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 ...

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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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:

Como Agarrar um Marido

Filming Locations:

North End, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

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

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Newton first enters his house and finds Gwen there, she is singing "The Name Game". She uses the names Ollie and Kate, both names of her children in real life.

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Goofs

When Davis is describing the town of Dobbs Mill to Gwen on the night they first meet, he says the town is especially beautiful this time of year when the leaves are changing, which happens in Massachusetts in autumn. But when Gwen first gets to town and is seen walking around looking for the house, the trees are green and there are bright flowers growing, so it is clearly spring or summer.

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Quotes

Gwen: I don't want your money. I will take the furniture, though.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Batman Returns/Cold Heaven/Housesitter/Cousin Bobby/The Hairdresser's Husband (1992)

User Reviews

Hawn makes "Housesitter' worthwhile

Steve Martin plays Newton Davis, a big city architect, whose marriage proposal is turned down by his childhood sweetheart Becky (Dana Delany). His proposal included a dream house, which has been sitting empty ever since. But after sharing a one night stand with Gwen, a waitress with a knack for telling lies. Gwen eventually moves into the empty house and convinces the neighbors, including Davis' parents and Becky, that she's his wife. When Davis arrives, he formulates a plan to use Gwen and their fake marriage to win back Becky.

Sure. the plot sounds a little crass, but the actors make it work to a certain degree. Martin, basically playing his 'American everyman' role with a flair for physical comedy, gets some laughs as Davis. But Hawn steals the show, it's her spawn of lies and the sweetness of her character that elevates this movie from being your standard sitcom. But, in spite of the acting, the movie still suffers from a script that lacks a real comedic punch. Too often recycled gags, like Newton's uptight parents and jerk boss, are used to strain humor into otherwise bland proceedings. A movie like this could have used new ideas. (6/10)