House Calls
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Movie Reviews of House Calls
Movie Review: Entertaining Romantic Comedy That Inspired A Short-Lived TV Sitcom
Summary: 4 Stars
The 1978 film "House Calls", directed by Howard Zieff (who also directed the 1980 comedy "Private Benjamin"), is an romantic entertaining comedy focused around the lives of several doctors working in a fictitious hospital in California. The main character, Dr. Charley Nichols, who was played by the wonderful actor Walter Matthau (1920-2000), is a recent widower who begins to have a series of short romantic interludes with a number of women until he happens across a woman in the hospital that has a minor jaw fracture and is being treated by the hospital's aging & increasingly senile chief-of-staff, Dr. Amos Willoughby (Art Carney, 1918-2003, who is often remembered for playing the character "Ralph" in the mid-1950's sitcom "The Honeymooners"). The woman, Ann Atkinson (Glenda Jackson), quickly agrees to allow Dr. Nichols to treat her instead of Dr. Willoughby. Later, Ann & Dr. Nichols are each invited to a medical debate on a PBS talk show and eventually end up dating each other; but, can Dr. Nichols give up running around with other women? Throw into this the death of a prominent patient at the hospital, whose grieving widow (Candice Azzara) is threatening to sue the hospital if the hospital accepts a donation from her dead husband's estate, as well as Dr. Willoughby desperately wanting to keep his position as chief-of-staff and you have the recipe for a very entertaining film.
With a funny plot and engaging characters, "House Calls" deserves a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Though not nominated for any major awards, it inspired the creation of a television sitcom of the same name that ran for three seasons between 1979 to 1982 with Wayne Rogers taking on Walter Matthau's role from the film. Other memorable characters from the film include Dr. Norman Solomon (Richard Benjamin) and Irwin Owett (Dick O'Neill, 1928-1998).
Movie Review: Excellent Romantic Comedy
Summary: 4 Stars
This laid back romantic comedy from 1978 is a real treat, particularly because of the performances. Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson were so wonderfully combustible in the movie, they were again paired in 'Hopscotch', though oddly in the second film, they spent little time on screen together. Art Carney is a riot as a bumbling Chief of Staff, and all the supporting performances, from Richard Benjamin to the always delightful Candace Azzara, are equally enjoyable. Howard Zieff has a lackadaisical directing style that perfectly suits the material and actors. He basically gets out of the way and lets everyone shine. If you have not seen this movie, give it a try. (It was so successful it was made into a sitcom the following year, but without Matthau and Jackson, it didn't really go anywhere.)
One odd and rather irritating thing, though: The movie has the obligatory 70's love montage in the middle. In the original film, and in the TV versions and VHS versions, The Beatles `Something in the Way She Moves' was the background music, and it was just wonderful. The film was cut to the music, and it really had an impact on the two leads' relationship. Michael Jackson and Co (unless he has since sold the rights) must not have allowed the music to be used on the DVD, or made a ridiculous demand, for the song is missing. There is just some mediocre filler music behind the montage and it really hurts that section of the film. It's annoying they were not able to put the movie on DVD in its original form.
Movie Review: Lighter Than Air, and What's Wrong With That?
Summary: 4 Stars
In a career that featured a wealth of great comic performances, Walter Matthau gave few that were more delightful and relaxed than this one. In contrast to the wonderfully over-the-top style he displayed while winning an Oscar for "The Fortune Cookie" and being nominated for another in "The Sunshine Boys," Matthau employed a lighter but equally effective comic touch for this 1978 romantic comedy. He plays a widowed doctor who is over his grief and ready to sow some wild oats, only to find that he's fallen for a woman who wants nothing to do with his playboy ways. Glenda Jackson, who later left acting to join the British parliament, is a perfect match for Matthau's game, and the two trade barbs beautifully in a film that plays so leisurely that it's over before you know it. Look for superb supporting performances from Richard Benjamin as well as Art Carney as the dottering and caustic hospital administrator. He hams it up wonderfully in a part far removed from the nice guy he played in "The Honeymooners." This is one of those movies that looks like it was fun to make. It's definitely fun to watch.Movie Review: A mature romantic comedy
Summary: 4 Stars
It may have marked the beginning of his `loveable' phase, but Walter Matthau is still on top form in House Calls, which sees him well paired with Glenda Jackson in a mature romantic comedy that has aged remarkably well. Funny lines abound alongside a couple of good comic setpieces (such as the unlikely couple trying to find out if the old Hays Code film censorship rule from the 1930s about having one foot on either side of the bed really does make sex impossible, a scene that feels like Julius J. Epstein's revenge on the censors), but what really makes it work is that character is never sacrificed for a quick laugh. What's more, these two people really do seem to belong together, and they exude comfort in their scenes together that's the very definition of screen chemistry. Sadly the DVD has been partially rescored (somehow Matthau and Jackson speedwalking in slow motion seems a lot less funny with a Henry Mancini underscore than the original Something in the Way She Moves Me) but otherwise is well worth the bargain price.Movie Review: Vintage Mattau
Summary: 4 Stars
Good period movie with fine performances by Mattau and Glenda Jackson. Mattau plays a Doctor who must choose between empty relationships with young sexpots or a good older woman. Guess who wins. Good representation of films of that era.