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HouseSitter
The film definitely has its problems, especially a saggy middle, but the 1992 comedy HouseSitter is worth checking out for the wonderful chemistry between its stars.
Davis (Steve Martin) is an architect who builds a house for girlfriend Becky (Dana Delaney)and surprises her with the house and a marriage proposal, but she turns him down. Three months later, Davis meets a free-spirited waitress named Gwen (Goldie Hawn) who Davis pours his heart to about Becky before spending the night with her. Davis sneaks out on Gwen in the middle of the night and when Gwen wakes up, she gets on a bus and travels to Davis' hometown, moving into the house that Davis built for Becky.
Gwen's plans for a cozy existence on Davis' dime are complicated when the first people Gwen meets in town are Becky and Davis' parents. Of course, Davis is livid about the charade when he finds out what Gwen is doing, but Gwen has enchanted Becky, his parents, and everyone else in the tiny town with elaborate stories about their courtship and their marriage. These stories are so convincing that Davis realizes he has to continue the charade not only because it would crush his parents, but because it could cost him a promotion at work, not to mention it has made him attractive to Becky again.
Mark Stein's screenplays does contain some original touches and some sharp dialogue. The opening scenes between Davis and Gwen are very cleverly written. Stein and director Frank Oz do a first rate job of creating a small town Americana that is easy to relate to, but some of the characters and their motivations were difficult to get behind. I had a real problem with the character of Becky. Stein's screenplay works very hard at keeping this character likable even though in the opening scene where she turns down Davis' marriage proposal, she comes off as a heartless bitch. Her instant bonding with Gwen on her arrival in town didn't really make sense to me either, not to mention the mixed messages she's sending Davis throughout the story. Delany's bland performance didn't work for me either. I think the character should have been played by someone with more of an edge.
I did absolutely love Donald Moffat and Julie Harris as Davis' parents and Richard B Schull and Laurel Cronin as the homeless people Gwen hires to play her parents, but what really makes this movie worth sitting through is Steve and Goldie. These two are sweet and slick together and make every moment they have onscreen together work. Unfortunately, the middle section of the film keeps them apart a lot and the film really begins to drag, but when the characters of Davis and Gwen really start working together, the film perks back up for the happy ending that we have to wait a little too long for, but Martin and Hawn fans won't care. Hawn and Martin would reunite onscreen seven years later for the remake of The Out-of-Towners
The film definitely has its problems, especially a saggy middle, but the 1992 comedy HouseSitter is worth checking out for the wonderful chemistry between its stars.
Davis (Steve Martin) is an architect who builds a house for girlfriend Becky (Dana Delaney)and surprises her with the house and a marriage proposal, but she turns him down. Three months later, Davis meets a free-spirited waitress named Gwen (Goldie Hawn) who Davis pours his heart to about Becky before spending the night with her. Davis sneaks out on Gwen in the middle of the night and when Gwen wakes up, she gets on a bus and travels to Davis' hometown, moving into the house that Davis built for Becky.
Gwen's plans for a cozy existence on Davis' dime are complicated when the first people Gwen meets in town are Becky and Davis' parents. Of course, Davis is livid about the charade when he finds out what Gwen is doing, but Gwen has enchanted Becky, his parents, and everyone else in the tiny town with elaborate stories about their courtship and their marriage. These stories are so convincing that Davis realizes he has to continue the charade not only because it would crush his parents, but because it could cost him a promotion at work, not to mention it has made him attractive to Becky again.
Mark Stein's screenplays does contain some original touches and some sharp dialogue. The opening scenes between Davis and Gwen are very cleverly written. Stein and director Frank Oz do a first rate job of creating a small town Americana that is easy to relate to, but some of the characters and their motivations were difficult to get behind. I had a real problem with the character of Becky. Stein's screenplay works very hard at keeping this character likable even though in the opening scene where she turns down Davis' marriage proposal, she comes off as a heartless bitch. Her instant bonding with Gwen on her arrival in town didn't really make sense to me either, not to mention the mixed messages she's sending Davis throughout the story. Delany's bland performance didn't work for me either. I think the character should have been played by someone with more of an edge.
I did absolutely love Donald Moffat and Julie Harris as Davis' parents and Richard B Schull and Laurel Cronin as the homeless people Gwen hires to play her parents, but what really makes this movie worth sitting through is Steve and Goldie. These two are sweet and slick together and make every moment they have onscreen together work. Unfortunately, the middle section of the film keeps them apart a lot and the film really begins to drag, but when the characters of Davis and Gwen really start working together, the film perks back up for the happy ending that we have to wait a little too long for, but Martin and Hawn fans won't care. Hawn and Martin would reunite onscreen seven years later for the remake of The Out-of-Towners