Unless you're the mean ogre all of your neighbors avoid, I don't see anything wrong with admitting you like this movie. I'm glad to see more favorable reviews here than negative ones. I have seen it half a dozen times over the past 24 years, and it always brings me a lot of smiles, where repeat viewings of other more successful films of this era bring on groans. This is equivalent to the "Topper" films of the 30's (and even more so the very enjoyable "Turnabout") so there's nothing rocket science about this movie's storyline. Shelley Long either is praised or condemned, and to paraphrase Shakespeare, I come here to praise her for her likable performance in this rare later day screwball comedy.
Judith Ivey may not seem to be perfect casting as her sister, but not all sisters look like Marcia, Jan and Cindy (to name the sisters from a later Shelley Long character). Long plays a lot more likable character here than she did in the same year's "Outrageous Fortune" (where she was basically playing Diane Chambers), and while she's not Carole Lombard, she's not Pia Zadora either. Some wonderful character actors like Austin Pendleton, Carrie Nye, and John Cunningham add color. I was delighted to see Nye playing a very colorful snob with a bit of Tallulah Bankhead thrown in. Could anybody in such a bit part steal every scene she was in? Those who remember her deliciously campy performances in two roles on "Guiding Light" will adore her here, as will those who only know the veteran stage actress as the sister who ends up a birthday cake in "Creepshow".
Nice movies don't seem to be the more popular ones in retrospective, but when you look at some of the teen comedies of the era, it's almost GB Shaw or Noel Coward in comparison.
Judith Ivey may not seem to be perfect casting as her sister, but not all sisters look like Marcia, Jan and Cindy (to name the sisters from a later Shelley Long character). Long plays a lot more likable character here than she did in the same year's "Outrageous Fortune" (where she was basically playing Diane Chambers), and while she's not Carole Lombard, she's not Pia Zadora either. Some wonderful character actors like Austin Pendleton, Carrie Nye, and John Cunningham add color. I was delighted to see Nye playing a very colorful snob with a bit of Tallulah Bankhead thrown in. Could anybody in such a bit part steal every scene she was in? Those who remember her deliciously campy performances in two roles on "Guiding Light" will adore her here, as will those who only know the veteran stage actress as the sister who ends up a birthday cake in "Creepshow".
Nice movies don't seem to be the more popular ones in retrospective, but when you look at some of the teen comedies of the era, it's almost GB Shaw or Noel Coward in comparison.