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.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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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

The film is supposed to take place during early Spring. It is noticeable with many scenes that take place with rain in the background or given the appearance that has rained. These include when Jack, Maggie, Melanie and Sammy are late for the trip on the Circle Line, when Jack meets Manny on the roof of the building downtown, the trip through the flooded puddle at the Bethesda Fountain, after the soccer game in Central Park.

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Goofs

The plastic wrap on the fishbowl changes between shots. When Melanie first leaves her apartment to go to Maggie's there is no wrap on it. When she's on the street and arrives at school it is covered with wrap and a rubber band. Maggie removes the wrap at "breakfast" and it remains uncovered when Jack takes it to his office.

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Quotes

Jack Taylor: [to his daughter] That's one of the advantages of being an adult. You get to act like a kid anytime you feel like it.

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Connections

Referenced in Hello, He Lied & Other Truths from the Hollywood Trenches (2002)

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Soundtracks

Controller
Written by Victor Thomas, Ted Parsons, Paul Raven, and Scott Albert
Performed by Prong
Courtesy of Epic Records
by arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Not too sweet and some good humor in it.

I always expect the worst when I will see a romantic comedy. It's all very much the same, ultra sweet and incredibly predictable. One Fine Day does confirm this, however it isn't as bad as most of the movies in the genre. It's actually a quite enjoyable and funny film.

Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney did a very good job playing two people who are divorced, with a child, afraid to commit to someone else and with a hectic life. One day, they accidentally meet at the school where their kids go to school and during the day they keep meeting, however they hate each other and don't want to see the other ever again. But as the movie progresses, the relationship between the two changes from hating each other, to liking, to ... (this is a romantic comedy, I don't have to explain everything I hope).

Even though some parts aren't excellent, the entire movie is actually quite good and enjoyable. It shows a lot of stereotypes of course like the ex-husband who doesn't want to help his ex-wife when she drowns in all the work and who needs him to take care of the kid, the man who still seems to act like a little child... But when you can see past that, it's an excellent movie to watch together with your wife or girlfriend. You'll both enjoy it. I give it a 7/10.