Product Details

• Actors: Chris O'Donnell, Renée Zellweger, Artie Lange, Edward Asner, Hal Holbrook
• Directors: Gary Sinyor
• Writers: Clyde Bruckman, Jean C. Havez, Joseph A. Mitchell, Roi Cooper Megrue, Steve Cohen
• Producers: Chris O'Donnell, Bing Howenstein
• Format: PAL
• Language: German (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
• Subtitles: German, English
• Region: Region 2 (Read more about DVD formats.)
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Run Time: 101 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000058AOH
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #684,306 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Bachelor" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Bachelor got critically slammed when it played in theaters, probably because reviewers couldn't help comparing it with the movie on which it's based, the brilliant Buster Keaton comedy Seven Chances. But on its own terms, The Bachelor is a modest and enjoyable picture about Jimmie (Chris O'Donnell), a happily single young man who suddenly gets an ultimatum from his grandfather's will: marry by his 30th birthday or lose an inheritance of $100 million. This is revealed the day before that very birthday. Unfortunately, Jimmie had already proposed to his girlfriend Anne (Renee Zellweger) and been turned down; she can see in his eyes that he isn't ready to get married and refuses to accept him until he is. So Jimmie needs to find a bride--fast. Though the commitment-shy man is a hoary cliché, The Bachelor successfully exaggerates Jimmie's fears to comic proportions. O'Donnell is his usual affable self, but it's Zellweger who seizes every scene she's in and makes something really enjoyable out it. The movie's greatest weakness is that she's such a small part of the second half. Still, there's good supporting performances from Hal Holbrook, Ed Asner, James Cromwell, and Marley Shelton (as Zellweger's sister), and Peter Ustinov and Brooke Shields both have very funny scenes. The Bachelor skirts some dangerously chauvinistic territory at times, but by and large it's a pleasant comedy with some genuine good humor. --Bret Fetzer

From The New Yorker

Chris O'Donnell produces and stars in this slack retread of Buster Keaton's silent comic romp "Seven Chances." The story, about a man who has to get married within twenty-four hours in order to inherit his grandfather's fortune, hasn't been updated much. It's an anachronistic and, at times, culturally clueless undertaking; at one point, the bachelor is seen cavorting in a wild herd of available men, while women in pursuit fling lassos around their necks. The comedy is of the old ball-and-chain variety-there's not a hint of modern, knowing humor. Renée Zellweger co-stars as the long-suffering girlfriend who rejects the bachelor's crass proposal, and Brooke Shields (in full drag-queen mode) appears as a financially strapped socialite. -Bruce Diones
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully funny and utterly romantic, May 5, 2000

By 

CoffeeGurl - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Bachelor (DVD)

I fell in love with this movie; the romance and comedy are done very well and the characters have chemistry and charisma.

This is a story about Jimmie (Chris O'Donnell), a commitment-shy young man who's faced with his biggest fear: marriage. In order to inherit a fortune left by his grandfather, he has to find a bride within 24 hours. He proposes marriage to all of his ex-girlfriends, which by the way, is one of the highlights of the film. There are cameo appearances by Mariah Carey and Brooke Shields. But he doesn't want to marry these women; he wants to marry the woman he loves (Renee Zellweger). She had dumped him because he had refused to commit. Jimmie tries to win her back at all cost.

This is a sweet and charming movie that you wouldn't want to miss. The chemistry between O'Donnell and Zelleweger is great. Despite its banality, the story is funny and quite touching. Rent "The Bachelor," curl up on your couch and enjoy!

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Madcap and entertaining romantic comedy, May 3, 2000

By 

"flickjunkie" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bachelor (DVD)

I found this to be a madcap and highly entertaining romantic comedy. This is a remake of the 1925 Buster Keaton classic, `Seven Chances' and this story has been trotted out a number of times since in various forms so the material is far from fresh. Jimmie Shannon (Chris O'Donnell) is a confirmed bachelor who finds himself in love with Anne (Rene Zellweger). As his friends begin dropping like flies to the marriage bug, Jimmie realizes that his time too has come. So he proposes to Anne, but he botches it, making it so unromantic that despite desperately wanting to accept, she runs from the room. When his grandfather dies, he discovers that he is the sole heir to a vast fortune of $100 million, but to get it, he needs to get married by 6:05 PM on his birthday, which as it happens is the following day. With his one true love gone, he must marry someone, so he begins a litany of successive proposals to all his old girlfriends.

The story is utterly predictable and overly zany. It is comedy in its simplest and most unsophisticated form. Slapstick, if done well can be very funny, and this was done well. There were numerous belly laughs in this film from the many sight gags and absurd situations that develop. The romance between Jimmie and Anne was also charming.

The direction by Gary Sinyor was nothing special from a visual standpoint, but I felt he handled the setup of the sight gags well and did a good job of orchestrating the movement of the thousand or so brides in the chase scene (worthy of any Keystone Kops skit). The special effects on the Mustang scenes were pretty weak, though.

Chris O'Donnell was very good in his role as Jimmie. His comedic timing was effective and he succeeded in looking totally hapless in his various scenes with erstwhile girlfriends. I thought his chemistry with Zellweger was excellent and sincere, especially at the end.

Rene Zellweger was a good choice for this role. Though she is no goddess, she has a very natural, sweet and wholesome attractiveness; very real and vulnerable. She really made the romantic part of the story work single-handedly with her misty eyed looks and genuine longing for Jimmie.

I rated this film an 8/10. I enjoy this kind of silly romantic farce, but it is not for everyone. It requires an ability to laugh at absurd, pratfall humor. If you are in the mood for a good light date movie, this might be a good choice. But, if you don't like slapstick, you will probably want to steer clear.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nothing to write home about, but fun and zany., October 28, 2005

By 

EugeSchu "be-bop" (WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bachelor (DVD)

Ok, the premise of the movie is pretty canned, and some ideas/montages downright dumb or silly, but the overall
presentation is a bit out of the box and humorous. The movie
moves at a brisk pace, and uses and lambasts a lot of cliches about marriage. One would think the comedy would be predictable, but it manages to create an off-beat edge that tickles. Supporting characters, including the older actors,
keep things diverse or outright wacky. Zellweger brings a pouting charm while O'Donnell is pure naivety and his fat side-kick delivers some good laughs. Again, the movie is a success on it's own terms because of the brisk pace that stays consistently outrageous and doesn't get stuck in any plodding emotional exposition, sentimentality, or melodrama. Fun flick.