One Fine Day (1996)

The lives of two strangers and their young children unexpectedly intersect on one hectic, stressful day in New York City.

Director:

Michael Hoffman

Writers:

Terrel Seltzer, Ellen Simon

Stars:

Michelle Pfeiffer, George Clooney, Mae Whitman

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Melanie Parker
George Clooney	...	Jack Taylor
Mae Whitman	...	Maggie Taylor
Alex D. Linz	...	Sammy Parker
Charles Durning	...	Lew
Jon Robin Baitz	...	Yates, Jr.
Ellen Greene	...	Elaine Lieberman
Joe Grifasi	...	Manny Feldstein
Pete Hamill	...	Frank Burroughs
Anna Maria Horsford	...	Evelyn
Gregory Jbara	...	Metro Reporter
Sheila Kelley	...	Kristen
Barry Kivel	...	Yates, Sr.
Robert Klein	...	Dr. Martin
George Martin	...	Smith Leland

Storyline

Melanie Parker, an architect and mother of Sammy, and Jack Taylor, a newspaper columnist and father of Maggie, are both divorced. They meet one morning when overwhelmed Jack is left unexpectedly with Maggie and forgets that Melanie was to take her to school. As a result, both children miss their school field trip and are stuck with the parents. The two adults project their negative stereotypes of ex-spouses on each other, but end up needing to rely on each other to watch the children as each must save his job. Humor is added by Sammy's propensity for lodging objects in his nose and Maggie's tendency to wander.

---

Plot Keywords:

architect | one day | single mother | single father | reporter | 

---

Taglines:

She was having a perfectly bad day... Then he came along and spoiled it.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and mild sensuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

20 December 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Un beau jour

Filming Locations:

Bethesda Fountain, Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,226,430, 22 December 1996, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$46,151,454

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$97,529,550

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox 2000 Pictures, Rosa Productions, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

George Clooney held Mae Whitman in front of his face to hide that his eye was bruised during a basketball game in the scene when Jack shows up at Melanies' apartment.

---

Goofs

After the soccer game, it's evening when Jack puts Maggie to bed, and dark when he gets her out of bed and goes to the fish shop, but then when they're at Melanie's apartment, it alternates from a rainy night to sunlit day out the window.

---

Quotes

[at the end of the day]
Maggie Taylor: I think my dad likes your mom.
Sammy Parker: I think maybe my mom likes him back.

---

Connections

References Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

---

Soundtracks

This Guy's in Love with You
Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Performed by Harry Connick Jr.
Harry Connick Jr. appears courtesy of Columbia Records

User Reviews

Not all romantic comedies are created equal!

I would probably never decide to watch this film, had it not been for my wife who rented the DVD. Just like many others, I expect romantic comedies to be all the same - usually terribly unrealistic (talk about suspension of disbelief!) as in the Pretty Woman, and the humor to be 3rd grade.

But, One Fine Day, surprised me in many ways! First, it is not "I need insulin right now!" sweet. Also it is surprisingly relevant for today's world, and not targeted at teeny boppers.

One Fine Day is a film with a very smart script, funny dialogues, beautiful acting, directing, and it all gels well together. Most of the moviegoers today expect blood, gore, darkness of warped minds, and it seems that films which don't have that have a hard time getting a good review. It is time we step back, and enjoy some of the subtleties of life and people, and laugh at ourselves, when it's all presented in a believable and funny way.

The film takes us through "one fine day" of a single mother and her son, and a single father and his daughter. Due to his error, they miss their kids field trip and are, reluctantly, helping each other out take care of kids. While he obviously likes her but has a problem with trusting again, and a questionable flirting tactics, she is more obviously shell shocked and uses every opportunity to put him down. In a single day they both go through so many humbling episodes that the relationship develops from "I already have an opinion about you..." and "So do I..." to "I'll help you out if you say: 'Be my knight in shining armor...'"

The control freak named Melanie and played wonderfully by Michelle Pfeiffer, manages to stay likable even though she "beats every miserable bastard that comes her way to pulp". George Clooney has an easier time being liked as he is his pretty much usual self, and that's exactly what the character requires. Both kids were much better then I would normally expect them to be; I am always put off by artificial adult gestures and "too cool for you" acting of today's kids in Hollywood films, and expected that this time it would be the same, but it was not.

The humor in this film is subtle, and you may actually miss it altogether if you expect things to blow in your face. I loved those brief encounters between Melanie (Pfeiffer) and Celia (Amanda Peet) in which a beautiful perfectionist with a heart (Pfeiffer) meets her less polite match... Amanda Peet was also fantastic! Just notice how Pfeiffer's facial expression changes when she realizes who she's talking to. Another one to watch and enjoy is the episode with Melanie's boss.

Also, this film can be watched more then once, as there is a lot to appreciate about it.

ps. A scene at the shrink's office made me laugh like never before!