Memories of Me (1988)

On his girlfriend's insistence, a disgruntled man tries to make peace with his high-spirited, street-smart and often irritatingly careless father, a failed actor who never quit his dream to be a success.

Director:

Henry Winkler

Writers:

Eric Roth, Billy Crystal

Stars:

Billy Crystal, Alan King, JoBeth Williams

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Billy Crystal	...	Abbie
Alan King	...	Abe
JoBeth Williams	...	Lisa
Janet Carroll	...	Dorothy Davis
David Ackroyd	...	1st Assistant Director
Phil Fondacaro	...	Horace Bosco
Robert Pastorelli	...	Al (Broccoli)
Mark L. Taylor	...	2nd Assistant Director
Peter Elbling	...	Director
Larry Cedar	...	1st Assistant Director (Soap)
Sheryl Bernstein	...	Dancer
Joe Shea	...	Stan Kantor
Joe 'Flash' Riley	...	Tango (as Jay 'Flash' Riley)
Billy Beck	...	Angry Man
Margarito Mendoza	...	Mariachi Trumpet Player

Storyline

On his girlfriend's insistence, a disgruntled man tries to make peace with his high-spirited, street-smart and often irritatingly careless father, a failed actor who never quit his dream to be a success.

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Plot Keywords:

boyfriend girlfriend relationship | father son estrangement | surgeon | flashback | failed actor | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

Abe (Alan King) introduces Abbie (Billy Crystal) to Sir Sean Connery, who happens to walk by dressed as Lieutenant Colonel Alan Caldwell from The Presidio (1988). Connery was in costume for filming and did this cameo appearance in-between takes.

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Goofs

At Abe's funeral, there were flowers surrounding and on top of the casket. At Jewish funerals, flowers are not sent because it signifies a joyous occasion.

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Quotes

Abe: Sweet dreams to my fingers, sweet dreams to my knees. Sweet dreams to bellybuttons that go in and out. Sweet dreams to all the little tushies in the world - the big ones, too, like the waitress in the bowling alley!

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Connections

References The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)

User Reviews

a faded memory....

Schmaltzy seriocomedy dealing with doctor Crystal's re-examination of his life, which at the core lies an estranged relationship with his father (King). So it's off to L.A. for in-fighting, pent-up resentments, and your typical barrage of cats-and-dogs-living-together nonsense. Like an old married couple, Crystal and King bicker, find some common ground, make up, then one insults the other and we're back to square one. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

The major problem with the film is that Billy Crystal has never been more unlikable or angry. In a sense, he's the villain of the piece. King is the kid, carefree and footloose, while Crystal is his straight-man, constantly finding fault and prone to rages. Yes, we understand he was a bad father, but King's character --- though a typical curmudgeon --- has so much life and good humor about him, that Crystal's never-can-be-budged attitude is really a disappointment playing against type. A serious Billy Crystal is not an enjoyable one.

Crystal's co-written script and Winkler's direction reek of treacly melodrama far too often. The most awkward moment deals with an infuriated Crystal seeking refuge --- after an umpteenth fight with dad --- in the arms of his girlfriend. The violins are cranked up, Crystal disrobes, begins kissing down her stomach, they straddle each other...ick. All that was missing was slow-motion, perhaps. So maybe I should stand corrected; a love scene with Billy Crystal, is not an enjoyable one as well.

There are some witty jabs at showbiz, King's standing in the community as "King of the Extras", filmic references, and a touching moment or two that stay out of the aforementioned overly sentimental realm. Plus Crystal and King (both of whom produced) expectedly work well together, considering their backgrounds. Not just with the expected comic moments, but stretching their dramatic bones as well. And Jobeth Williams as their female foil, has never looked better in her life. She adds some much needed light and beauty to the mostly drab circumstances.

Don't expect much from this forgotten parental allegory ("Unhappy Memories of Me" would've been more apt), and don't watch it with dad if you guys have always had problems. You'll at least get a couple of quotable barbs to share with others, such as Crystal and King preparing for bed: Crystal: "I'm gonna turn in." King: "To what?" And one of the all-timers at a traffic accident: Cop: "Are you a doctor?" King: "No, he's an electrician, but he's good with his hands!"

Both those are few and far between.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 October 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Just You, Just Me

Filming Locations:

San Diego, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,388,123, 10 October 1988

Gross USA:

$3,965,604

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,965,604

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Odyssey Entertainment

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1