..then this movie is for you.
SPOILER ALERT-
Anne Bancroft plays a politically correct mother who loves doing the right thing, sticking up for the small fry, her son Gilbert, and Greta Garbo. Her relationship with her meek son is believable and sometimes touching. When she is diagnosed with a disease that will cut her life short, she declares she wants to meet the elusive icon, and Gilbert is in charge of making her dream a reality.
However, Gilbert is not the aggressive type; he is terrorized by his boss, his secretary and his wife (Carrie Fisher is hysterical as his princess bride). So, against his nature, he goes on a search for the actress most unlikely to give a damn about him or his dying mother.
Suffice to say the end is bittersweet, and all the actors give it their best. Bancroft is allowed to let loose and has a ball; she is especially good at confronting a group of hardhats who had been verbally harassing a young woman on the street. She is also very good in the scene following her meeting Garbo.
Ron Silver is terrific as Gilbert, a put-upon guy if there ever was one. He does find happiness, with a co-worker (Catherine Hicks) and even gets to impress her, when the normally silent Garbo talks to Gilbert long enough to say 'hello' in a chance meeting in Central Park, Hicks is naturally curious and thrilled (by now he's left the selfish Carrie Fisher).
The movie is very good, not great. Its extremely hard to believe Hicks would be able to afford her apartment on the salary she must make working in an office job. And as much as the mother/son relationship was touching, I can't help but wonder why such a dynamically strong womans' sensibilities did not rub off on her son, why he's such a dolt. She gave him love but maybe he needed more than that.
SPOILER ALERT-
Anne Bancroft plays a politically correct mother who loves doing the right thing, sticking up for the small fry, her son Gilbert, and Greta Garbo. Her relationship with her meek son is believable and sometimes touching. When she is diagnosed with a disease that will cut her life short, she declares she wants to meet the elusive icon, and Gilbert is in charge of making her dream a reality.
However, Gilbert is not the aggressive type; he is terrorized by his boss, his secretary and his wife (Carrie Fisher is hysterical as his princess bride). So, against his nature, he goes on a search for the actress most unlikely to give a damn about him or his dying mother.
Suffice to say the end is bittersweet, and all the actors give it their best. Bancroft is allowed to let loose and has a ball; she is especially good at confronting a group of hardhats who had been verbally harassing a young woman on the street. She is also very good in the scene following her meeting Garbo.
Ron Silver is terrific as Gilbert, a put-upon guy if there ever was one. He does find happiness, with a co-worker (Catherine Hicks) and even gets to impress her, when the normally silent Garbo talks to Gilbert long enough to say 'hello' in a chance meeting in Central Park, Hicks is naturally curious and thrilled (by now he's left the selfish Carrie Fisher).
The movie is very good, not great. Its extremely hard to believe Hicks would be able to afford her apartment on the salary she must make working in an office job. And as much as the mother/son relationship was touching, I can't help but wonder why such a dynamically strong womans' sensibilities did not rub off on her son, why he's such a dolt. She gave him love but maybe he needed more than that.