The Out-of-Towners (1970)

Best movie of this year hands down!

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

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

The lady was so whiny and the man yelled too much (yes I know they are comedy legends, so maybe I should refer to them by their very famous names, but it's just so much more effort). It would have been a lot funnier if the characters didn't get on my nerves so much. I'm supposed to be laughing at their misfortunes and all that wonderful irony and well-scripted dialogue, but instead I am just frustrated on their behalf. Now that's no fun.

I love this film. Jack Lemmon is outstanding and Sandy Dennis is great as the supporting wife (she's very sweet and I love the way she says "I'm getting a bit irritable" about half way into the chaos). The script is superb with funny, witty dialog. The direction and camera-work is great - sometimes almost documentary in style, sometimes very original and groundbreaking. I also love the 70s style with the cars, signs, colors, interiors and clothes. And the music! See it, buy it (if you can get hold of it). It's a film worth seeing many times. I've already said my piece, but, you know, there's this 10 line requirement, so I do a bit of rambling here. There, now it's gotten through....

Jack Lemmon & Sandy Dennis play George & Gwen Kellerman, who leave their Ohio hometown when George gets a big job interview in New York City. Unfortunately, their plane is delayed, resulting in them being late for their carefully scheduled dinner. Rather than be put up in the hotel paid for by the apologetic airline, the Kellermans decide to strike out on their own, resulting in an ever escalating series of disasters that make this the trip from hell! Though undeniably well-acted and even funny, this comedy from Neil Simon just goes too far into darkness, piling on calamity after calamity until viewer reaches the breaking point....not to mention that the stubborn Kellermans brought the whole thing on themselves, though one can't help feel sympathy for them regardless.Harrowing humor that doesn't know when to quit!

The real fascinating thing about cinema,is that no matter how many movies you might have seen,there are always going to be films that you have missed and are great ,to say the least.This is the case with the "Out of Towners". I saw a few years ago the remake with Steve Martin and as a big fan of Steve's i liked the film.Actually i didn't know back then ,that there was an original with Jack Lemmon.Anyway i have bought the DVD and just put it in a box to watch it sometime. I never thought, that this was an absolutely hilarious comedy ,with Jack Lemmon, for me ,being even better than "the odd couple". His character is similar to the one he played alongside Matthau ,but we are talking about an amazing performance here.I'm really surprised that he wasn't even nominated for an Oscar(he was nominated though for a Golden Globe). A couple (Sandy Dennis plays the wife)starts a journey to N.Y ,because Lemmon has planned an interview for his new job.He has a strict schedule that includes dinner at the "4 Seasons" restaurant and spending the night with his wife at his luxury hotel. I really can't describe what's happening after the boarding on the plane.EVERYTHING THAT COULD GO WRONG WENT WRONG. But the real magic of the film is that at no point in the film ,you can accuse the writers that they overdid it with the story.And Lemmon has a big part to do with that, because he plays amazingly. Sandy Dennis also plays her part extremely well and has a fine chemistry with Lemmon. A classic in my collection ,with out a doubt in the top-5 of all the comedies i have ever watched. Watch it and enjoy yourselves.