HouseSitter (1992)

Con artist Gwen moves in to Newton's empty home without his knowledge and begins setting up house, posing as his new wife.

Director:

Frank Oz

Writers:

Mark Stein (story), Brian Grazer (story)

Stars:

Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn, Dana Delany

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Martin	...	Davis
Goldie Hawn	...	Gwen
Dana Delany	...	Becky
Julie Harris	...	Edna Davis
Donald Moffat	...	George Davis
Peter MacNicol	...	Marty
Richard B. Shull	...	Ralph
Laurel Cronin	...	Mary
Roy Cooper	...	Moseby
Christopher Durang	...	Reverend Lipton
Heywood Hale Broun	...	Travis
Cherry Jones	...	Patty
Vasek Simek	...	Karol
Suzanne Whang	...	Moseby's Secretary
Mary Klug	...	Lorraine

Storyline

Davis builds his dream house and presents it to Becky with a proposal of marriage. She turns him down. He leaves the house, still with a ribbon running around it and returns to the city, terribly smitten with Becky. He meets Gwen who has an interesting relationship with the truth. He spends the night with her, but leaves while she is sleeping. She takes his description of the house, searches it out, and moves in. The residents of Davis' home town become curious and she invents a marriage, a courtship, and and an entire history. Davis' parents meet Gwen and are immediately taken with her. By the time Davis finds out what has happened, 2 things have happened, the whole town thinks he's married, and Becky tells him that Gwen has made her see him in a whole new light. Gwen and Davis agree that she can pretend to be his wife and get free rent while Davis works on Becky until they can announce a divorce. The trouble is that no one in the town wants them to separate and keep trying to help ...

---

Plot Keywords:

neo screwball comedy | house | waitress | small town | con artist | 

---

Taglines:

She's turning his house into a home...hers!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild sensuality and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 June 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tu casa es mi casa

Filming Locations:

North End, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,106,950, 14 June 1992

Gross USA:

$58,500,635

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$94,900,635

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imagine Entertainment, Imagine Films Entertainment, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The house was built as a standing set in Concord, Massachusetts. It was torn down soon after filming ended.

---

Goofs

At the bar Newton adds lines to the drawing on the napkin. When Gwen looks at it the next morning they are gone.

---

Quotes

Becky Metcalf: Do you know why I said no to you that day? It's because you scared me, building this house, putting a big ribbon around it... I didn't want to marry a dreamer. I'm not that brave. But when I see you through Gwen's eyes you look very different to me.
Newton Davis: How?
Becky Metcalf: Well, I could see how a dreamer, with somebody who believes in him, could do great things.

---

Connections

Referenced in Jersey Girl (2004)

User Reviews

Best Hawn-Martin film

This film is well known, and I've read many comments on it. Some loves it, some does not, as usual. I think I depends on what you are looking for. This is in my opinion one of the best comedy of the last 20 years, light, funny, sincere. Hawn and Martin gave their best performance. (Moreover Hawn is so charming!) I keep this film on the shelf with Wilder's Apartment, Reiner's When Harry met Sally, etc. Enjoy it!