Seldom do you see such a good drama dealing with such heartbreak and emotion without it being filled to the brink with sap. Possibly even more rare, this is a TV-movie that elicits more emotion and has far better direction than many theatrical films, even some of the better ones. Peter Falk once again proves his immense talent with a character far from his portrayal of Columbo. The plot is very good, and as far as I know, quite original(keeping in mind that this is a remake). The pacing is unusually good for a made-for-TV film. The cast is excellent, as is the acting. Peter Falk... what is there really to say? With his talent and charisma, he makes even this character interesting, even though, in the beginning, is almost a modern-day Scrooge, with his hatred for just about everyone and everything. He makes us care about this old man and see through the facade, something very few actors can do, and look at the man underneath, the reason behind the hate. Aaron Meeks, I am impressed. Very few child actors do so well on their first try. The dialog has some truly memorable lines. The film deals with racism and hate in a very good way. It also shows that a big wallet does not mean a big heart. The script is good, and has some new ideas, though the very basis of it is pretty much the typical 'two people from two different worlds' plot. This is one everyone should at least consider watching. I recommend this to fans of dramas and particularly fans of Peter Falk. 8/10
10 Reviews
Sweet and Slow
RodReels-212 August 2000
This is well worth the investment just to see Falk doing what he does best, creating a character who has a history far beyond the spoken words. Robert Wise directs with an eye toward showing us people behaving in natural and very human ways. (Just watch Ruby Dee's short scene in the bus station with her grandson.) The Rod Serling teleplay shows its age with Serling's penchant for inserting a moral in each moment. And yet, it all goes down smoothly. No surprises, no major revelations. Just a reaffirmation of what we all know to be true.
Has Heart & Chutzpah!
darrin15 June 2015
Despite uneven acting at times, this film still had its heart in the right place. Peter Falk (Jewish in real life) gives the best performance of the entire cast. Aaron Meeks (Herman D. Washington) had natural acting promise, but still needed a few more acting lessons. The scene where he cries was simply not convincing at all. If his adult IMDb credit list is any indication to the above, he never applied whatever talent he may have had, as his adult credits were all relegated to bit roles. Natassja Kinski was terribly miscast. Hokey acting throughout. Nice to see Andrew McCarthy with somewhat long, hippie hair. Overall, a nice tightknit film that focused on storyline rather than most of the unoriginal CGI-laded shlock of today.
Excellent movie
jaredirish24 February 2000
This was a very powerful and touching film. Touching upon what makes a human a better person. Peter Falk and Aaron Meeks are an excellent duo. Robert Wise proves again his timeless directing sense. I do believe everyone should watch this movie and just take in what it has to offer. It will make you laugh, and cry, and appreciate life and what it offers.
A five handkerchief rating!
Ardillero29 September 2002
This is a movie I had read about in my TV and movie guides, got curious about, and today watched the 2000 version. A real gem. Not surprising, when you consider it was originally created by the legendary Rod Serling. Peter Falk is masterful as the curmudgeonly deli owner. His fancy-free cousin (Andrew McCarthy) meets Nastassja Kinski at a country club, and agrees to adopt a city kid for a few weeks of fresh air and fishing. Kinski tries to explain the situation to Falk, but he will have none of it. The next thing you know, little Herman Washington has arrived at the bus station. But of course, McCarthy has to zip off to Atlantic City, leaving Herman with the testy uncle. How it unfolds is a work of wonder. Falk meets his philosophical match, while still fondly remembering his own son, fallen in war. They enjoy some perilous fishing, and also manage to maintain dignity over the country-club set. If you aren't moved by this personal character drama, you had better check yourself for a heartbeat! Three and a half stars.
It is 10 for Hallmark
przgzr16 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I had a big dilemma when this movie was announced. It was on Hallmark, but there was Nastassia Kinski in it. As that was not enough for a decision, I added Peter Falk, whom I've admired since I've seen him in one of my all time favorites "Himmel über Berlin" - and so I watched "A Summer Storm".
And I am not sorry. This movie is filled by standard hypertrophic Hallmarked emotions, but as many other poisons you can take it in small amounts. After all, this is a homeopathic principle: you can lose adverse reaction or allergy to different things if you slowly expose yourself to slowly growing little doses of the substance. And once when I'll be retired and living with my Hallmarked wife, I'd better be prepared.
If anyone else finds Nastassia a reason big enough to watch the movie, I have to warn him Though among the few names listed in the opening credits, she has a rather small role. In fact, this is a man & boy movie, and all the rest of the cast (including her) are only catalysts of the events.
Peter Falk is a morose old man, a person that grumbles all the time, and nobody likes him. Unfortunately, this is Peter Falk we all know and like, and all this grumbling reminds too much on Lemmon or Matthau comedies, so this ugly side of Falk's character stays unconvincing. And soon, when he does some nice things that should be a dramatic change in the plot, we can't be surprised. However, maybe it was made on purpose, to emphasize the hostility and hypocrisy of respectable citizens who later appear to be racists as well. I can't blame Falk: he simply wasn't the right person for the role of unpleasant old lonely loser, especially when the script contained remarks that were supposed to be insulting and repulsive, but would make even Gary Oldman or Christopher Lee look like charming old charity workers instead.
If this was a comedy like "Dennis the Menace" everything would work just fine. However, "A Storm in Summer" is supposed to be a drama. Not only because IMDb tells us, but there are some dramatic, sad, tragic moments that don't fit in "The Odd Couple" style movies. Yes, humor can be welcome in drama, but it should be controlled and not unintentional.
Nastassia Kinski doesn't get a chance. She plays one of the polite citizens that have prejudices; suddenly during the movie we see that she is different. Is it because she wasn't same as others, or because things Falk told her, we can't understand. But she got the best quote in the movie. When Falk told her that the lady at the pool has objections because he (Jew) and the (black) boy visited the pool, Nastassia replied - you must have much better eyes than me, I can't see any lady here.
So if you are prepared for a serious comedy instead of drama, and a plot predictable from the first second you see the faces, and most of all if you are a Hallmark fan, this movie could entertain or even delight you. I was amused. But this dose was enough for several years to come.
And I am not sorry. This movie is filled by standard hypertrophic Hallmarked emotions, but as many other poisons you can take it in small amounts. After all, this is a homeopathic principle: you can lose adverse reaction or allergy to different things if you slowly expose yourself to slowly growing little doses of the substance. And once when I'll be retired and living with my Hallmarked wife, I'd better be prepared.
If anyone else finds Nastassia a reason big enough to watch the movie, I have to warn him Though among the few names listed in the opening credits, she has a rather small role. In fact, this is a man & boy movie, and all the rest of the cast (including her) are only catalysts of the events.
Peter Falk is a morose old man, a person that grumbles all the time, and nobody likes him. Unfortunately, this is Peter Falk we all know and like, and all this grumbling reminds too much on Lemmon or Matthau comedies, so this ugly side of Falk's character stays unconvincing. And soon, when he does some nice things that should be a dramatic change in the plot, we can't be surprised. However, maybe it was made on purpose, to emphasize the hostility and hypocrisy of respectable citizens who later appear to be racists as well. I can't blame Falk: he simply wasn't the right person for the role of unpleasant old lonely loser, especially when the script contained remarks that were supposed to be insulting and repulsive, but would make even Gary Oldman or Christopher Lee look like charming old charity workers instead.
If this was a comedy like "Dennis the Menace" everything would work just fine. However, "A Storm in Summer" is supposed to be a drama. Not only because IMDb tells us, but there are some dramatic, sad, tragic moments that don't fit in "The Odd Couple" style movies. Yes, humor can be welcome in drama, but it should be controlled and not unintentional.
Nastassia Kinski doesn't get a chance. She plays one of the polite citizens that have prejudices; suddenly during the movie we see that she is different. Is it because she wasn't same as others, or because things Falk told her, we can't understand. But she got the best quote in the movie. When Falk told her that the lady at the pool has objections because he (Jew) and the (black) boy visited the pool, Nastassia replied - you must have much better eyes than me, I can't see any lady here.
So if you are prepared for a serious comedy instead of drama, and a plot predictable from the first second you see the faces, and most of all if you are a Hallmark fan, this movie could entertain or even delight you. I was amused. But this dose was enough for several years to come.
Rod Serling does it again!!
JimmyL555525 January 2007
Rod Serling is best remembered for his venture into the imagination and fourth dimension of The Twilight Zone, but so many of his other writings become forgotten, such as "Requium for a Heavyweight." This story, "A Storm in Summer," written in 1970, five years before his death, Rod Serling has been able to successfully recapture the fine writing he did with "Requium." And this story is timeless as it speaks today as it did 37 years ago. Rod Serling is among my favorite writers, and I enjoy his social commentaries and dramatic twists in his stories and "Storm" is no different. The cast is excellent with Peter Falk in the lead, and the chemistry between him and his young co-star is magic! However, there are a few points in the movie that are too slow, and I didn't much care for the Grandmother (and those are the reasons for the 9 rating), but other than that, this is a wonderful movie, the kind you can see with the whole family. And a movie not to be missed!!
Utter tripe
rdoyle2926 April 2023
Peter Falk is a grumpy old curmudgeon who owns a small deli in upstate New York. His shiftless nephew Andrew McCarthy agrees to sponsor an inner city kid for two weeks, but forgets to tell Falk and then saddles Falk with Aaron Meeks, a young black kid from NYC, and takes off for Atlantic City.
You already know everything that's going to happen in this. Falk will reject Meeks, but he'll come around and everybody's cold heart will be melted. When you find out that Falk's only son was killed in WWII and Meeks has a brother in Vietnam (this is set in 1969) ... I don't need to connect the dots for you.
This is a remake of a 1970 TV movie written by Rod Serling. I haven't seen the original, but I can say that 30 years later, there's no reason to tell a story this familiar. Falk kind of sleepwalks through this, giving you some grumpy Columbo schtick, but not really stretching and really not giving you any convincing emotions in the weepy finale. McCarthy is kind of fine in a very undemanding role, but Nastassja Kinski is epically miscast as well-meaning upper class socialite.
This really feels like a "I need to keep my union card active" project for Robert Wise.
You already know everything that's going to happen in this. Falk will reject Meeks, but he'll come around and everybody's cold heart will be melted. When you find out that Falk's only son was killed in WWII and Meeks has a brother in Vietnam (this is set in 1969) ... I don't need to connect the dots for you.
This is a remake of a 1970 TV movie written by Rod Serling. I haven't seen the original, but I can say that 30 years later, there's no reason to tell a story this familiar. Falk kind of sleepwalks through this, giving you some grumpy Columbo schtick, but not really stretching and really not giving you any convincing emotions in the weepy finale. McCarthy is kind of fine in a very undemanding role, but Nastassja Kinski is epically miscast as well-meaning upper class socialite.
This really feels like a "I need to keep my union card active" project for Robert Wise.
Wow, he nailed it a second time!
lerkim16 February 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I wanted to update this review to suit a better description of this Wonderful movie and of its wonderful cast.
Now I don't see many movies, I once did but today and for the last Couple of years I have been slowly moving away from the TV screen. That Also means that I don't buy that many movies, yet for some reason this Movie makes up for that. Right now, at this time I just bought the Movie, the only place I could find it in my country. Although I think It is a port from another place in America so it will mean that I can Only see it on my Pc for now but that's okay because I would do anything To see this gem again. It's been almost 5 years but please listen as I Tell you about this movie as good as I can.
Storyline 10\10 - This is a hallmark story, I am not a fan of those Movies, and especially not a fan of TV movies, there are some good but That's about it, so how much more surprised I got as I saw this movie, And how much more surprised I felt as I in the last couple of scenes Cried. The story is about a grumpy old man (Peter Falk) who meets a Young black boy (Aaron Meeks) from another part of a town, together now They learn to understand each other and adventures out on some places, It isn't a really huge story, it is a story based on racism and how to Look at what's inside, as the story progresses the characters change, They do this because they have each other. That about it, the story Doesn't have any huge storyline, it is rather simply but isn't a story That's simply sometimes a better idea, well in this movie it worked, it Truly worked!
Actors 10\10 - I don't think I need say much, the story is mainly Focused upon Peter Falk and Aaron Meeks although some other characters Also have a part, but the main focus is on those two, and in this movie I felt that's how it should be, there doesn't need much more than two Characters, no I am not going for that The Odd Couple style, and this Movie isn't either really; it is going for a different standard either You get it or you don't.
Soundtrack 10\10 simply, wonderful! That's the only thing I have to say Actually, that's the only thing that really need be said about this Movie, you will love it I promise, and if you don't then well you don't.
Special Effects N/A None! And it doesn't need any!
Overall 10/10 simply wonderful, it is really a feast, and especially Considering it was a movie made for TV, this movie deserved the big Screen and it didn't get it, that somehow makes me sad, but if you still Have the movie, or if you can find it on the net like me shut up, sit Down and watch the movie, and stay focused on it, I promise it will be Something you will like, even if you are not the one to blow your heart Open!
Love it!
Now I don't see many movies, I once did but today and for the last Couple of years I have been slowly moving away from the TV screen. That Also means that I don't buy that many movies, yet for some reason this Movie makes up for that. Right now, at this time I just bought the Movie, the only place I could find it in my country. Although I think It is a port from another place in America so it will mean that I can Only see it on my Pc for now but that's okay because I would do anything To see this gem again. It's been almost 5 years but please listen as I Tell you about this movie as good as I can.
Storyline 10\10 - This is a hallmark story, I am not a fan of those Movies, and especially not a fan of TV movies, there are some good but That's about it, so how much more surprised I got as I saw this movie, And how much more surprised I felt as I in the last couple of scenes Cried. The story is about a grumpy old man (Peter Falk) who meets a Young black boy (Aaron Meeks) from another part of a town, together now They learn to understand each other and adventures out on some places, It isn't a really huge story, it is a story based on racism and how to Look at what's inside, as the story progresses the characters change, They do this because they have each other. That about it, the story Doesn't have any huge storyline, it is rather simply but isn't a story That's simply sometimes a better idea, well in this movie it worked, it Truly worked!
Actors 10\10 - I don't think I need say much, the story is mainly Focused upon Peter Falk and Aaron Meeks although some other characters Also have a part, but the main focus is on those two, and in this movie I felt that's how it should be, there doesn't need much more than two Characters, no I am not going for that The Odd Couple style, and this Movie isn't either really; it is going for a different standard either You get it or you don't.
Soundtrack 10\10 simply, wonderful! That's the only thing I have to say Actually, that's the only thing that really need be said about this Movie, you will love it I promise, and if you don't then well you don't.
Special Effects N/A None! And it doesn't need any!
Overall 10/10 simply wonderful, it is really a feast, and especially Considering it was a movie made for TV, this movie deserved the big Screen and it didn't get it, that somehow makes me sad, but if you still Have the movie, or if you can find it on the net like me shut up, sit Down and watch the movie, and stay focused on it, I promise it will be Something you will like, even if you are not the one to blow your heart Open!
Love it!
Very Enjoyable Departure from Columbo
gabyroads11 September 2003
I've not seen the original 1970 version but I found this one very enjoyable particularly Peter Falk showing he has great versatility as an actor beyond his role as Columbo.The young boy was very good.PS Does the young boy remind you of another black actor who starred in a 80's series called different strokes. 8/10.
gabyroads
gabyroads
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