Let me just say that despite mixed reviews and public jesting, if itweren'tBarbra Streisand that made this movie and it were someone else, no onewouldmake fun of it like they do. Everyone just likes to pick on Barbra. Butthis movie is actually good!This film, about a man (Jeff Bridges) who goes looking for a nonsexualrelationship and finds it with a middle-aged dateless professor (BarbraStreisand). As the two leads, these actors shine immensely! Mimi Rogersand Brenda Vaccaro are equally good in their supporting and often comicroles, as is George Segal. But the star of this movie, I must say, isLauren Bacall as Streisand's beautifully aging mother. Bacall, who is notreally known for her comedy roles, took the role and ran with it, makinghercharacter hilarious at times, heart-pouring at others. She isterrific!As for the actual storyline of the movie, it is somewhat predictable inits final outcome, but the routes it takes along the way are alwaysinteresting. The music is terrific; who doesn't like Luciano Pavarotti's"Nessun Dorma"?A very delightful romantic comedy!

The mirror has two faces: Barbra Streisand and ... surprise! ... BarbraStreisand! More explicit: the funny Barbra Streisand and the divine BarbraStreisand. Well, this miraculous metamorphosis is of course kind ofdisgusting and I wouldn't be the first person to argue that Barbra Streisandhas a tendency to fancy herself pretty much (and I myself was already ableto tell so from the unnecessarily long ending of &quot;The Prince of Tides&quot; - avery good movie). But as annoying as it may sometimes be, this is anextremely well-done and multi-faceted movie. Let me try to tell you, why Ivoted &quot;7&quot;.<br><br>It starts rather mediocre when Streisand and Jeff Bridges get to know eachother, talk some silly stuff and behave like little children. From time totime it gives a number of very good lines to Lauren Bacall, who is perfectas Streisand's mother. By the time Streisand and Bridges get married you aretempted to say: &quot;Yes, very nice, but it's crap actually, isn't it?&quot; But youwon't think of saying that in the end.<br><br>The movie is a romantic comedy - containing a couple of cliches, fine - butwith a new, non-cliche structure. This is no kitsch, not at all, oh no!Instead, it's made up of very good lines and very truthful moments. Theseare connected in a way that makes our emotion rise but leaves us unable totell which words, which gestures made it rise. How come? The romance doesn'tdevelop in the way we would expect it and have seen it many times before,no, this romantic comedy goes the long way round: First there is only asmall deal of attraction, then there is previously unknown disillusionment -a black hole almost - and then love enters the stage. The final romanticscene fits into romantic comedy conventions, but it also fits into thepicture and Streisand and Bridges deserve it. What a wonderfulmovie!<br><br>Basically Barbra Streisand is a good actress, but she loves exaggerating.She is able to manage difficult scenes, but she tries to be funny wherebeing funny can't work and sometimes she's just hopping through the scenelike a twittering sparrow instead of performing the emotions required forthat scene. And after her metamorphosis she's more interested in her make-upthan in her character.<br><br>Lauren Bacall plays a mean, self-addicted and vain old beast with a heartand a vulnerable soul. The scene where mother and daughter talk openly inthe kitchen is wonderful.Even Pierce Brosnan is better than I would have expected.<br><br>Finally, the movie shows us the great versatility of Jeff Bridges: you'venever seen him so very soft before (rude as he was in &quot;The Fabulous BakerBoys&quot;, cool in &quot;Nadine&quot; or smooth and evil in &quot;Jagged Edge&quot;). However, he isexaggerating, too: which man can act this untruthful and affected?! In thescenes from Streisand's and his marriage his character is almost eerie - maythis be good or bad for the movie...

OK. If you accept this movie for what it is, it&#x27;s actually prettyentertaining. It&#x27;s a Cinderella story for middle-aged folks. I won&#x27;trecap the film. That&#x27;s not my job. I&#x27;m here only to give you myimpressions on the watchability and impact of this movie. If you loveBarbra Streisand (and I do) and you love Jeff Bridges (and I do), youwill love this romantic comedy. Both are at their funny, witty, comedicbest in this film. Mimi Rogers is gorgeous as Bab&#x27;s sister. (Oddly,Netflix has her mistakenly identified as Fran Drescher on its website.)Lauren Bacall is stunningly beautiful - still. Overall, the film has alot of heart. What I love about Streisand is that she knows herweaknesses and her strengths, and plays both up to much effect in thisfilm, which she directed and, I believe, co-wrote. This is aquintessential &#x22;chick flick,&#x22; the kind you enjoy on a raining Sundaynight with a big bowl of popcorn. If you are in just the right mood fora film that shamelessly exploits your feelings about romance, this oneis it. Enjoy.