Review of One Fine Day (1996) by David A — 18 Apr 2010

(from The Watermark 12/12/96).

In this surprise treat of a romantic comedy, Pfeiffer and Clooney are both single parents with demanding careers; Clooney is a news reporter and Pfeiffer is an architect. They both fail to get their kids to school in time for a field trip, and suddenly need to incorporate their children into the break-neck pace of their jobs. They coordinate taking the kids in shifts, and end up chasing each other all over the city in order to work things out, and maybe spark a little romance along the way. The story (which does take place all in one day) moves frantically and holds our interest, and its time-of-day titles (complete with pulsing colon sign) beautifully convey the hustle-and-bustle of city life. Clooney, still a newcomer to the big screen, is attractive and commanding as the somewhat irresponsible adult-who-has-never-grown-up. Pfeiffer capably takes on a departure role: instead of being the usual sow's ear who finds her Pygmalion, she plays the straight-laced, anal-retentive half of the pair, obsessed with being a successful single mother and career woman. The film's message, about setting priorities for the things that really important, is strengthened by the down-to-earth realism of the two children. The film actually finds as many subtleties in the youngsters as it does the grown-ups. It has plenty of belly-laughs, and ends with a positive yet unassuming ending. Overall, One Fine Day is one fine movie indeed. Queer Quotient: OK, it's good for a heterosexual love story, anyway.