Good Advice (2001)

An investment banker loses everything and must discover what's important in life.

Director:

Steve Rash

Writers:

Daniel Margosis, Robert Horn

Stars:

Charlie Sheen, Angie Harmon, Denise Richards

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charlie Sheen	...	Ryan Edward Turner
Angie Harmon	...	Page Henson
Denise Richards	...	Cindy Styne
Jon Lovitz	...	Barry Sherman
Rosanna Arquette	...	Cathy Sherman
Estelle Harris	...	Iris
Barry Newman	...	Donald Simpson
Lisa Rinna	...	Veronica Simpson
John de Lancie	...	Ted (as John DeLancie)
Francoise Surel	...	Lucy Stone
Pete Gardner	...	Carl
Troy Byer	...	Nancy (as Troy Beyer)
Andrew Berman	...	Steven
Christopher Burkott	...	Mail Room Clerk
Madison Mason	...	Jim Pearson

Storyline

Ryan is a womanizing stockbroker whose unethical business practices cost him his job and his trader's license. Unable to find another job, he is forced to move in with his equally self-involved (and completely oblivious) girlfriend, Cindy, an insensitive advice columnist on the cusp of losing her own job due to her poor advice and slow work habits. Finding that the truth behind his moving in has nothing to do with romance, Cindy runs off with another man. Ryan decides to stay in the apartment and earn a living by doing Cindy's job. Ryan establishes himself with Cindy's editor, Page, as Cindy's go-fer, collecting Cindy's paychecks and mail and delivering "her" columns. Initially as hopelessly inept as Cindy in giving advice, he nearly gets the column canceled. However, he rapidly grows into the job and the combination of forced introspection, research and the growing knowledge that he is touching other people's lives transforms him. The column becomes an amazing success. Ryan finds his...

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Plot Keywords:

stockbroker | advice columnist | new york city | manhattan new york city | chrysler building manhattan new york city | 

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Taglines:

From fixing stocks to fixing hearts.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexual content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 November 2001 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Broker falit, caut partenera cu stare!

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films (EFO Films), Evolution Entertainment, Kingman Films International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Charlie Sheen met his future wife, Denise Richards, on this movie.

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Goofs

Angie Harmon's character is spelt Page Henson in the credits but she is called Page Hensen on her desk sign in the movie.

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Quotes

Cindy Styne: You used to do me, now you ARE me?

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Connections

References Midnight Cowboy (1969)

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Soundtracks

Bounce
Performed by Saq
Vocals by ziggy kormandel
Bass/loops: Lauren scheff
Guitars: Gerard Garcia
Produced by Lauren scheff

User Reviews

A Cable Classic

"Good Advice" doesn't try to be anything it is not, and knowing its limitations makes it a good watch.

Charlie Sheen plays a disgraced stockbroker who was set up and loses his job, then his girlfriend (Denise Richards), who leaves him and the country, as well as her job as an advice columnist, behind. Sheen's character is desperate for money so he takes over the column under "Dear Cyndy's" name. Richards gives an over-the-top performance as the super-hot golddigger whose column wasn't making waves, or money. Sheen takes the job more seriously (since he needs the money), and the movie focuses on his evolution from a Type-A jerk into a new-age sensitive man in touch with his feminine side.

As with any movie of this type, the plot and ending are pretty easy guesses, but the key is in the performances, and the entire cast is strong. Jon Lovitz plays the loyal friend (a plastic surgeon), while Rosanna Arquette is convincing as his materialistic wife and Cyndy's emotional support. The characters are more like what you'd find in real life rather than Hollywood, in that they weren't niced up the way many who move in the world of fiction are.

While I wouldn't be moved to see this film in a theater (it went straight to video), if nothing else is on cable, I might give it another watch. The movie has enough staying power to ensure that you'll be able to find it on cable for many years to come.