That's Life! (1986)

Director:

Blake Edwards

Writers:

Milton Wexler (writer) &
Blake Edwards (writer)

Release Date:

10 October 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Harvey and Gillian Fairchild face a very difficult weekend. Harvey, celebrating his 60th birthday, is stressed and depressed...

Plot Keywords:

Aging | Cancer | Independent Film

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Jack Lemmon	...	Harvey Fairchild
Julie Andrews	...	Gillian Fairchild
Sally Kellerman	...	Holly Parrish
Robert Loggia	...	Father Baragone
Jennifer Edwards	...	Megan Fairchild Bartlet
Robert Knepper	...	Steve Larwin (as Rob Knepper)
Matt Lattanzi	...	Larry Bartlet
Chris Lemmon	...	Josh Fairchild
Cynthia Sikes	...	Janice Kern
Dana Sparks	...	Fanny Ward
Emma Walton	...	Kate Fairchild
Felicia Farr	...	Madame Carrie
Teddy Wilson	...	Corey (as Theodore Wilson)
Nicky Blair	...	Andre
Jordan Christopher	...	Dr. Keith Romanis

Also Known As:

Blake Edwards' That's Life!

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Malibu, California, USA

Company:

Blake Edwards

Trivia:

Parts of Malibu were on fire and the crew had to leave the location before the authorities closed the road leading out (Carbon Canyon). The Edwards' house was never in any danger.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 44th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1987) (TV)

Soundtrack:

HAVING A PARTY

Self-absorbed melodrama from Edwards

"That's Life" is supposed to be a story about a man just on the other side of a middle age crisis on his way to a breakdown. It stars Jack Lemmon who plays middle aged men on their way to a breakdown better than anyone. Julie Andrews is his loving, supportive wife, who is going through a crisis of her own. Directed by Blake Edwards, I thought this movie had real potential and couldn't wait to get to the theatre to see it.

It turned out to be a painfully dull family reunion picture for the Lemmon's and Edwards'. Populated with many of the stars actual children, "That's Life" feels as though you are seeing some type of home movie. Thanks, but I'll stick with my own.

It's hard to feel compassion or sympathy with Harvey Fairchild (Lemmon), when he has a beautiful house, beautiful family that loves him, fancy suits, three martini lunches... you get the picture. But Harvey is helplessly self-centered. Oblivious to all going on around him. He cannot even be happy at the prospect of being a grandparent. Nor does he pick up the signals that his wife may be sick.

Watching Lemmon, I thought that his performance was a cross of "Days of Wine and Roses" and "Save the Tiger". It's all been done before. He is certainly not helped with a lame script by Edwards.

The only saving grace in this movie is Julie Andrews. Stoic, strong, and courageous in the face of her own problems, as well as having to be strong for Harvey. Her performance is the only well-rounded, realistic one in the film.

As for the other members of the Edwards and Lemmon families, the less said the better.

4 out of 10