Something's Gotta Give

Rating: * * * 1/2 (out of 5)
Director: Nancy Meyers
Running time: 128 minutes
Language: English
Currently showing
[See Japan Times movie listings]

I used to think that science-fiction meant aliens and giant meteors, but with each passing year I become convinced that sci-fi (at least in the movies) needs to be, if not redefined, then expanded. At the risk of offending Mr. Arthur C. Clarke and NASA, it seems there's more mystery and uncharted territory in the issue of old age and how it's depicted than anything Mars might have to offer. For something truly futuristic, look no further than "Something's Gotta Give."

Directed by Nancy Meyers ("Father of the Bride"), "Something's Gotta Give" pairs the 58-year-old Diane Keaton with the 67-year-old Jack Nicholson in a romanEtic comedy that has as much lovey-doveyEness as anything Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks pulled off 15 years ago. While the initial reaction to this is probably "how nice," it soon gives way to awkward feelEings of not knowing where to look. This is not to put down romance between older couples Eit happens all the time, in real life and the movies. But "Something's GotEta Give" puts the whole thing on par with a scientific breakthrough.

For starters, there's lots of sex, or disEcussions about sex. And there's the whole gamut of heart-rending misunderstandEings, followed by delicious reconciliaEtions. In short, old people behave just like young people and don't worry about a few creases or sags or (more to the point) fatigue getting in the way.

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