22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Recapture the love of your life, June 16, 2001
There are so many scenes in this delightful farce that I would love to describe in detail, but I will not spoil the surprises. Carl Reiner directed That Old Feeling to perfection. The roller coaster ride begins with a very romantic marriage proposal -- which nearly puts the bride-to-be in the hospital.
Who knew that 14 years after Lilly and Dan (Bette Midler and Dennis Farina) divorced and remarried that one very public argument would activate That Old Feeling? The "nuclear" relationship was rekindled at their daughter's wedding, and the on-screen chemistry between them is sizzling.
Their daughter Molly (Paula Marshall) is the "adult" of the trio. Her poignant comment, "Do you realize how lucky I am that someone normal wanted to marry me?" foreshadows her decision to not settle.
The acting is excellent, and I am sure the cast had a lot of fun making this movie. In one scene, Molly is fixing Joey's (Danny Nucci) hair; her eyes shift quickly as she figures out what will work to tame his wild locks. It is a simple scene, but it shows what good acting is about -- making it believable.
Bohemians and politicians in a showy wedding where Molly's grandmother is tap dancing beg for comments. The political jibes about liberals and Republicans fit the scene and add to the farce.
There are no "F" words; in fact, no swearing at all. Also, there are no sweaty bedroom scenes. The "action" is shown through innuendoes that stimulate imagination. In my opinion, this is much better than bearing it all.
The fights and conversations between Lilly and Dan are stunning. Throughout the movie, great dialogue is snappy and fresh. In the end, Molly and Joey are accused of being just like her parents ... "No, but we soon will be..."
The music score is superb. I own the music CD too.
Five stars for one of my favorite movies.
Victoria Tarrani
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
midler and farina were made for each other!!!, March 15, 2004
I can't count how many times I have seen this movie and still it makes me laugh.
Not a very complex comedy but it doesn't need to be: Molly (Paula Marshall) is getting married to an up-tight blue-blood and is worried that her parents (Midler and Farina) who have been divorced for many years and still hate each other "with a nuclear capability" will ruin her wedding. Despite her reservations she invites them both and it almost comes to a slugfest in the middle of the reception. Yet immediately afterwards the romance, mysteriously, rekindles and the reunited parents of the bride ditch their new spouses (a gold-digger step mother and an overly sensitive therapist stepfather who is a little too attached to his dogs) to head off for a wild weekend, leaving Molly to find them and split them apart.
For help finding her actress mother Molly gets the help of an overzealous paporazzi (played by Danny Nucci) to find them (of course the romance between the two youngsters can't be contained either).
What is the true gem of this movie is the way Midler and Farina play off each other; here is a middle aged couple acting (and even dressing) middle aged but show that no matter how old you are you still have "that old feeling". The argument scenes between them are hysterical and quick-witted (a staple of any Midler performance; aside from Bette Davis-- Midler's namesake-- no one can deliver an insult better than Bette Midler with humor and wrath).
This is a great movie for a Saturday afternoon and I would highly recommend this to anyone!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Fun- Bette at her Best!, July 11, 1999
First a suggestion to the viewer below from Rockwall. You need to see this one again. In terms of comedy, "That Old Feeling" is bubbling with it ! Anyone who knows anything at all about Bette Midler, knows that her snappy wit and peppered dialog go along with the program. As a film star who meets up with her writer ex-husband after 14 years at their daughters wedding, Bette and Dennis Farina bounce beautifully off one another. The dialog is quick and sharp , and Bette is at her best in her scenes sparring with Farina. Paula Marshall and Danny Nucci are good as the younger romantic leads, and David Rasche and Gail O'Grady stand out as the present spouses of Midler and Farina, but it is Bette, as always who steals the show. Though the characters break all the rules of taste and family stability, you still root for them to kiss and make up in the end. Romance and comedy are mixed to perfection here. Carl Reiner did a fine directing job.
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