Dying Young ** (1991, Julia Roberts, Campbell Scott, Vincent D’Onofrio, Colleen Dewhurst, Ellen Burstyn) – Classic Movie Review 10,518

Julia Roberts at the height of her Pretty Woman popularity misses the target as Hilary O’Neil, a private nurse house-help for dying 20-something Victor Geddes (Campbell Scott), a young man suffering from blood cancer. She is utterly gorgeous, he is very handsome and rich even when terribly sick, so what could they do but fall madly for each other?

Director Joel Schumacher’s 1991 Hollywooden romance Dying Young leaves a slightly bad taste in the mouth as it is seeming to cash in on sickness and disease, not taking these grim subjects at all seriously. It is all very glossy and unreal. But, under the circumstances, Roberts and Campbell do so well that you wish they had been given better material to perform.

However, though the film starts well, this story never shows any real conviction, drives itself right into the ground about half way and has nowhere to go, except to a frustrating conclusion.

The late Colleen Dewhurst was Scott’s real-life mother; her scenes as Estelle Whittier are particularly feebly written. Ellen Burstyn is also wasted as Mrs O’Neil.

Richard Friedenberg writes the screenplay, based on Marti Leimbach’s novel.

Also in the cast are Vincent D’Onofrio, David Selby, Dion Anderson, George Martin, A J Johnson, Daniel Beer, Behrooz Afrakhan, and Michael Halton.

Alex Trebek (1940-2020).

There is an appearance by Alex Trebek, the Host of Jeopardy. Dying Young’s screenplay writer Richard Friedenberg appears as Jeopardy Contestant.

RIP Alex Trebek, who died on 8 November 2020, aged 80, of pancreatic cancer.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,518

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