One Fine Day

Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, George Clooney, Mae Whitman, Alex D. Linz, Amanda Peet
Directed by: Michael Hoffman
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, Comedy
1996

Times Seen:
Tim: 2


Summary: Two single parents (Michelle Pfeiffer, George Clooney) are thrown together when their children miss the boat to their school field trip. Now, they must work together to take care of the children and save their jobs- but, the last thing they expect to find is romance.

Review:

Tim: I really like this movie. It reminds me so much of those fast-paced comedies with heart from the 40s or 50s. I thought about His Girl Friday while I watched. Those comparisons speak volumes about this film's merit, and it executes on that premise very well. It is incredibly entertaining, features some very good performances, and works on many levels as a romantic comedy.

This movie is so great because of the cast. George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer work very well together. I thought they had a great deal of chemistry, and their attraction to each other was apparent in every scene. Their would-be relationship works, and that finds us rooting for them to get together. Clooney was fantastic in the role. I couldn't help but think of Cary Grant as I watched him. He was so fun to watch, perfectly balancing heart and fatherhood with being a bit of a scoundrel. He was perfect for the role and I really enjoyed him here. Michelle Pfeiffer is good as well. She has a bit of a harder job, playing the single independent woman who wants no help from anyone- and who slowly lts that cold exterior melt away as she opens her heart again. This was not an easy thing to portray, yet Pfeiffer does so very well.

One of this film's greatest strengths is how fast it moves. It never rests for a second, which keeps us thoroughly engaged in the plot. There are no slow or boring moments. The movie moves back and forth as we watch Clooney and Pfeiffer's characters battling bad, stressful days, weaving in and out of each other's lives, alternatively annoying and romancing each other. The movie does occasionally take a bit of an unbelievable turn and a few times we really have to suspend our disbelief, but mostly, the movie works.

I really liked how this movie finally resolved itself. The film easily could have fumbled the ending, but I believe it worked very well. It could have strayed way too far one way or the other, but it unfolds exactly as it should. I believe the last ten minutes were among the film's best.

One Fine Day is an exceptionally strong romantic comedy that truly stands the test of time. It manages to set itself apart from the myriad other films, and remains both memorable and effective. It is not a perfect movie, but a wonderful one in its own right.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Stardust, Out of Sight, The Peacemaker, Hitch, His Girl Friday, I Am Sam, Up Close and Personal