Review of My Favorite Year (1982) by Karen M — 27 Apr 2009

This is my dad's favorite movie, and I enjoyed it a lot as well. It has a lot going for it - a simple story with a good script and a spectacular performance from its star, Peter O'Toole. It's also one of those smart comedies that provides a lot of laughs, but some genuine sentimental moments as well.

Set in 1954, Peter O'Toole plays Alan Swann, an infamous Hollywood movie star based on Errol Flynn (one of my all-time favorite actors) who's now past his prime, and set to make a guest appearance on Stan "King" Kaiser's "Comedy Cavalcade," which is based on Sid Caesar's "Show of Shows" (the movie's executive producer, Mel Brooks, wrote for "Show of Shows," as did playwright Neil Simon) "Cavalcade's" freshman writer, Benjy Stone, is made responsible for Swann and ordered to keep him out of trouble until showtime. (Trivia for long-time "Simpsons" fans - the episode where Bart meets drunken cowboy star Buck McCoy is based on this movie).

O'Toole's performance is nothing less than magnificent - he plays Swann so naturally, and even though Swann is a larger-than-life persona, none of O'Toole's performance feels fake or unnecessarily over the top. He'll make you laugh one minute, and get misty-eyed the next. It's one of those performances that just has to be seen. It helps that he's got a great script to work with and co-stars that know how to deliver it.

It's an older, nostalgic movie, that might not be for everyone. If you're willing to give it a shot, though, O'Toole's performance alone will make it worth your while.