Review of Starting Over (2014) by Jens T — 09 Jan 2013

Alan J. Pakula's romantic comedy Starting over is the story about Phil Potter (Burt Reynolds) who resonantly divorced his ex-wife Jessica (Candice Bergen) a promising songwriter who also had an affair. While Jessica's future is promising, Phil moves to Boston where his brother lives (Charles Durning). The only thing that Phil can afford is a cheap apartment. One day, Phil invited on a double date, with his brother, his sister-in-law and a blind date. Which is the school teacher Marilyn (Jill Clayburgh) whom Phil falls for, but their relationship are some what fragile, because they are both resonantly divorced.

Starting Over is a good comedy with great comic performances by Reynolds, Durning, Bergen and specially Jill Clayburgh, who after her Oscar-nominated performance in An Unmarried Woman is once again playing a feminist, only this time it's in a comical stereotypical way. The way she dresses with her knitwear. Her commitment to education, and her fear of being hurt. Starting over satirizes the rivalry between men and woman. Specially in those hilarious scenes where the female divorcee support groups is nagging the male group. Starting Over is a funny romantic comedy. It might feel to much of a feel good film. But it's still quit funny with some great comic performances. Thumbs up.