Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy
PG | 07 October 1983 (USA)
Romantic Comedy Trailers

Jason is in need of a collaborator to give him inspiration. Phoebe is a small-town English teacher with an urge to write. On the day Jason is being married, Jason and Phoebe meet and form a partnership.

Reviews
LouHomey From my favorite movies..
Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
Ogosmith Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
Marva-nova Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.
Predrag The film consists of more than two hours of a couple of writers, somehow in love with each other but unable or unwilling to marry, fussing, fighting, and shouting. And in the end, even though their sexual escapade proved less than thrilling, they end in a clinch on a couch. Happing ending. The film is not very romantic and certainly isn't funny. The moral dimensions of the script are wholly secular and consistently depressing. Marriage and children are nothing when compared to sexual urges, booze, and fame.But there are some good lines in places. And the acting is superb. Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen are something to behold. The music is above average, and Arthur Hiller displays his usual excellence as a director. But even the stars of the film were unable to put life into a lame script that is at least 30 minutes too long.Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
Gideon24 Romantic Comedy was a 1983 comedy that is about as predictable and generic as its title and the stars definitely deserve better.The film stars Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen as Jason and Phoebe, a pair of writers who start writing together and become a very successful writing team while fighting an attraction to each other, despite the fact that they're married to other people.I don't know what even moved me to review this film because this was one of my most forgettable experiences at the movies. Arthur Hiller's pedestrian direction does no justice to Bernard Slade's screenplay, based on his own play. It's amazing that a playwright actually came up with such a dull movie about playwrights.The fact that Moore and Steenburgen have little or no chemistry with each other or with Janet Eiber and Ron Leibman, who play their respective spouses, who are both in deep denial about the fact that their married to people who are not really in love with them.I'm trying to think of something positive to say in a way of recommending this film, but I'm drawing a blank. Only hardcore Moore and Steenburgen fans should even bother.
brandt_tim I first ran across "Romantic Comedy" when it was on cable while I was in High School. (In 1984!!!) I found myself watching it over and over, loving the clever plotting and dialogue. I was just getting involved in acting and stage design then, and knew it was based on a play, having seen the superb "Same Time, Next Year" which is very similar.I love, love , love this movie. More so since I've now played "Jason Carmicheal" on stage. The 2 things that spoil this movie for me are big factors in what made "Same time...." so effective. First, they "open up" the movie to show New York. All well and good, but as with the previous film, the whole idea is that these characters are sealed in a world of their own making. The play takes place entirely in Jason's study. Second, and worse, the costume design, hair and makeup. The story begins in the 50's, and here's Phoebe in the opening credits, with long hair, no hat, no gloves, knee socks!! The only nod to the 50's is she's wearing saddle oxfords. She's a school teacher, not a school student.If they'd done the periods correctly, the changes in her character would have been even more evident. Think of the cast meandering through the 60's. Big hair, loud makeup, short dresses, then the 70's, the environment, falls, polyester, then into the preppy 80's which is pretty much where the entire film looks like it's set. A shame really, this film is so good, and would have been EVEN better if they'd stayed true. But, put that aside. There are great actors, terrific dialogue and wonderful music to be had here. Enjoy!!!!!
steinw As a light romantic drama this is a good film. As a fan of Dudley Moore as a comic actor, I was looking forward to seeing this movie. The Norwegian video-cover indicated that it should be a very funny movie about am man who loses his partner and his wife on the same day, and how he manages his life after that. (Not a very good summary of the film!)I didn't find this movie particularly funny. But I really liked the film! The romantic tension is present whenever Moore and Steenburgen is in the same room. The lack of romantic tension between Moore and Eilber is even better made.The way it all turned out was very clever made, and when I thought that I understood how it was going to end, the story made an new turn.Not one of the biggest moments in movie history, but a good film when you are in a romantic mood, and want something light to relax with.