Coast to Coast

"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)

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.

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.

This is a funny movie with some smart dialog and a couple adults in adult situations for a change. Thoroughly enjoyable. Dryfus is in control and not doing his "cute" routine. Davis is believable and always nice to see an old vet like Fred Ward. Sometimes you just have to sit back and enjoy a movie and be entertained.In an era of movies pandering to functional illiterates with the attention span of a bi-polar humming bird on crank, it's enjoyable to see a movie with people actually speaking to each other in complete sentences. Or if it isn't your style, there is always the latest Ben Stiller movie. I understand there is a hum dinger staring a blind ferret.

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.