This Can't Be Love (1994)

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

I know you're going to want to watch this movie. It stars Anthony Quinn and Katharine Hepburn, in her last year of making movies—seeing these two powerhouse actors together must be movie magic, right? Well, unfortunately for audiences everywhere, you'll find yourself repeating the title as you watch the terrible movie, This Can't Be Love.Katharine Hepburn plays a retired movie star, and much of Duane Pool's script incorporates tidbits from her life. While at first, these charming anecdotes about her brother, her painting, and her feminist pioneering are amusing, the movie soon devolves into a shameless "let's laugh at the old timers" film. I can't abide those types of movies. When Anthony Quinn stands on a coffee table brandishing a sword, then literally gets laughed off the stage, it didn't make me laugh. It filled me with sadness that these two wonderful, likable actors were reduced to accepting an insulting, demeaning script.Kate and Tony play movie stars who were once romantically involved, but things ended so terribly they haven't seen each other in decades. Tony's granddaughter, Jami Gertz, sweet-talks Kate's assistant, Jason Bateman, into helping reunite the two, but is there an ulterior motive? The twists and turns of the plot aren't particularly interesting, and neither is the absurdly forced romance between Jami and Jason. He's as appealing as a salamander—his gawkiness is worsened by his horrific clothes—and the audience is forced to suspend an enormous amount of disbelief to believe Jami would ever want anything to do with him. Thus, any interest the audience has in the film rests solely on Kate and Tony's shoulders, and Duane Pool makes sure to squelch that interest as quickly as possible.I know it's tempting to see this movie, and if you must, I understand. But if you can at all resist it, rent Love Among the Ruins or Laura Lansing Slept Here for an old and adorable Kate, and Only the Lonely or A Star for Two for an old and virile Anthony Quinn.

Although it may not exactly be "Bringing up Baby" I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic comedy starring Katharine Hepburn in her final leading role. She still shines as an actress in her 62nd year of acting despite suffering from skin cancer during filming. But being a trooper she makes it through the movie in one piece. Her character parallels her own life on so many levels that this could be considered a documentary on her own long and successful career. At one point she even talks about appearing in a western with John Wayne (Rooseter Cogburn 1975) and having survived a hurricane as she really did back in 1938. All in all, this was a cute little television production. It's always nice to see Kate Hepburn.

In my view,it seems the first review written,was done so after only a single viewing of "This Can't Be Love". Putting aside my being a Hepburn fan,I can honestly say this is another great TV-Movie and deserves a bit more respect.It's funny to see Kate play a former actress,that parallels herself. Like mentioning she once starred in a movie called "Song Of Life" (instead of K.'s "Song Of Love".) Jason Bateman who once played a smart-aleck on Silver Spoons,convincingly plays the new chauffeur who's from Iowa and a bit naive'. Jami Gertz ("Square Pegs" & "Still Standing")is employed at a book publishing company that wants to publish a tell-all about actor Reyman's (Anthony Quinn) and Bennett's (Hepburn) short-lived,5 day marriage in the 1940s. Gertz and Quinn's plot is to get Bennett's approval and admission to the book and the existence of the marriage.Trouble is,Ms. Bennett wants nothing to do with Mr. Reyman at all. Seems she still hates his guts after 50 years! He's none to pleased about having to deal with her either. After much deception by Gertz & Quinn,the truth of their quest is revealed and Ms. Bennett is even angrier!As well as disappointed because she was starting to believe that Reyman had truly changed as a person. These two characters "do' have feelings for each-other but have been so angry for so long,it doesn't come to the surface until the very end.Not surprisingly,Bateman and Gertz's characters banter and fall for each-other too. They also have a genuine concern for the two "adults" they're working for. Gertz when Anthony Quinn (showing a wonderful comic side)pulls a sword and challenges his would be publisher to duel,after being insulted. Bateman,when Ms. Bennett takes off walking into the city (without her purse) after discovering Reyman's writings.She ends up getting arrested but I'll save that for those who haven't seen this.The title,"This Can't Be Love",simply means that Hepburn's character is not buying into the idea that this man still even cares about her romantically but,he does and despite their arguments,she does also. As I say about all movies,just let yourself enjoy it and don't pick it apart. Movies are meant to be "entertainment",not philosophical documentaries!(END)

Hardly any of it works. Too heavy handed and some over acting. The antagonism between the two main characters makes the romantic overtones unbelievable. Two great talents, Hepburn and Quinn, are mis-directed in this one. Barely a 6!