Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys (1997)

Really Bad Version

First off, I am a great fan of Woody Allen. I toured nationally plaing his role in Play It Again, Sam --but he is totally miscast in this version of The Sunshine Boys. There is no sparkle between him and Peter Falk. It is lifeless and disappointing. It should never have been done. As other comments attest, the movie version with Matthau and Burns is vastly superior. Sometimes ---great talents just don't work well together. That's the case here. Surely they knew it was not working when they shot it. No chemistry between them --a sad on-screen encounter with no payoff whatsoever. You'll waste your time watching it! February 19, 2007

This Film Upset Me

I cannot believe how awful this film was. Woody and Peter are such classics, and one would think that a film starring them that is based on a Neil Simon play would be great. But it isn't. It was painful. This film is not funny, it is so terrible that by the end of it I wished I had never known it existed. January 1, 2006

AWEFUL! See the original

The original with Walter Matthau and George Burns is so much better, it's not even funny. I like Allen and Falk, but this is an embarassment to them. May 28, 2003

A touching vignette

To Woody Allen/Peter Falk/Neil Simon fans, this is must viewing. I think they both had a good time making this, and I sure enjoyed the viewing. Even if you don't like the film as much as other Woody films, the music, as always, is a pleasure. I would love an album of "Songs Woody Allen Movies are Made of." This film manages to get the story of two old ex-partners who reunite briefly to be touching, yet not sticky. Sarah Jessica Parker is excellent as the incredibly patient neice of Peter Falk, and Whoopi Goldberg really steals a scene here as Falk's nurse! December 28, 2000

Tears and sunshine.

A competent remake of the 1975 version of Neil Simon's play about the love/hate relationship between two ex-vaudeville stars. The two leads are a delight to watch although not quite up to the standard of Walter Matthau and George Burns. Sarah Jessica Parker is fine in the role of the pushy niece who tries to get the stars together one more time but the real star of the film is the script. It's up there with other strong Neil Simon work such as "California Suite". In an age too familiar with relentlessly banal "comedy" scripts here is one with consistent bittersweet humour and warmth. A slim story that has been made to work beautifully. Recommended. April 1, 2000

More reviews at Amazon.com ...