Because I Said So (2007)

Director:

Michael Lehmann

Writers (WGA):

Karen Leigh Hopkins (written by) &
Jessie Nelson (written by)

Release Date:

2 February 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

She's just your normal, overprotective, overbearing, over-the-top mother.

Plot:

A meddling mother tries to set her daughter up with the right man so her kid won't follow in her footsteps.

Plot Keywords:

Psychologist | Farce | Sister Sister Relationship | Personal Ad | Love Triangle

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Diane Keaton	...	Daphne Wilder
Mandy Moore	...	Milly Wilder
Gabriel Macht	...	Johnny
Tom Everett Scott	...	Jason
Lauren Graham	...	Maggie
Piper Perabo	...	Mae
Stephen Collins	...	Joe
Ty Panitz	...	Lionel
Matt Champagne	...	Eli
Colin Ferguson	...	Derek
Tony Hale	...	Stuart
Sophina Brown	...	Milly's Staff #1 / Matisse
Karen Leigh Hopkins	...	Milly's Staff #2 / Charlie
Emily Maisano	...	Milly's Staff #3
Gerald Downey	...	Cousin Dougy's Friend

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content including dialogue, some mature thematic material and partial nudity.

Runtime:

USA:102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Ireland:15A | Finland:K-7 | Australia:M | Hong Kong:IIA | Singapore:NC-16 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Netherlands:6 | Portugal:M/12 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Argentina:13 | Germany:o.Al. | South Korea:15 | Malaysia:U (cut) | Taiwan:PG-12

Filming Locations:

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Gold Circle Films

Trivia:

Stephen Collins also played Diane Keaton's husband in The First Wives Club (1996).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Daphne is done interviewing Jason, she puts out two cards, one of which Jason takes. When Johnny comes by and plans to take a card, there are two cards on the table when there should be one left.

Quotes:

Daphne Wilder: Well, who would you choose for my daughter?
Johnny: Me.
Daphne Wilder: What? No way!
Johnny: Why not?
Daphne Wilder: Oh, please. I am not setting my daughter up with an attractive, charming musician who will just break her heart.
Johnny: Wow. I love being reduced to a cultural cliche.

Movie Connections:

References "The Dating Game" (1965)

Soundtrack:

Feel Like Making Love

A Bad Case of Static Cling

Greetings again from the darkness. It is now official. Diane Keaton has reached the parody of herself stage. She has become a caricature of her character. The loopy, over-the-top 60 yr old female who screams stereotype with each line. It was evident in "Something's Gotta Give" that she had made the turn, but "Because I Said So" time warps her into the level of folly ... similar to Leslie Nielsen (of "Naked Gun" fame) who once was also a respected actor. The difference being, Nielsen is at least funny, Keaton is purely grating and obnoxious. And enough with the turtle necks and ridiculous wardrobe. No one dresses like that ... especially in L.A.

Of course, there is more to this movie than Diane Keaton ... wait, no there really isn't. The only semblance of a bright spot is the glimpse of potential flashed by Mandy Moore. She really has screen charisma and no longer just looks like a big kid. She has 3 films over the next 18 months, so we will see just how she is progressing. Other than that, all we get is "Gilmore Girls" Lauren Graham as the wisest of Keaton's three daughters and Piper Perabo as one of the most nondescript characters of all time. I guess she was cast because she looked decent in underwear for the massage scene.

As for the poor guys in this one ... no not us schmucks who actually paid to watch, I am talking about the actors. Tom Everett Scott is totally miscast as a workaholic architect. Gabriel Macht ("A Love Song for Bobby Long") has little to do but flash his smile and twinkle his eyes. And Stephen Collins is evidently the new Tom Skerritt. You know, the cute older guy in all the chick flicks??? The director of this horrid mess is Michael Lehmann, who in the past has delivered such gems as "Hudson Hawk", "Airheads" and the torturous "40 Days and 40 Nights". When will Hollywood stop giving this guy money to make this worthless fluff? I am sure this weak, no-content film will make money ... simply because real life mothers and daughters will think they should go see it and laugh that someone's relationship is worse than theirs. I say, SAVE YOUR MONEY and rent "Terms of Endearment", which may be the best movie ever about a mother and daughter's struggles to show their love for each other. Just stay away from this one!