Worth Winning

Everyone wants to give this film a bad rap because of its premise, which, okay, does border on the crass. So they go into it with their eyes and ears closed to all of the film's unique, quirky characterizations and undeniable charms, intent on hating it. As an ensemble, the players exude a magnificent chemistry and the screenplay is both hilarious and romantic. It's a real gem. And enough feminist criticism already. The film was scripted by two women. Veronica's character is dynamic and intriguing, one of my personal favorites.

The wolf Taylor Worth (Mark Harmon) is a handsome man that is the weatherman in television. He has a great salary, a BMW, a fantastic apartment and a countryside house and has no difficulties to win the girls over. One day, his best friend and psychologist Ned Broudy (Mark Blum), who is married with Claire Broudy (Andrea Martin) with a three year-old girl, proposes a bet to Taylor: his countryside house per Claire's Picasso. Taylor shall propose three women chosen by Ned and they must say yes to him. Ned chooses the sexy fan of American football Erin Cooper (Maria Holvöe), who is always surrounded by her friend Tarry Childs (Tony Longo) and other football players; his wealthy friend Eleanor Larimore (Lesley Ann Warren), who is unhappily married; and his demanding and intellectual friend, the classical pianist Veronica Briskow (Madeleine Stowe). Taylor accepts the bet, but when he wins, he calls it off since he is in love and proposed for real one of the selected women. What will happen when the other two women discover the truth?

The delightful "Worth Winning" is one of the funniest romantic comedies from the 80's and maybe the best role of Mark Harmon's career. He plays a confident wolf that accepts any challenge to have a woman. But the plot point is when he really falls in love with one woman and is rejected by her. This comedy has a great cast with beautiful and sexy actresses and is a highly recommended entertainment. The sexy Maria Holvöe has vanished and has no biography in Internet. What might have happened to her? My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Como Agarrar Um Bonitão" ("How to Catch a Handsome Man")

Taylor Worth (Mark Harmon) has a way with women, even beyond those who might like dating a TV weatherman. When he enters a room, the place is his and he can have any woman within its walls. This upsets his close male friends very much. They are all married, yes, but they never scored like Taylor and its too late now. With that in mind, these pals can not resist a major wager. Can Taylor get engaged to three different women, all of THEIR choosing, or is he just not up to the task? With a Picasso painting as part of the bet, Taylor decides to go for it. The women turn out to be, in turn, a virginal sports promoter, a snooty concert pianist, and a married beauty wed to a famous businessman. What was Taylor thinking? This is a fairly successful romcom for the over 18 crowd. Harmon is quite good as the colossal womanizer who may just have a heart beating in his chest, somewhere. The other actors are also successful, with Madeleine Stowe giving a rare comic performance that delights. The script is pretty funny but has a definite raunchy edge to it, so the film is really not good viewing for any minors in earshot. Costumes and production values are great. For those who can't get enough of those funny love tales, seek out this one, too. It has some good laughs and, very importantly, some real romantic ideas, too.

Really more enjoyable than I expected. The Mark Harmon character is a cad, but hey, he even made Ted Bundy somewhat appealing. The girls are believable, the friends are good, and the plot ends predictably yet still manages to entertain. I'm glad I saw it. Really more enjoyable than I expected. The Mark Harmon character is a cad, but hey, he even made Ted Bundy somewhat appealing. The girls are believable, the friends are good, and the plot ends predictably yet still manages to entertain. I'm glad I saw it.Really more enjoyable than I expected. The Mark Harmon character is a cad, but hey, he even made Ted Bundy somewhat appealing. The girls are believable, the friends are good, and the plot ends predictably yet still manages to entertain. I'm glad I saw it.

Don't ask me why but this movie is one of my favorites. It's always entertaining, in a comedy, when the main character talks to the audience as if you are right there as a silent cohort.

The idea is Taylor Worth is a batchelor with a great job, great car, great condo, and dates the best looking women in Philadelphia. His friends, especially the excellent role playing Mark Blum, are married and it is the contention of Blum that as great a life as Worth has he secretly wants "the pain and heartache of true love".

His friends have a plan...a bet...Worth is to date and get engaged to three women, of Blum's choice in 90 days. The catch here is that each has bet something they do not, under any circumstances want to lose.

The women are great, the acting is very good, the timing is superb and the story plays out nicely. I rated this film (FG) for "Feel Good"! It's not a classic but it'll go quickly, it'll make you laugh...just don't see it with any woman that is hungup on traditional ways men view women...Your gal may not stay long enough to see how things twist and turn.

A good one to rent when you want to just lay out on the couch with some popcorn, and the kids are over their friends houses. One other note for me...I was so taken by the car they gave Harmon to drive in the movie that I got one myself!