Theme Song: The character portrayed by Candace Bergen is an aspiring musician with questionable talent and she sings a few songs in the movie.
Marvin Hamlisch’s “Better Than Ever” was written into the story as a way for Bergen’s character to woo back her ex.
Interesting Dated References: Burt Reynolds’ more questionable attempts at romantic leading roles. When you step back and look at this guy’s career there are really a lot of strange turns and odd choices.
Social Context: Divorce and thirty-something singlehood was the stuff of boomer navel-gazing in the late-70s/early-80s. Films about such topics were plentiful, from the dramatic (Kramer Vs. Kramer) to the comedic (think Woody Allen). Starting Over leans towards comedic, although the results are questionable.
Summary: Things open with stoic Phil (Reynolds, Fuzz, Semi Tough) being told by his wife Jessica (Bergen) she wants a divorce. The scene is played for comedic effect, but Reynolds’ ever-present, one-note expression does no favors as everything is a little difficult to read.
Phil takes up residence in Boston and soon falls for school teacher Marilyn (Jill Clayburgh, I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can, Semi Tough). She’s resistant at first, having had a bad experience with a divorced man earlier in the film. As with most movies of the era, her spirit is quickly broken by the male lead and she falls for Phil.
Inevitably, Jessica comes back into the picture and Phil changes his mind repeatedly in a hurried and dumbfounding final act in which he switches back and forth between which of these ladies he wants to be with, all while maintaining an absolutely robotic dialogue delivery. Like, he completely breaks up with one, moves, then changes his mind with so little exposition that if you stop paying attention you’ll forget who he’s with.
Written by James L. Brooks who did Oscar-winning Terms of Endearment right after this, it comes down to pacing issues for Starting Over. Things are plentiful and slow during the initial split and courting of Clayburgh’s character, but it gets fast and loose when it comes to logic toward the end.
Worth Mentioning:
– There are good moments of dialogue about marital ennui, but everything is delivered in a very procedural way. Quip – Reply – Smirk – End Scene.
– Mary Kay Place is featured as an overzealous single mother whose character probably should have gotten more screen time.
– Directed by Alan J. Pakula, who was (oddly enough) fresh off the paranoia trilogy of Klute, The Parallax View, and All The President’s Men.
– Daniel Stern shows up for a split second as a college student.
Poster and Box Art: The illustrations on the poster and box art for Starting Over are insanely well done. They’re signed “M. Kane,” but I could not find information as to who that artist was.
Betamax box is a little trashed, so here’s a close-up:
Bonus points for a solid ‘70s title lock-up:
