Carolina (I) (2003)

A young woman escapes her wildly eccentric family in search for a life of normalcy.

Director:

Marleen Gorris

Writer:

Katherine Fugate

Stars:

Julia Stiles, Shirley MacLaine, Alessandro Nivola

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julia Stiles	...	Carolina Mirabeau
Shirley MacLaine	...	Grandma Millicent Mirabeau
Alessandro Nivola	...	Albert Morris
Randy Quaid	...	Theodore 'Ted' Mirabeau
Edward Atterton	...	Heath Pierson
Azura Skye	...	Georgia Mirabeau
Mika Boorem	...	Maine Mirabeau
Jennifer Coolidge	...	Aunt Marilyn
Alan Thicke	...	Chuck McBride - Perfect Date Host
John Capodice	...	Ernie the Cook
Lisa Sheridan	...	Debbie
Ambyr Childers	...	Young Carolina
Daveigh Chase	...	Young Georgia
Lauri Johnson	...	Susan the Waitress
Michael Panes	...	John

Storyline

Carolina Mirabeau was raised 'free-spirited' with two sisters by eccentric, domineering grandma Millicent in the country. Carolina's city neighbor, talented and witty Jewish author Albert Morris, is her best friend, confident and the wacky family's favorite guest. Yet she gets engaged with Heath Pierson, an 'all too perfect' upper class brilliant Britton, whom she met in the TV studio where she's fired as dating show candidates-screener. But the past and some truths catch up with all of them.

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Plot Keywords:

rocking horse | the dating game | writer | prayer | book reading | 

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Genres:

Romance | Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Filmax [es]

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 April 2004 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Carolina Torn Asunder

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bregman-IAC Productions, Carol Baum Productions, Carolina Torn Asunder Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 96 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kathy Bates was originally considered for the role of Grandma Mirabeau, later given to Shirley MacLaine.

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Goofs

When Carolina and Albert are driving in Albert's Jeep Grand Cherokee to Carolina's grandmother's house for Thanksgiving, the Jeep clearly doesn't have any license plates on the front or back of the vehicle; instead there are dealership advertisement plates. Later in the movie, when Albert goes to dinner with his new girlfriend and her parents, an actual license plate can be seen on the back of the Jeep.

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Quotes

Carolina Mirabeau: You're like an expensive Italian suit... and I have absolutely no idea where to wear you.

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Connections

References Nine 1/2 Weeks (1986)

User Reviews

Another fab Shirley MacLaine performance

This picture is billed as a romantic comedy but it's really more about family and how that can affect romances. While this is definitely a fluff piece, Shirley MacLaine's character and acting knock it out of the ballpark.

Julia Stiles, by contrast, is wooden and unsympathetic in her role as the female romantic lead. I kept wanting to see her in some 1970's BBC drama where emotionless, physically dull acting was more the rage.

Azura Skye does a nice turn in the predictable role of "the trashy sister" who gets pregnant after a one-night stand. Randy Quaid and the rest of the cast practically disappear except to act as foils to MacLaine's outrageous "tough love/live life my own way" Grandma.

This is not great art or even great romantic comedy. You won't need to see it more than once. Watch it for MacLaine's performance and be ready to fluff your way through the rest!