Product Details

• Actors: Christina Ricci, Demi Moore, Rosie O'Donnell, Thora Birch, Melanie Griffith
• Directors: Lesli Linka Glatter
• Writers: I. Marlene King
• Producers: Demi Moore, Eric McLeod, I. Marlene King, Jennifer Todd, Suzanne Todd
• Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: New Line Home Video
• DVD Release Date: December 21, 1999
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (202 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00002SSKI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,763 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Now and Then" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This obligatory girls' version of Stand by Me begins with actors Melanie Griffith, Rita Wilson, Demi Moore, and Rosie O'Donnell doing a lousy job of playing adult versions of the film's youthful protagonists. The idea is that this quartet of characters is having a reunion, which serves as a preface to the main story about school chums who make a pact to stay close and supportive through thick and thin. The trouble is that Griffith, Moore, Wilson, and O'Donnell look like they've rehearsed their scenes for no more than a few minutes, and after boring us silly there's little reason to get excited about anything else. Still, it's nice to have a supporting cast that includes Janeane Garofalo and Bonnie Hunt, while among the girls are three young actresses who have been burning up the road in recent years: Christina Ricci (The Opposite of Sex), Thora Birch (A Clear and Present Danger), and Gaby Hoffmann (Strike). --Tom Keogh

Product Description

A poignant look at girlhood friendships and how one summer set in motion the adult lives of four remarkable women starring Christina Ricci, Thora Birch, Gaby Hoffmann, Ashleigh Aston Moore, Melanie Griffith, Demi Moore, Rosie O'Donnell and Rita Wilson.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars For Always....Not Just Now and Then August 31, 2004

By V. Marshall VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

This is a great character film expanding the lives of four young girls from the good old 70's decade and stirring up a lot of old memories.

The film starts with the adult versions of the four girls played by Rosie O'Donnell, Melanie Griffith, Demi Moore and Rita Wilson as they come together for a reunion for the birth of Wilson's child. Not much has changed! O'Donnell has become a doctor, Griffith a movie star, Moore a writer and Wilson a pink and perky mother to be. This film allows us all to discover how these women came to be and it is actually pretty insightful. So sit back and take yourself on an "old school" journey back in time.

Soon enough this movie goes back in time to the early 70's when kids could ride bikes all over town, ice cream sodas were the rage, AM radios hung on every handlebar, laughter hung in the air and stories were meant to be told. The young O'Donnell is played by Christina Ricci, a tough tomboy growing up in a family of men because her mother was killed. Ricci is the strong one, the shoulder to cry on, the fighter who would rather play sports than sprout a couple of breasts. Griffith is portrayed as a young girl by Thora Birch and as a youth is fascinated early by sex, fake breasts and being an actress. Birch is the adventurer, the wandering heart and the heartbreaker of the group. Moore's child is played by Gaby Hoffman and she is the quiet, introspective and questioning young girl. Hoffman gets herself in all sorts of dilemmas stemming from the shame of divorced parents who act more like children than she does. Finally Wilson is played by Ashleigh Aston Moore, and of all the girls she remains steadfastly the same in adulthood as in youth, a simple, rather innocent girl surrounded by a perfectionist mother (played by Bonnie Hunt!...) and an entire room of pink and lacy curtains.

The young girls are shown growing up and daring the world, finding where they all belong and how they are alike yet very different. The film brings back great memories of the time through the use of great music and ties to certain events that impacted the generation. The happiness and innocence of the decade is found on the country roads and soda shops as the girls plan their adventures. Silly crushes and fights with boys are inevitable along with all the challenges of growing up imperfect. All of the fun of childhood is represented here, the cemetery séances, tree-house meetings, excursions on bicycles, splashes in the river, sneaking out the bedroom window at night and childhood friendships that should last a lifetime. I found this film inspiring and insightful, but then I came from the same generation so I can totally relate. So I watch it every now and then for the sweetness and the memories of a great childhood. Read more ›

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Watch it with your daughter! August 16, 2000

By "debbie-n-va"

Format:VHS Tape

I bought this movie after renting it when it first came out. I recently watched it with my teenaged daughter. We loved it. I grew up in the 60's and 70's and can relate to a lot of what the girls were going through during that stage in their lives. I love the scene where the girls steal the boys clothes, the part where Roberta finds her sexuality (kissing) during the whole time she desperately tries to hide her budding figure! There are som sad scenes but overall it is great. The mom's boyfriend, Bud, certainly looked like some of the characters my divorced mom brought home during the 70's and I related totally to Samantha's disgust and distaste for him (any one who was not her father). Watch this movie and enjoy becaus there is something for the young and the young at heart.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh, wow. I loved this movie. I watched it over and over.... July 25, 1999

By Claire Hennessy

Format:VHS Tape

This movie is just brilliant! It's amazing! It's about four girls who meet up twenty years later and it's just brilliant! Most of it is set in the summer of 1970, and it's great fun to watch. My favourite character was Samantha, played by Gaby Hoffman at 12 and Demi Moore at 32. I liked the other three as well: Teeny (Thora Birch, Melanie Griffith), Chrissy (Ashleigh Aston Moore, Rita Wilson) and Roberta (Christina Ricci, Rosie O' Donnell). All the actors were great and it's a star-studded cast featuring Janeane Garafolo and Brendan Frasier in cameos. There's only one actress making her debut, Ashleigh Aston Moore, and she gives a stunning performance as 12-year-old Chrissy. You will do anything to get your hands on this video!!!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Early days of Christina Ricci & Thora Birch" February 29, 2004

By "dawnpatrolrockermark"

Format:DVD

"Now and Then" is a very great depiction of growing up..
And it features the early days of 2 of now our greatest and most sexiest actresses Thora Birch (here she is a blonde) and my favorite Christina Ricci..They shine as does the other 2 girls in this more then wonderful movie..The movie features a fantastic 1970s Classic Rock soundtrack..It covers all areas of what 70s Classic Rock was..Pick up the cd soundtrack while you are at it along with this dvd..The only downside on this dvd is there is SADLY No Behind The Scenes..I wish they would have behind the scenes and bloopers of this movie would have been great..
And even better would be a reunion of the cast..Coz i am wondering what ever became of the other 2 actresses in this movie with Ricci & Birch..And this too i think they could have casted the "older" versions of the girls better then they did..Rosie O Donnell as the older Christina Ricci in Rosie's dreams..The only one of the "older" versions that is really believable that can really picture is Melanie Griffith as the "older" Thora Birth..But they are not in this movie long thankfully..They are only in start and end with maybe a total time of 5 minutes or a tad more..Not enough to ruin this great movie..The movie focuses thankfully more on Ricci / Birch and the girls..Other then what i just mentioned this is one of the greatest films you will ever see..And if you had been between ages 5 and teen years in the 1970s it will bring back loads of memories..Everything from the opening scene of the girls playing "red rover red rover let (put your name here) come over" to the music to the looks and just things did as a kid and teen in those days..It is reinacted sooooo well that you can't even tell this is a 1995 movie..The sets the feeling is total 70s..It is recreated magnificentally.....I am 38 this year *2004* and it brought back many memories for me..Christina Ricci here reminds me sooooo much of My Beloved Mandy when we first met right down to a priceless basketball scene..So this movie has sentimental value to me..Watch this movie maybe it will touch you in that way too..But either way i can guarentee that it will bring back memories..It will be a fun filled viewing exsperiance..A kind of a early teen girl version of Stand By Me..Enjoyable Fun and Wonderful filmed movie adds up fun for all no matter when your generation is.NOT TO BE MISSED
Gets better with every single time you watch it..A must for any fan of the one and only Christina Ricci..If you are a fan of Christina Ricci and you don't have this movie get this movie to prove you are her fan..Christina Ricci Rules...... Read more ›