Cactus Flower
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DVD Cover Information Actor: Goldie Hawn, Ingrid Bergman, Jack Weston, Rick Lenz, Walter Matthau Director: Gene Saks Brand: Sony Cinematographer: Charles Lang Editor: Maury Winetrobe Producer: M.J. Frankovich Writer: Abe Burrows Writer: I.A.L. Diamond Writer: Jean-Pierre Grédy Writer: Pierre Barillet DVD: Region Code 99 Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language) Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85:1 Running Time: 103 minutes DVD Release Date: 2002-04-23 Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment |
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Movie Reviews of Cactus Flower
Movie Review: It's a below average romp that gets a major facelift due to some remarkable performances...
Summary: 3 Stars
I looked up this 69 comedy mainly because I wanted to see Goldie Hawn's Oscar winning turn. I'm a fan of the actress and so I thought it might be fun to see where she got her start (not only did she win the Oscar for this, but it was her first film). Add to the heap that this also stars Walter Matthau (my wife and I are pretty big fans, especially of his work alongside Jack Lemmon) and one of my personal favorite actresses EVER, Ingrid Bergman, and you have ample reason to indulge in this lightweight comedy.
I think that's my biggest issue; it's really, really lightweight.
Dr. Julian Winston (tooth doctor) has come up with the perfect dating plan. He keeps ditzy girlfriend Toni at a safe distance by filling her head with the lies that he is married with three children. With a wife in the picture he can have fun with Toni without being tied down by commitment. When Toni decides that she needs that commitment, Julian runs into a problem. How can he keep up the lie that he's married and turn around and marry Toni? He persuades his `prim and proper' secretary, Stephanie, to pose as his wife and he then sets the divorce proceedings in motion. Toni, the caring woman that she is, is insistent that the longsuffering Stephanie get a fair deal, which makes what could have been a smooth transaction a rather bumpy ride.
The film is beyond ridiculous and predictable. We know within the first few minutes how this is going to end and who is going to end up with who. That wouldn't be so bad if the film had actually aged better. The film is rather corny, thanks to the embrace of the era in which it was made. It reminds me a lot of `Austin Powers' in feel and `groovyness' but it lacks impact due to the fact that this is not an intentional spoof.
What the film DOES have going for it are the performances. Goldie Hawn is delightful in all her wide-eyed gushiness. I just wanted to squeeze her. She has this sensual charm that just smothers you. She reminded me a lot of Liza Minnelli here, which is a very good thing. Ingrid Bergman is in TOP form here, funny and witty and even seductive in her old (not really) age. She masters the stripping of layers beautifully.
Without these two women the film would have been a forgettable loss.
Walter Matthau is very good here, and Jack Weston is even better as the odd womanizer Harvey Greenfield. He has some of the funniest lines, and makes the most out of the corn he is given (he even makes the tired `I work for the CIA' routine seem funny and fresh).
In the end I have to give the film as a whole a C+, but the performances (especially from the women) are a surefire A+. It's a film that I would watch again and enjoy, but not one that I would shout praises from the rooftops for. If you see it, you will like it, but if you don't see it you won't be missing anything important.