"Fun with Dick and Jane" was released during George Segal's flirtation with real stardom during the mid-1970s. While pleasant in tone and easy to take, the movie loses momentum about halfway through, wandering to a strictly standard ending.
Dick (George Segal) and Jane (Jane Fonda) are a couple living the Southern California dream: lots of money, big house, comfortable lifestyle. Then Dick is laid off by his drunken boss Charlie (Ed McMahon), resulting in the couple borrowing money at first, then turning to a life of crime later. The film's conclusion is a predictable burglary of Dick's ex-boss' safe, where huge sums of stolen money are hidden.
The film has lots of amusing vignettes, including the initial layoff scene, the landscaping company repossessing Dick and Jane's plants, a bank robbery while Dick is borrowing money, and a funny job interview at Dick and Jane's house. However, the movie turns out to be just humorous situations strung together with very little coherence. Segal is enormously appealing as always, Fonda is her usual professional self, and McMahon is great as the evil, corrupt boss. It's too bad the screenwriters didn't give them more to work with.
Many movies are called more than the sum of their parts. In this case, I think the movie is actually less. I think viewing the film will provide a pleasant evening with lots of laughs, but it won't leave you with anything memorable.
Dick (George Segal) and Jane (Jane Fonda) are a couple living the Southern California dream: lots of money, big house, comfortable lifestyle. Then Dick is laid off by his drunken boss Charlie (Ed McMahon), resulting in the couple borrowing money at first, then turning to a life of crime later. The film's conclusion is a predictable burglary of Dick's ex-boss' safe, where huge sums of stolen money are hidden.
The film has lots of amusing vignettes, including the initial layoff scene, the landscaping company repossessing Dick and Jane's plants, a bank robbery while Dick is borrowing money, and a funny job interview at Dick and Jane's house. However, the movie turns out to be just humorous situations strung together with very little coherence. Segal is enormously appealing as always, Fonda is her usual professional self, and McMahon is great as the evil, corrupt boss. It's too bad the screenwriters didn't give them more to work with.
Many movies are called more than the sum of their parts. In this case, I think the movie is actually less. I think viewing the film will provide a pleasant evening with lots of laughs, but it won't leave you with anything memorable.