Because I Said So (2007)

A meddling mother tries to set her daughter up with the right man so her kid won't follow in her footsteps.

Director:

Michael Lehmann

Writers:

Karen Leigh Hopkins, Jessie Nelson

Stars:

Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore, Gabriel Macht

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Diane Keaton	...	Daphne Wilder
Mandy Moore	...	Milly Wilder
Gabriel Macht	...	Johnny
Tom Everett Scott	...	Jason
Lauren Graham	...	Maggie
Piper Perabo	...	Mae
Stephen Collins	...	Joe
Ty Panitz	...	Lionel
Matt Champagne	...	Eli
Colin Ferguson	...	Derek
Tony Hale	...	Stuart
Sophina Brown	...	Milly's Staff #1 / Matisse
Karen Leigh Hopkins	...	Milly's Staff #2 / Charlie
Emily Maisano	...	Milly's Staff #3
Gerald Downey	...	Cousin Dougy's Friend

Storyline

Approaching age sixty, Daphne Wilder divorced when she was young, has not dated since, and has raised on her own and has fostered a close, loving relationship with her three daughters, Maggie, Mae and Milly, she now assisting Milly in her successful catering business. Daphne was mother of the bride for a first time at Maggie's wedding, and a second time at Mae's wedding, but she fears there won't be a third and final time for a Milly wedding in insecure Milly attracting only who seem to be the wrong men. Not wanting Milly to turn into another "alone" version of herself at age sixty, Daphne, without telling any of her daughters let alone Milly, decides to take matters into her own hands by placing a personal ad for a potential mate for Milly. Scheduling all seventeen interviews in succession at a restaurant, Daphne finds the ad has attracted one "loser" after another, until she reaches number seventeen, Jason, an architect who is handsome and seems smart, well-bred, successful and ...

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Plot Keywords:

home movie | outdoor wedding reception | wedding cake | massage | playing electric guitar | 

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Taglines:

She's just your normal, overprotective, overbearing, over-the-top mother.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content including dialogue, some mature thematic material and partial nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

The names of the daughters, Maggie (Lauren Graham), Milly (Mandy Moore), and Mae (Piper Perabo), come from an e.e. cummings poem that starts "Maggie and Milly and Molly and May went to the beach to play one day." A student in Johnny's guitar class is named Molly.

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Goofs

When Daphne is done interviewing Jason, she puts out two cards, one of which Jason takes. When Johnny comes by and plans to take a card, there are two cards on the table when there should be one left.

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Quotes

Milly: [on the phone with her mother and sisters talking about the guy she's with] Only... I think he might have a hot-dog with a bun.
Daphne Wilder: [not getting it] Are you having a picnic?

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Alternate Versions

In the Italian version, Milly and Jason are learning French instead of Italian.

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Connections

Referenced in At the Movies: The Worst of 2007 (2008)

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Soundtracks

Yes, My Darling Daughter
Written by Jack Lawrence
Performed by Sandie Shaw
Courtesy of EMI Records
Under license from EMI Film & TV Music

User Reviews

A Bad Case of Static Cling

Greetings again from the darkness. It is now official. Diane Keaton has reached the parody of herself stage. She has become a caricature of her character. The loopy, over-the-top 60 yr old female who screams stereotype with each line. It was evident in "Something's Gotta Give" that she had made the turn, but "Because I Said So" time warps her into the level of folly ... similar to Leslie Nielsen (of "Naked Gun" fame) who once was also a respected actor. The difference being, Nielsen is at least funny, Keaton is purely grating and obnoxious. And enough with the turtle necks and ridiculous wardrobe. No one dresses like that ... especially in L.A.

Of course, there is more to this movie than Diane Keaton ... wait, no there really isn't. The only semblance of a bright spot is the glimpse of potential flashed by Mandy Moore. She really has screen charisma and no longer just looks like a big kid. She has 3 films over the next 18 months, so we will see just how she is progressing. Other than that, all we get is "Gilmore Girls" Lauren Graham as the wisest of Keaton's three daughters and Piper Perabo as one of the most nondescript characters of all time. I guess she was cast because she looked decent in underwear for the massage scene.

As for the poor guys in this one ... no not us schmucks who actually paid to watch, I am talking about the actors. Tom Everett Scott is totally miscast as a workaholic architect. Gabriel Macht ("A Love Song for Bobby Long") has little to do but flash his smile and twinkle his eyes. And Stephen Collins is evidently the new Tom Skerritt. You know, the cute older guy in all the chick flicks??? The director of this horrid mess is Michael Lehmann, who in the past has delivered such gems as "Hudson Hawk", "Airheads" and the torturous "40 Days and 40 Nights". When will Hollywood stop giving this guy money to make this worthless fluff? I am sure this weak, no-content film will make money ... simply because real life mothers and daughters will think they should go see it and laugh that someone's relationship is worse than theirs. I say, SAVE YOUR MONEY and rent "Terms of Endearment", which may be the best movie ever about a mother and daughter's struggles to show their love for each other. Just stay away from this one!

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Italy] Official site [Russia]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Mandarin Italian

Release Date:

2 February 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Because I Said So

Filming Locations:

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,122,865, 4 February 2007

Gross USA:

$42,674,040

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$69,485,490

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Gold Circle Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color Black and White (archive footage)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1