Coast to Coast

Barney and maxine (richard dreyfuss, judy davis) decide to drive across country to attend their son's wedding. What bickering, separated couple would do that?? Although the way they talk to prospective buyers of their house seems like they don't really want anyone to buy it. They stop to visit with friends and family along the way to LA, and all sorts of things happen. Good and bad. Can they work out their differences by the time they get back to the east coast? It's a roadtrip movie with sides of humor, happiness, and sadness thrown in. Not bad. Directed by paul mazursky. Based on the book by frederic raphael.

Richard Dreyfuss and Judy Davis shine in this contemporary story of a couple whose marriage has literally gone astray, part in fact due to the infidelity of both partners and the fact that their eldest son was killed in a car accident 8 years before.

Davis looks like she has really gone through the ringer here. As the emotionally distraught, she depicts an emotional and psychological hang-up which is certainly memorable. She is equally matched by Dreyfuss, who also pulls no punches as the husband.

They plan to end their marriage by going out to Los Angeles to attend the wedding of their surviving son and making important stops along the way. These stops are memorable as they depict the sudden demise of the co-writer, wittingly played by director Paul Mazursky. There is also the daughter, not married, pregnant girl who has broken up with the baby's father to only start a new relationship with a basketball player.

This is definitely a poignant story brought to the screen by great performances as well as a sharp dialogue.

The musical score is wonderful here.

"Coast to Coast" sticks Dreyfuss and Davis front and center as a middle-aged couple on the verge of divorce who take a road trip from East to West coasts to attend their son's marriage while waxing nostalgic, visiting quirky friends, and sorting through old regrets along the way. Supposedly a poignant dramedy about reconciliation, this lame dose of couch potato fodder from Showtime has Toronto standing in for the US and a big hole where the entertainment should be. One can only speculate that budgetary constraints got between the cast and crew and a quality film product result. Coulda-shoulda been better, "Coast to Coast" is an uneven, uninspired nice-try-but-no-cigar near miss. (C)

The biggest turn off in this film was Judy Davis, starting with her hair. It was so godawful it was a huge distraction. She's not that attractive to begin with. I never cared for her, don't see why people think she's talented. I've only seen her play sour puss roles, which okay she is good at playing but, not likeable. Sure, she's supposed to be bitter since her husband cheated on her, in their be bed no less. Thought this would be somewhat of a comedy but, it was just a tragedy, an unrealistic one. I liked the dog, fine actor, handsome fellow. Dreyfuss is always at least interesting, but he wasn't likeable either. So, after they leave the dog at her sister's, there was no reason to continue this drag of a movie. Bickering I already know.

While Dreyfuss made this fairly entertaining, it was tough to get through the first hour. Despite the star power they really went cheap on the locations and instead displayed a ridiculous map to try and cover for it. I felt like I was watching a play and not once did I get lost in the characters and/or stop realizing they were acting. Judy Davis as she did throughout the 90s, plays the same role, faking an American accent (was an American actress not available?). I didn't believe for a minute that she would be married to Dreyfuss or was someone who would live in Connecticut. The supposed funny parts were not funny and the ending was telegraphed early on.