That Old Feeling (1997)

Director:

Carl Reiner

Writer (WGA):

Leslie Dixon (written by)

Release Date:

4 April 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

It was the perfect wedding except for two things ...the bride's parents

Plot:

A bride's divorced parents find their old feelings for each other during the wedding reception and over the course of the next few days upsetting the newlywed's honeymoon.

Plot Keywords:

Bride | Unfaithful Husband | Bow Tie | Department Store | Marital Reconciliation

Cast

Bette Midler	...	Lilly Leonard
Dennis Farina	...	Dan De Mora
Paula Marshall	...	Molly De Mora
Gail O'Grady	...	Rowena
David Rasche	...	Alan
James Denton	...	Keith Marks (as Jamie Denton)
Danny Nucci	...	Joey Donna
Blu Mankuma	...	Piano Player
Jayne Eastwood	...	Aunt Iris
Michael J. Reynolds	...	Senator Marks
Joan Luchak	...	Senator Marks' Wife
Mike Wilmot	...	Man at Wedding
Lula Franklin	...	Granny Tapper
George Hevenor	...	Bandleader
Arlene Meadows	...	Inn Proprietress

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language and sex-related material.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:6 (bw) | Peru:14 | Spain:7 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Campeau Mansion, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

All Girl Productions

Trivia:

Although the movie implies that Rowena (Gail O'Grady) is several years older than Molly (Paula Marshall), in real life, O'Grady is only one year older than Marshall.

Goofs:

Continuity: Lily is wearing red shoes to match her red outfit, but when she enters the dance floor for the bride's parents' first dance, her shoes are black.

Quotes:

Lilly Leonard: You know what the twenties are for? Having sex with all the wrong people. Not to get married.

Movie Connections:

References "Tonight!" (1953)

Soundtrack:

You Do Something To Me

Well-crafted comedy with old Hollywood quality

This is a lovely romp without a wasted moment. The often quite broad comedy is believable due to the great script and fine acting. The story cuts to the chase in a way that is refreshing (see the scene where Lilly and Dan go outside at the wedding). The leads are all appealing, especially Danny Nucci and Paula Marshall as an unlikely duo and Bette Midler and Dennis Farina, who are evidently having a fabulous time.

This is just flat out enjoyable and well-written, the way a lot of comedies were in the golden days of Hollywood. And like those great classic comedies, this is not a sappy sentimental story with any false nobility. People admit to not being perfect. They don't try to be anything they're not - or if they do they are quickly deflated.

The underlying theme is "be true to yourself and don't get sucked into the boring b.s. of life." This is the kind of subversive edge that the great screwballs had, right down to including a pompous wannabe politician and a gold-digging second wife.

Bravo. If only they'd make more like this. How about a sequel or the same team coming back together for another project?