the DVD. Just like many others, I expect romantic comedies to be all the same - usually terribly unrealistic (talk about suspension of disbelief!) as in the Pretty Woman, and the humor to be 3rd grade.

But, One Fine Day, surprised me in many ways! First, it is not "I need insulin right now!" sweet. Also it is surprisingly relevant for today's world, and not targeted at teeny boppers.

One Fine Day is a film with a very smart script, funny dialogues, beautiful acting, directing, and it all gels well together. Most of the moviegoers today expect blood, gore, darkness of warped minds, and it seems that films which don't have that have a hard time getting a good review. It is time we step back, and enjoy some of the subtleties of life and people, and laugh at ourselves, when it's all presented in a believable and funny way.

The film takes us through "one fine day" of a single mother and her son, and a single father and his daughter. Due to his error, they miss their kids field trip and are, reluctantly, helping each other out take care of kids. While he obviously likes her but has a problem with trusting again, and a questionable flirting tactics, she is more obviously shell shocked and uses every opportunity to put him down. In a single day they both go through so many humbling episodes that the relationship develops from "I already have an opinion about you..." and "So do I..." to "I'll help you out if you say: 'Be my knight in shining armor...'"

The control freak named Melanie and played wonderfully by Michelle Pfeiffer, manages to stay likable even though she "beats every miserable bastard that comes her way to pulp". George Clooney has an easier time being liked as he is his pretty much usual self, but that's exactly what the character requires. Both kids were much better then I would normally expect them to be; I am always put off by artificial adult gestures and "too cool for you" acting of today's kids in Hollywood films, and expected that this time it will be the same, but it was not.

The humor of this film is subtle, and you may actually miss it altogether if you expect things to blow in your face. I loved those brief encounters between Melanie (Pfeiffer) and Celia (Amanda Peet) in which a beautiful perfectionist with a heart (Pfeiffer) meets her less polite match... Amanda Peet was also fantastic! Just notice how Pfeiffer's facial expression changes when she realizes who she's talking to. Another one to watch and enjoy is the episode with Melanie's boss.

Also, this film can be watched more then once, as there is a lot to appreciate about it.

ps. A scene at the shrink's office made me laugh like never before!