According to what I've heard, Neil Simon's work is usually so-so, but "California Suite" provides a fair share of laughs. This look at four groups of people staying in an LA hotel is likely to give anyone a love-hate relationship with California.
Anyway, here's the lowdown: Hannah Warren (Jane Fonda) and ex-husband Bill (Alan Alda) are meeting for the first time in nine years; that segment was pretty low-key, barely a comedy. Diana Barrie (Maggie Smith) is a stuffy British actress who takes everything out on husband Sidney Cochran (Michael Caine); Smith and Caine have a great time with the material. Marvin Michaels (Walter Matthau) has a hell of a time trying to hide his shenanigans from wife Millie (Elaine May); that segment really gives you an "Oh no...oh yes" feeling. Finally, Drs. Chauncey Gump (Richard Pryor) and Willis Panama (Bill Cosby) really begin to get on each other's nerves; Pryor makes some great faces.
Just one thing: I wish that Richard Pryor and Maggie Smith could have shared a scene; that would have made for some great dialogue.
Anyway, here's the lowdown: Hannah Warren (Jane Fonda) and ex-husband Bill (Alan Alda) are meeting for the first time in nine years; that segment was pretty low-key, barely a comedy. Diana Barrie (Maggie Smith) is a stuffy British actress who takes everything out on husband Sidney Cochran (Michael Caine); Smith and Caine have a great time with the material. Marvin Michaels (Walter Matthau) has a hell of a time trying to hide his shenanigans from wife Millie (Elaine May); that segment really gives you an "Oh no...oh yes" feeling. Finally, Drs. Chauncey Gump (Richard Pryor) and Willis Panama (Bill Cosby) really begin to get on each other's nerves; Pryor makes some great faces.
Just one thing: I wish that Richard Pryor and Maggie Smith could have shared a scene; that would have made for some great dialogue.