By: Catalina Perez de Arminan
Whether you’re a rom-com fan or a Jack Nicholson fan, you may have heard of Something’s Gotta Give. Nicholson, known for his roles in suspense and horror films, such as The Shining, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest plays a romantic one here. And he does so impeccably. However, if you take a closer look it is Diane Keaton’s performance that elevates this thrilling and amusing comedy, and she will have you crying with laughter.
The film takes you along the way in which Nicholson’s and Keaton’s characters, Harry Sanborn and Erica Barry fall unexpectedly in love. This, of course, happens after they meet via Barry’s daughter, who was dating Sanborn at the time. After a seemingly unfortunate series of events, Sanborn has to stay at Barry’s house for a few weeks while he recuperates from a stroke. That’s when they interact with each other more and feelings begin to surface.
And although incredibly entertaining, this crazy, path-crossing depiction of real-life touches on major topics, such as women and aging in comparison to men and aging, and the expectations that each face, along with the experience of falling in love at a later age. It also is a film with the main character who is a successful woman over the age of fifty, which brings an entirely new, and much-needed perspective to the big screen. Overall, it’s beautiful to watch this perspective unfold, and see how Barry faces all the stereotypes that women start facing when they age, no matter how successful they are. This includes balancing being a mother, a divorced parent, a successful career woman, and even the new attention of an attractive young doctor.
But writer, producer, and director Nancy Meyers somehow found a way to bring all of these topics to the surface in an enchanting way that keeps the audience glued to the screen, hoping to see this unexpected, chaotic, and confusing relationship evolve.
A big part of the success of this movie was the combination of both Nicholson’s and Keaton’s acting and explosive chemistry. The mix of the spectacular acting with the cleverly written scenes is what brings the masterpiece to life. There is one particular scene that will be memorable to anyone watching, and that’s when Barry gets the inspiration to finish her book after a frustrating, and heartbreaking moment with Sanborn. The scene takes place in Barry’s room, and consists of her sobbing uncontrollably, while typing away on her computer, rushing to capture all of her emotions down on paper. The scene, which cuts from moments of her laughing as she feels inspiration, to moments of her sobbing as she dips down in her heartbreak, is merely exceptional. This is just one of the many scenes in the movie that will make you feel something.
So if you’re looking for something that has meaning but at the same time will make you laugh and have fun while becoming part of a confused and chaotic romance, Something’s Gotta Give is the right movie for you.