Oliver's Story (1978)

Same feel as movie version of Love Story

If you love the books the movies won't disappoint you. Oliver's Story is very close to the book, and Segal does help write the screenplay.
Oliver's Story is obviosly not as compelling as Love Story, but uncomparable by the subject difference. Oliver does make ammends with his dad which has given him the purpose and meaning he cannot find without Jenny. O'Neal does some great acting! He brings our desperate, searching, Barrett to life. June 10, 2007

Oliver's Story

This is such a wonderful companion piece to "Love Story". It is great to know that Oliver can move on with his life and grow from his loss. April 11, 2007

Love after Love Story

Oliver's Story is a must-see sequel for all those Love Story fans who cried when Jenny died. There is serious truth to the fact that only another great love can heal the hurt and loss of an equally great love. There is something to love being the great healer of our hearts. The only problem is that Oliver is still haunted by the ghost of Jenny ... and it is an obstacle to new love. Although widowed he is still trapped by memories which is a barrier to what is available in the land of the living. Another great reason to watch this is there is a reconciliation between Oliver and his father. So the plot has closure on alot of levels. The classically beautiful Candice Bergen is a great opposite against the equally handsome Ryan O'Neal. April 12, 2006

Critics aren't always right

I hesitated acquiring this movie, as it has been universally panned by the critics. "Love Story" was a classic of the '70's, so I believe the critics panned this movie, just because of their (justifiable in most cases) hatred for sequels in general. However, as a stand-alone movie, "Oliver's Story" is still quite an enjoyable film. I highly recommend anyone considering it to ignore the critics and give it a chance.

As for the DVD, it is a bare-bones release, not even including a trailer. The picture is adequate, showing no signs of wear or neglect, but not without a certain graininess.

One fluke I found using my Toshiba player was a French subtitle for the movie's opening title only. This is quite a strange occurence, given that French subtitles aren't even available from the "set-up" screen. My guess is that someone did some erroneous programming in the creation stages of the disc.

All in all, a quite enjoyable film, which I highly recommend. April 4, 2005

A Must-See Follow-up For "Love Story" Fans

Although not as interesting as "Love Story," this sequel does allow us to see what Oliver's life was like in the years after Jenny's death.

The movie begins with Jenny's funeral and we watch Oliver go through the motions of living, but not really participating in anything except his work. One day, he meets a jogger played by Candice Bergen. They begin a relationship that is pretty much of a bore to all but the most devoted Ryan O'Neal fans (of which I am definitely one!). Ms. Bergen's portrayal is wooden and unappealing, and viewers are probably relieved when she announces she can no longer live with Jenny's ghost. The one good thing her character, Marcy Bonwit Nash, does is take Oliver on a tour of her company's Hong Kong factories. When Oliver sees the poor conditions there, he begins to gain respect for his father and the way the senior Barrett ran his mills.

Oliver's long overdue reunion with his father is touching and we finally get a glimmer of hope at the end that Oliver has learned that living is for the living, and he will finally be able to live his life again.

Not a great movie, but interesting and definitely worth seeing if you loved "Love Story." January 9, 2001

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