IMDb > Starting Over (1979)
Starting Over
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Starting Over (1979) More at IMDbPro »


IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   820 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
James L. Brooks (writer)
Dan Wakefield (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for Starting Over on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
15 February 1980 (Australia) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Phil Potter would like to straighten out his life...One way, or the other.
Plot:
A divorced man falls in love, but somehow he can't get over his ex-wife. This effects his love life in comic ways. Based on Dan Wakefield's novel. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
The Keeper Promises An Abundance Of Seagal-Related Mayhem
 (From Beyond Hollywood. 23 October 2009, 11:55 AM, PDT)

‘Fantastic Four’ Reboot In the Works
 (From The Flickcast. 1 September 2009, 7:00 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Well Made Comedy more (23 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Burt Reynolds ... Phil Potter
Jill Clayburgh ... Marilyn Holmberg

Candice Bergen ... Jessica Potter
Charles Durning ... Michael (Mickey) Potter
Frances Sternhagen ... Marva Potter

Austin Pendleton ... Paul

Mary Kay Place ... Marie
MacIntyre Dixon ... Dan Ryan

Jay O. Sanders ... Larry (as Jay Sanders)
Charles Kimbrough ... Salesman
Richard Whiting ... Everett
Alfie Wise ... Workshop Member

Wallace Shawn ... Workshop Member
Sturgis Warner ... John Morganson
Mary Catherine Wright ... Student 1 (as Mary C. Wright)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
105 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.78 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:L | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Norway:16 | USA:R | UK:AA (original rating) | UK:15 (re-rating) (1987)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
One of the locations was an actual apartment building in New York City. Tenants were upset because they were forbidden from entering or leaving their apartments while scenes were shot in the hallway. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: As Jessica and Phil prepare to go to bed, he slips off underwear below bottom frame line. But as shot continues, actor Burt Reynolds is clearly wearing abbreviated white undergarment. more
Quotes:
Phil Potter: If I don't touch you soon I'll go out of my mind. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Fist of Fear, Touch of Death (1980) more
Soundtrack:
Starting Over more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
5 out of 5 people found the following comment useful.
Well Made Comedy, 29 August 2001
8/10
Author: shark-43 from L.A. CA

This well made adaptation of Dan Wakefield's novel has wonderful comic moments and full-bodied performances. Burt Reynolds underplays his role and does some of the finest work of his roller-coaster career (it's up there with "Boogie Nights" and "Deliverance"). Candice Bergen is hysterical in the role of the wife who wants freedom and a singing career. (Little did we know in 1979 that Bergen would go onto great comedic success as Murphy Brown)James L. Brooks does a terrific job with the screenplay - the divorced men's group scenes really ring true and the moment when they have to leave their community center space so the women's divorce group can then use the room is uncomfortable and very funny. In my opinion, Clayburgh gives an up and down performance, sometimes really connecting with Reynolds and other times she just seems to be impersonating Diane Keaton. Fine supporting work by the always reliable Charles Durning and Austin Pendleton. This film is very hard to find in video stores for some reason. I just happned to catch it again on cable and was pleasantly surprised with how well it holds up.

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Burt Reynolds is so cool! kc2173-1
One of the funniest films I have ever seen Joshf84
My friend's uncle was in this film! kaymation
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