The Impossible Years

Okay,so this movie wasn't really that good to some people,but I for one liked it.A father who is a doctor(?) has two daughters:Abby who is the youngest and Linda who is the oldest(and has the raging libido).Yes,it's boyfriend after boyfriend for Linda,and her parents watch her wondering why their daughter jumps from one boyfriend to the next.It isn't until later when she moves out of the house and gets married,only to see her father trying to find out who her spouse really is.There is a favorite scene of mine where the Linda's parents are having a party and her boyfriend brings in a portrait of her that he painted.And when he shows the family and guests,it's revealed to be a nude portrait,in which Linda didn't know!The rating is bad though.It acts more like a PG-13 movie than a G rated movie.Believe me.This is NOT something you wanna watch with your parents!

In almost every decade, Hollywood produces films that threaten to explore important issues of their day, including changes in gender roles. And most of those films are bits of fluff. Many of these films also promise--with their trailers--to titillate. Consider the films of Doris Day and Rock Hudson. With a title like "Pillow Talk", the viewer might reasonably expect two people talking in the same room. Or how about those split screens that suggest a couple simultaneously in a bathtub.

In 1968 there were plenty social movements to tackle--the war, race relations, sexual empowerment. "The Impossible Years" is the story of a teenage girl whose sexual experience is the concern of her parents. Like other films, it nibbles around the edges of the topic with occasional "edgy" moments like mentioning that she's now a "C cup".

But this is s comedy and no real issues must interfere with the wackiness. Unfortunately, this film (like most of its time) comes from the Erma Bombeck school of comedy--a slapstick style that takes farce and reduces it merely to scenes of bedlam. People trip, they swing things at each other, they slam doors.

The opening credits are accompanied by the eponymous song by The Cowsills--an unfortunate pairing. I like The Cowsills. Their version of "Hair" is catchy and evokes the time period. But they also sang the theme song for "Love American Style", which also was a catchy tune, but here it forms a thematic bridge between that pseudo-titillating series about romantic relationships and this film, further reminding the viewer that he can expect nothing but pap and silliness.

Even David Niven as the father cannot save the film from its mediocrity. He represents the older generation and father and daughter are meant to talk past each other more than to each other.

I can't remember the last time I laughed so heartily and often during a movie as I did while watching The Impossible Years. The play, written by Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher, was a smashing success on Broadway, and when Hollywood came calling, it couldn't have found a more perfect lead than David Niven. Without him, the movie-no matter how funny George Wells's script adaptation was-wouldn't have been very good. It shows off his incredible comic timing like no other movie ever has, and even though he's a wonderful dramatic actor, this hilarious performance is one of his best. Simply put, The Niv is amazing.

He plays a college professor and psychiatrist, working with Chad Everett to write a book called The Impossible Years about how to successfully raise teenagers during the spirited 1960s. Of course, Niven's oldest daughter, Cristina Ferrare, drives her parents crazy with her free-loving rebellious teenage behavior. Ironically, the plot reminds me of Shirley Temple's Kiss and Tell-a rambunctious teenage girl has a silly boyfriend next door but longs to grow up, the parents and neighbors fight about whose kid is a bad influence on the other, and they were both based off fast-paced, situationally comedic Broadway plays-which Niven starred in the sequel to.

Yes, the plot is a little dated, since teenage problems have changed since the 1960s, but as long as you remember how things were, or can imagine, you'll be able to appreciate the hilarity behind the script. The quick-paced jokes, silly gags, and set-ups that pay off are all extremely funny, but again, without David Niven, it would have dragged. He's energetic, flawless without coming across as rehearsed, and utterly believable as a frazzled dad who can't get a handle on his kids. This could become your favorite David Niven movie, and if it's the first of his you watch, this role will be the one you always associate him with. Taking off my love goggles for a moment, because I'm the first to admit I'm biased when it concerns The Niv, this is still an incredibly funny movie starring a very talented comic actor. Hands down, it's one of my favorite of his movies. But if you watch it, get ready to put on your own pair of love goggles.

If you're looking for a film which aspires to be "high art" or convey "deep meaning", forget it..."The Impossible Years" is a lightweight romp with David Niven, Lola Albright, Chad Everett, etc. that will make you laugh, giggle, and smile. It's an hour and 45 minutes of escapist fare that will make you forget about your troubles for a while. Not everyone will appreciate the slapstick humor here, but I sure did! Much in the same vain as the Beach Blanket and Gidget films of the time. This movie won't win any Academy Awards for high-brow acting or directing, but then, I don't think it was ever intended to be a deep message film. Just pure fun!!!

As those who have read my reviews on his films before, David Niven carried more mediocre films on the strength of his charm than any other leading man I know. In this case he had something of a built in advance sale on a role, as The Impossible Years had a respectable two year run of 640 performances on Broadway. Would you believe that Alan King played the role on Broadway and I'm sure the interpretation was vastly different. In fact I'm sure King had to reach for his conception as part and parcel of his standup comedy routine was his experiences in suburbia as the father of two teenage sons which he was in real life.

The unflappable Niven plays a psychologist who has written on the subject of teens, but in his own life he and wife Lola Albright are having no better or worse time than thousands of others raising adolescents. Daughters Christina Ferrare and Darleen Carr are driving both of them to the edge. Especially the 17 year old Ferrare who has a lot of young males in heat buzzing around her. And one of them has rounded home and scored.

The play had to have been a bit more realistic to have enjoyed the run it did. The Code was down, but obviously this was being marketed to a family audience and a lot of it just didn't make sense. Most of all Ferrare's choice of male partner.

The Impossible Years is just plain impossible.