A Weekend in the Country

A Weekend in the Country; Drama, USA, 1996; D: Martin Bergmann, S: Rita Rudner, Dudley Moore, Jack Lemmon, Nick Bakay, Richard Lewis, Betty White, Faith Ford

A whole bunch of intervened stories: reporter Sally, who became pregnant using artificial insemination, discovers her "donor" is actually the rich vine seller Simon Farrell, so she goes to interview and seduce him. But she gets disappointed...Popular comedian Bobby Stein is persuaded by the old producer Bailey into performing live on stage, yet falls in love with Sally...Farrell's daughter brings her Australian boyfriend...Farrell's neighbor interrupts her secret relationship with Stein...Ruth, a hotel owner who claims she can see the aura, hosts Sally and Stein...In the end, they all make up.

"A Weekend in the Country" is an optimistic and neat ontology TV drama, but directed without sharpness by the screenwriter-director - and co-producer of the film, besides Jack Lemmon - Martin Bergmann. The most distinctive role was done by excellent Dudley Moore, the bright spot of the story, as the rich mansion owner Simon Farrell. The most noticeable scene is when the lover of his daughter passes by him in his underwear, in a manner that's both grotesque and polite, searching for a juice, causing Farrell to ironically add: "Go ahead, help yourself...You must be thirsty...from banging my daughter". In the end, it proved to be Moore's final appearance on the screen. Yet, most of the pieces of the mosaic story, from the characters and their destinies, are not that funny or touching as much as it's just solid. The way they intervene in such a light way is the most impressive element of the quiet film, shot exclusively for the TV schedule.

Grade:+