Carolina (2003/I)

Director:

Marleen Gorris

Writer (WGA):

Katherine Fugate (written by)

Release Date:

4 July 2003 (Spain)

Genre:

Romance | Comedy

Plot:

A young woman escapes her wildly eccentric family in search for a life of normalcy. |

Plot Keywords:

Christmas Party | Thanksgiving | Los Angeles California | Book Reading | Growing Up

Cast

Julia Stiles	...	Carolina Mirabeau
Shirley MacLaine	...	Grandma Millicent Mirabeau
Alessandro Nivola	...	Albert Morris
Randy Quaid	...	Theodore 'Ted' Mirabeau
Edward Atterton	...	Heath Pierson
Azura Skye	...	Georgia Mirabeau
Mika Boorem	...	Maine Mirabeau
Jennifer Coolidge	...	Aunt Marilyn
Alan Thicke	...	Chuck McBride - Perfect Date Host
John Capodice	...	Ernie the Cook
Lisa Sheridan	...	Debbie
Ambyr Childers	...	Young Carolina
Daveigh Chase	...	Young Georgia
Lauri Johnson	...	Susan the Waitress
Michael Panes	...	John

Also Known As:

Carolina - Auf der Suche nach Mr. Perfect (Germany)
Carolina Torn Asunder (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content.

Runtime:

Canada:96 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:M | Spain:7 | USA:PG-13 | Germany:6 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bregman-IAC Productions

Trivia:

Kathy Bates was originally considered for the role of Grandma Mirabeau, later given to Shirley MacLaine.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first shot outside Carolina's apartment, there is a propped-open screen door. In subsequent shots, it is gone.

Quotes:

Carolina Mirabeau: Who wants to say grace?
Albert Morris: I do.
Grandma Mirabeau: Oh, Albert, I love you like a son, honey. But you Jewish people, you can't go and kill Christ and expect to have a sit down conversation with him later.
Albert Morris: Fine. He's all yours. I'll chat with him over dessert.
[Everybody laughs]

Movie Connections:

References Nine 1/2 Weeks (1986)

A nice love story emerges amidst the chaos of a strange family

Carolina (Julia Stiles) might be termed the sane one in an Addams-like family. Her grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) is notorious for doing and saying what she likes in their southern town. Sister Georgia is single and pregnant from a one night stand and sister Maine is a rocking horse-riding, lottery obsessed girl. The family's father is a semi-recovering alcoholic who turned to drink after the mother's death. Oh, and Aunt Marilyn is a madam. Only Carolina seems to be the white bread type, having a job in television and a British businessman for a boyfriend. However, Carolina has a long relationship with the handsome writer next door, Albert (Alessandro Nivola). It has been a friendship; could it ever be anything else? Amid the chaos of a very strange family situation, a nice love story emerges. Stiles is wonderful as the beautiful young lady who loves her family but hopes to live a more sedate life. MacLaine is really quite nice, also, as the eccentric grandmother and the other cast members are fine. However, the story is a stroll down life in extremes, careening from one bizarre incident to another. Maybe there are families like this one but, if you ever meet one, run for your life. That said, if you wish to locate another sorta-romcom for the evening, you might try this one, especially if you have seen most of the other light comedy-and-romance films that are out there.