Starting Over

IT WAS WRAPPED SECURE AND WAS BRAND NEW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Very much a 1970s rom-com. Reynolds is good; Bergen brave to sing as poorly as she (intentionally) does.

My wife was bemoaning the fact that they don't make good mature romances anymore and she had a point. Hollywood nowadays seems to be focused on the bottom line which are big-budget fantasy flicks geared toward adolescents of all ages that make beaucoup bucks. The few alleged romance flicks are Nicholas Sparks yawners, "Fifty Shades of Grey", or teenage weepies. I remembered having seen this film years ago but I was probably too young and inexperienced in the vicissitudes of love to truly appreciate it. The thing about "Starting Over" is it's driven by the main performances and the script. Director Alan J. Pakula, best known for "Klute" and "All the President's Men", wisely and unobtrusively allows the actors and the story work their magic. The script was co-written by James L. Brooks who later came to prominence with "Terms of Endearment" and "As Good As It Gets" and it is absolutely brilliant. Yes, people don't really talk like this and a lot of it is wish fulfillment but, hey, it's movie escapism. This is the essence of reality and the script captures it brilliantly. The performances here are nothing short of wonderful. Burt Reynolds', better known for popular vehicles like "The Longest Yard" and "Smokey and the Bandit", had never been better as Phil, the vulnerable recent divorcee. Reynolds never demonstrated the gamut of emotions that are on display here certainly not with the cocky good old boy roles that he was associated with. Reynolds wasn't nominated for an Oscar, some wrongly dismissing his work here as a cynical attempt to gain acceptance with the mainstream critics. Dustin Hoffman won that year for a lackluster turn in the forgettable "Kramer vs. Kramer". Jill Clayburgh was nominated probably as a consolation prize for being ripped off the year before by not winning for her stellar work in "An Unmarried Woman" being bypassed for a ho-hum Jane Fonda in "Coming Home". Clayburgh is quite good as Madeline, a woman devoted to Phil but wary of falling for someone on the rebound. Candy Bergen was nominated in a supporting role as Phil's neurotic ex-wife. Some thought Bergen was nominated because they didn't think her at the time being capable of good work which ignores stellar performances previously in films like "The Sand Pebbles" and "Carnal Knowledge". Bergen proved quite worthy of the plaudits making human a character who would on paper seem unsympathetic. This is not forgetting the terrific work offered by Charles Durning and Frances Sternhagen as Phil's brother and sister-in-law. "Starting Over" is an intelligent intuitive work that deserves to be recognized.

Burt did a romantic comedy and didn't remind you of The Bandit.

I won't say this is a great film but it's a movie that is worth enjoying. I am a great fan of the director Alan J. Pakula.I own most of his movies <Presumed Innocent><Klute><Pellican Brief><All The president's Men><Sophie's Choice><The Devi's Own> and this one.I love them all. The great thing about this director is he is both good at romantic and action movies.This one is a small story about Burt Reynolds who just got divorsed and meets this woman Jill Clayburgh who lives alone. She is kind of a unique lady that sometimes hard to deal with. She is like a climate that always changes so easily.On the other hand, his ex-wife even though had divorsed with him, she kept contact with him. I think she wants him back.The other problem with Burt is he is afraid of a new relationship.He do loves Jill but is afraid of sleeping with her which makes her angry. She thinks he doesn't love her because of that.He goes to a group meeting where divorsed men talks about their problem. That meeting is funny as well. Some of the actors are quite well known in that meeting and I enjoyed that meeting very much.But the biggest thing I laughed at was But Raynolds' laughing. It was so funny when he laughs. I don't know why but it just was so funny that I laugh out loud too whenever he laughes.When Burt reunited with his ex-wife I was kind of sad but after all when he ran into his girlfriend and confesses that he truely loves her and the movie ends as a happy ending, I was relieved.As I said, the movie was not a perfect one and I don't even know I will watch this again but for this once, it was quite enjoyable. Especially because there was Burt Reynolds.

Burt Reynolds was a better actor than those that might think otherwise.

It’s very cute very flattering if you have big breasts it’s nice you can still fit in this dress and the button button down it’s very nice the only thing is it’s super short so don’t go bending over unless you wanna give a show

for movies like this. It was a strange time machine watching this, too. Very different kind of romantic comedy from those I've seen made today -- with the exception of Destination Wedding. Candace Bergen is hilarious. Lots here to think about. Though the film is anything but deep, it's not exactly totally shallow, either.

It's part of movie lore that Burt Reynolds' career hit the toilet the moment he decided to do Stroker Ace instead of Terms of Endearment, but what people forget is that his previous collaboration with James L. Brooks, on the Alan J. Pakula-directed Starting Over, didn't exactly set the box-office on fire. At the time industry pundits claimed it was because he shaved his `tache for the film (no, really) but in retrospect it's probably more because this often feels a bit like a superior Lifetime TV movie, the kind of film you won't mind watching if it's on and you have nothing better to do but which you wouldn't actively seek out. There are good moments and good performances (both Candice Bergen, who delivers a trio of memorably awful songs with unashamed - intentional - incompetence and Jill Clayburgh were Oscar nominated as the ex-wife and new woman in unwilling divorcee Reynolds' life, while Charles Durning is on good understated form as his psychiatrist brother), but for all the care with which its made it just never quite catches fire.Paramount's DVD typically boasts no extras but does offer a decent widescreen transfer.

As I am going through a marriage break-up I found it relevant and found connections to the story, both the funny & sad sides.Well acted and casting is very good......worth a watch.

A great, quirky romantic comedy.

great film, great condition and great service from Amazon ! would recommend all the aforementioned to everyone !

The cleverly written script, focusing on the dating/relationship struggles of a recent divorcee, receives its just rewards in the hands of the main actors: Burt Reynolds, Jill Clayburgh and Candice Bergen. As a result, the audience is treated to a romantic comedy well worth watching!Don't let the date of production scare you from this timeless gem which provided me with more than a few laughs. It was money well spent.While Jill Clayburgh and Candice Bergen certainly deserved their Academy Award nominations for this film, I must agree with other critics who are surpised that Burt Reynolds was not similarly recognized for his wonderful performance.