This is the original review of Seems Like Old Times by Siskel & Ebert on "Sneak Previews" in 1980. All of the segments pertaining to the movie have been included.
Me too. I was working in a theater where it was playing, and we all thought it was hilarious. "Don't snap at me!" became a catchphrase at work. Fast forward 30 years and I had a friend in his 20's watch it and he thought it was great too. Aside from that, I can't believe how young Ebert is here. Yikes, I'm getting old.
Loved these guys, but even watching this clip I laughed about 3 times...”who’s gonna serve the COFFEE now?” 😀 This movie’s hilarious, they just missed on this one.
I really liked this. That last scene where Chevy opens the door and Goldie is there..The smile on her face will make you fall in love with Goldie if -inexplicably - you haven't done so already.
Gonna have to disagree with the two, Bigtime!!! Don’t know about the “machine” way this movie works but the chemistry, the writing, the timing and genius comedic acting is fantastic!! One of my all time favorites ever!! And I just love that beautiful theme! And those California scenes are the best! 👍👍 for me!
I still have a soft spot in my heart for this movie - had a big crush on Goldie Hawn as a kid. Both Chase & Hawn were also good together in Foul Play in 1978. Liked the opening shot when the camera zooms in on Chevy typing up a story in his shack overlooking the scenic California coast. Wonder where they shot that scene?
Just watched it again and it's such a brisk and fun comedy. Shame they didn't like it but i certainly did. Goldie Hawn makes it all possible and she plays off everyone perfectly and adorably.
How do you give chevy chase's "funny farm" two thumbs up, but you don't like this film? Funny farm had two funny scenes in it and they were both in the trailer. This movie had plenty of funny characters and scenes.
I never watched these two guys so I do not know their style at all, but any person who is a critic of something looks at it from a technical and professional point of view. I could not live my life that way, as films. music and food are supposed to be enjoyed for their pleasure. To sit there and say something is formulaic may be technically correct but there are not too many ways to make a screwball comedy these days or in 1980 which had not been done before, and besides every film genre has been so done to death that new creative ways of structuring a film are few and far between. Your best bet is to try and create a unique story itself and then add the screwball antics which is why films like Blazing Saddles (parody of the western), Young Frankenstein (parody of horror films of the 30's 40's and 50's), Spaceballs (a parody of the space film craze) and Scary Movie (a parody of the teen age slasher films) were thought to be so innovative. They used the same screwball antics but placed them in unique storylines which had not been seen before.
It would have been a funnier and more fun film with someone else in Chevy Chase's role. He's never been that funny sae for when he first appeared in his career, but unlike Cary Grant, or actors deeper in film history like WC Fields or Laurel and Hardy, his signature is pretty generic and tiring. Otherwise this is actually a likeable film, and Chase was cast for his name recognition to bring in the SNL crowd.
This was an attempt to recapture lightning in a bottle by re-pairing Hawn and Chase, who'd been so delightful together in Foul Play in 1978; a film that nonetheless was briefly stolen right from under them by Dudley Moore, who at the time was virtually unknown in the United States. I saw this one also at the time and agree it was labored in comparison to the classic screwball comedies of the '30s and '40s that I love. I think I might enjoy it more now, though, since nobody is even trying to make these kinds of films anymore.
I agree with Gene and Roger. Uninspired flat comedy that plays more like a bad TV sitcom. None of the jokes work and it’s one of Neil Simon’s weakest films.
