Neil Simon's California Suite (1978)

A all star cast from the past.

The movie has 4 story lines of different ppl & stories but it's not hard to follow and there are some very funny parts in this movie. There are No X-Tras to watch which is a shame IMO. If you watch Real Close to the shots in Marvins/Walter M. part you can see the Mic./boom in the bedroom mirror,guess it passed editing & there looks like a rather Large camera on the dresser that's not used in the movie,mabey someone forgot to remove it?? The late Dana Plato has a tiny part in this movie as well. May 8, 2008

Lukewarm comedy .... Zzzz Zzzz Zzzz

Others touted the outrageous comedy theme of this film which prompted me to buy it. Boy, was I disappointed. Thank goodness I bought a used copy for only a few bucks, so the financial pain was minimal.

In brief, the film covers four independent filmettes featuring guests at the California hotel. I guess the best selection was the one featuring Alan Alda and Jane Fonda as divorcees fighting over custody of their teenage daughter. But "best" is a relative matter. This one figures a sharp-tongued professional woman taking snide shots at her ex-husband every chance she gets. Once in a while he responds, but for the most part he simply tolerates her air of superiority. (yawn)

The selection with Michael Caine and his film star wife started okay, but quickly drowned itself in an emotional stew over a lost award nomination (she won the nomination but not the award). Then we discover that Michael has more of an interest in the leading man than he does in his wife. Holy soap box, Batman!

I love most anything with talented actor Walter Matheau. But this was probably the least inspiring of his efforts that I have seen. The whole of the plot revolves around him trying to hide the "drunk into a coma" prostitute he had in his hotel room from his wife when she arrives the next morning. Walter should have just dumped sleeping beauty out a window and shortened this painful performance. Want to see Walter at his best? Watch "Hopscotch".

Lastly we come to Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor. A combo that can't miss, right? Well, this one misses - by a mile. If these guys are friends, I wonder what they call enemies. The whole scenette was one argument or fight after another. In real life, had they been friends, this hotel vacation would have finished that. The potential was there for some good comedy (it IS Bill and Richard), but the segment is as empty as last night's beer bottle.

Neil Simon is well known for his comic irony to real life situations. And I generally enjoy most of his work. However, I wouldn't be able to recognize this one as his except for the printing on the DVD cover. If you want to see some of his good work, try "Out to Sea", "The Out Of Towners", or "The Odd Couple".

Sorry, but I don't think I can recommend this one. The best part of the movie was when it ended. Good for one viewing only, then it will gather dust on the shelf.

~P~
August 19, 2007

All Talk And No Action! (Kinda Like My First High School Girlfriend!)

Believe it or not there was a time in recent Movie History that all the characters were self obsessed, neurotic and thought that "Talk Therapy" was the answer to what ails them and everybody thought that Neil Simon was a genius. This movie shows what Americans do best which is basically talk, talk and then talk some more. Alan Alda plays his usual macho self and Jane Fonda is her usual whining, nervous, nuerotic character which for some reason she plays so well. Walter Matthau wants to start all over again with a new woman (this time without the kids and the big mortgage one must assume) and if you like the cinematic equivalent of "Verbal Diarrhea" then this movie is for you. I give this movie 5 stars because I managed to catch up on some much needd sleep while it was on my TV. November 11, 2006

Hilarious 'B' movie

I'm not even sure how many people have seen this film but it's one of the Cosby/Pryor great connections. Michael Caine was bi-sexual and married to an Oscar nominated actress; way ahead of its time. August 9, 2006

california suite

so glad to find a copy of this movie and in such great condition. thank you February 24, 2006

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