Diner (1982)

A guy film girls will love too

This is a film about a bunch of guys on the threshold of adulthood, set in 1950's Baltimore. I'm not a guy, have never been to Baltimore and don't have much in common with any of them. But I loved the film! As Barry Levinson, the director, says in the added feature, when you are really specific to time, place and character, the appeal is universal. He did a great job in making this film and one can feel the affection he has for the town and that time in his life.

Each fellow has some serious life problem to confront, many of which involve relationships with women. It's not just a fluff, teen age movie--the situations are genuine and have consequences. But the good nature of the guys--maybe the fact that they are still at the age where life can be a blast--makes the film really funny.

It was fun for me to see the cast--many of whom are now very well known, when they were young and starting out. Kevin Bacon's performance was a real surprise--I thought he was terrific as a rather complex, self destructive guy. Micky Rourke started out as someone rather loathesome but he turned out to be a heart-warmer. His hairdo is worth the price of the DVD. Timothy Daly, really good looking, is the token sensitive guy. Ellen Barkin does a lovely job as the lone female in the group. Steve Guttenberg is the spoiled kid you want to swat but has something lovable about him too. Paul Reiser is always the smart talking funny guy.

I suppose I could take offense at the way they "objectify" women...but it's all done with so much warmth and humor that it was easy to just sit back and laugh. The film reminded me some of American Graffiti but I liked this much better. February 29, 2008

Diner

Levinson's vivid, heartfelt ensemble comedy provided an outstanding showcase for up-and-comers Rourke, Stern, Guttenberg, Barkin, and Bacon. The script is funny and knowing, and the natural, often overlapping flow of dialogue gives off the authentic feel of improvisation. Levinson recreates the city of his youth with loving detail. A rich human comedy with a big heart. July 6, 2007

Theatrical History in the making!

I saw this many years ago and was happy to finaly find it on DVD. This is a who's who of film history. What a cast of hopeful and promising talent. I Loved the guy perspective, something you didn't see much of back then. Mickey Rourke was looking good! November 27, 2006

Finer

Set in 1959 Baltimore, this is a tale of 6 college age friends. As the title says, it is at their favorite diner that a lot of the action takes place. It is also the one place where they can all get together at once. This is most certainly a character study, with a fine job by a talently cast of young actors(who are all older veterans now) Some of it is a little stale, but overall it is a fine movie about facing life. July 23, 2006

New Kids On the Block

This is a remarkable tribute to adolescence in the age of diners, the edge of the 60's. All the stars-to-be,Mickey Rourke, Steve Guttenburg, Daniel Stern, Kevin Bacon and Ellen Barkin play small-time characters with brilliant conviction. At the diner, the gang collects to dream, boast,gamble and connive their way into the human race. All the pranks, risks, deceptions kids can conceive of, they individually try to pull off, in order to convince themselves that their adolescence will remain forever. Some dreams are achieved, others fall short, but this town clique changes in the end. Special recognition should be spent on the sensitive character that Ellen Barkin plays. As a less-than-gorgeous beautician with ambitions and under-rated, she is "set-up" as a gag. When things do not entertain, only hurt her, the way Mickey Rourke recovers his decency to reach out to Ellen is a very special moment. Small towns did that. Cities are less forgiving.Unpredictable, quirky, childish but ultimately exhilarating are the reactions to this nostalgic gem. The bride's "test" for the nervous groom is worth the price of admission. May 18, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...