Remake of the 1977 film, falling short of the original.

pmccon099

Jeff Daniels ("Dumb and Dumber." 1994) and Patricia Heaton (T.V.'s "Everybody Loves Raymond") team up in this made-for-TV remake of Neil Simon's 1977 original.  Elliot Garfield (Daniels) is forced to share an apartment with Paula (Heaton), and her 11ish-year-old daughter, Lucy (Hallie Kate Eisenberg--the "Pepsi girl" of the late '90s).  At first there is incredible housemate static, but as time passes feelings for each other begin to surface.

I actually saw the movie premiere in an Ann Arbor, MI historical theater. Daniels himself gave the introduction.  Some dialogue seems forced, especially from Eisenberg.  And the shared apartment is quite unbelievably luxurious for two, supposedly strapped-for-cash performing artists.  Funny scenes and clever dialogue snippets save this romantic comedy, though the original is better.

score 5/10

pmccon099 11 January 2004

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0931167/